BRIGHTON, Mass. — Charlie McAvoy was well enough on Thursday to leave Massachusetts General Hospital and read the starting lineup before Team USA’s 3-2 overtime loss to Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game. Neither of those occurrences was guaranteed. The infection he developed following the significant injury to the AC joint in his right shoulder was not something to be messed with.
The Boston Bruins, then, were delighted for his discharge and pregame appearance. Jeremy Swayman made sure to note that his club team’s doctors, not those of Team USA, were responsible for the defenseman’s care.
“You don’t want anyone to go down and have a serious health scare like that,” Swayman said after rejoining Bruins practice on Friday at Warrior Ice Arena. “It’s even more precautionary. We wanted him to be healthy and safe, first and foremost. And then get him back on the ice as soon as possible. So we’re super happy that the Boston medical staff took care of him. I got to see him last night and talk to him. He seems like he’s on the up-and-up. So we’re excited to get him back.”
The starting line up from Charlie ❤️🇺🇸 #4Nations pic.twitter.com/nBR7jZCCAA
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 21, 2025
The fact remains that McAvoy is in a sling. He is still healing from an irrigation and debridement procedure to treat his infection. The AC joint injury will keep him out of the lineup on Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks and most likely beyond.
McAvoy’s sidelining is compounded by the status of Hampus Lindholm, who remains in out-of-practice limbo. The No. 2 defenseman, injured on Nov. 12, 2024, has been ruled out against the Ducks, his former club.
Lindholm had been practicing with the team prior to the tournament. Interim coach Joe Sacco declined to say whether Lindholm had suffered a setback.
On Friday, Nikita Zadorov and Andrew Peeke practiced as the No. 1 pair. Michael Callahan and Brandon Carlo were the second duo. Mason Lohrei and Parker Wotherspoon rounded out the blue line. Jordan Oesterle was the No. 7 defenseman.
Callahan and Oesterle opened the season in Providence. Wotherspoon was the extra defenseman.
Lohrei filled McAvoy’s point position on the No. 1 power-play unit. Zadorov worked the point on PP2.
“Certainly going to be a challenge without them in the lineup,” Sacco said. “It’s just an opportunity for everyone to really step up.”
Without McAvoy and Lindholm, Sacco will need Swayman to take goals off the scoreboard, starting on Saturday against Anaheim. Swayman will do so with an extra log on the motivational fire. He was Team USA’s No. 3 goalie behind Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger. Swayman has work to do to stay in Olympic contention and push Hellebuyck and Oettinger for the net in 2026.
“It couldn’t have been a better two weeks of hockey,” Swayman said. “It’s the best hockey I’ve ever been a part of. It’s only elevated my game. I know what it takes now to be successful at that level. It really was a different level of hockey. That was something I got to embrace every day, just not taking a single shot off in practice and understanding game flow and how good these other players are that we’re playing and what it takes to win. A ton of motivation’s gone into my pocket. I know what I need to do to be successful and be in that net.”
Swayman, however, was out of uniform for three of the Americans’ four games. He backed up Oettinger against Sweden on Feb. 17. Swayman has not played since Feb. 8 in the Bruins’ 4-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. It will not be easy for him to be a score-stopping ace after 14 days without seeing game pucks.
Meanwhile, the Bruins will ask Brad Marchand and Elias Lindholm, their other two tournament participants, to raise their workload significantly. Marchand and Lindholm served as fourth-liners and penalty-killers for Canada and Sweden, respectively. Neither played on the power play.
Marchand (one goal, no assists) averaged 11:35 of ice time per game during the tournament. Lindholm (zero points) was at 13:00. Neither is a lock for the 2026 Winter Games.
The Bruins, in comparison, roll Marchand and Lindholm in all situations. They play on the No. 2 line during five-on-five action. They are on PP1. They kill penalties.
Marchand is averaging 18:33 of ice time per game for the Bruins. Lindholm is at 18:09. They are in for an abrupt increase in responsibility. It may be difficult for the 36-year-old Marchand, in particular, to put aside the physical and emotional toll of the tournament and return to his club captaincy.
But Marchand, Lindholm and Swayman have no choice but to deliver. The Bruins are up against it.
“We need every point we can get,” David Pastrnak said. “I think everybody recognizes the situation in here. The practices were good. Boys looking sharp. I thought the pace was great. We just need to translate it to the game. Maybe a little bit easier schedule. I felt like we had a lot of four-in-six. Maybe felt a little tired or fatigue before the break. Now it’s no excuses. We have to come in really hard.”
(Photo of Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)
