Matthew Poitras has given Marco Sturm another injury concern with the Boston Bruins suddenly taking hits before opening night.
Poitras is day to day with a lower-body injury, according to an update from Wednesday's practice. His status now becomes one of Boston's immediate lineup questions.
The Bruins also saw defenseman Mason Lohrei leave practice near the end of the session. Sturm said Lohrei would undergo testing, leaving Boston waiting for more information.
That's two important young players dealing with physical issues at the same point in camp. And the timing is rough with the NHL season opening September 29.
Poitras is fighting for an important role down the middle, where every practice matters as Sturm sorts out his top nine and special-teams options.
-
Lohrei carries similar importance on the blue line. Losing practice time now can disrupt pairings and force the coaching staff to test combinations it may not have planned to use.
Bruins suddenly have lineup problems to solve
The biggest issue isn't simply that Poitras and Lohrei are hurt. It's that both situations developed during practices when Boston should be narrowing its roster and sharpening its opening-night structure.
Poitras being listed day to day gives Boston some room to breathe, but lower-body injuries can quickly complicate a player's ability to skate, battle and handle a full workload.
Lohrei's situation carries more uncertainty because testing is still required. Until those results are known, Sturm can't confidently pencil him into his expected spot on the back end.
That puts extra pressure on Boston's healthy defensemen. Every practice rep now carries more weight as the Bruins prepare contingency plans for their pairings.
The same applies up front. If Poitras misses additional time, another center or winger could suddenly receive a bigger opportunity before the roster is finalized.
Boston still has time before puck drop on the new season, but camp time disappears quickly once injuries start piling up.
For Sturm, the next few practices are no longer only about chemistry and evaluation. They're about finding out which players will actually be available when the games begin.
The Bruins entered this stretch trying to settle their lineup. Now they're watching the medical updates just as closely as the depth chart.
Are the Bruins already in serious trouble because of their mounting practice injuries?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
34 players placed on NHL waivers on Wednesday including 6 goaltenders
