- Bruins
- Updated: Feb. 04, 2026, 8:22 p.m.
- Published: Feb. 04, 2026, 8:11 p.m.
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)AP
UPDATE: 8:20 p.m. — Charlie McAvoy returned at the start of the second period after taking an elbow to head in the first.
ORIGINAL STORY — The Bruins finished their first period without one of their top defensemen.
Charlie McAvoy took an elbow up at high from Florida Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis at center ice. Vilmanis appeared to leave his feet before the hit.
McAvoy remained down before being helped up off the ice and down tunnel.
- You can watch the hit here
His status for the rest of the game is unknown.
Vilmanis received a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head, while the Bruins ended up shorthanded after the play.
McAvoy missed 10 games earlier this season after he took a puck to the face that required him to have facial surgery. The injury caused McAvoy to lose 20 pounds due to being on a liquid diet.
The defenseman is set to represent Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Lauren Campbell joined MassLive in 2023 as a breaking and trending Boston sports reporter covering all things locally and nationally. Campbell also produces MassLive’s “Fenway Rundown” podcast. In her previous… more
