Boston Bruins forward Matt Poitras seems to have avoided a serious injury following a scary incident on the ice during Boston’s 2-1 loss to the Islanders on Thursday night.
Poitras had to exit the game at TD Garden after he was slammed into the New York bench late in the second period. New York’s Brock Nelson offered a hit on Poitras that sent him into the Islanders bench, right after backup goalie Jakub Skarek had opened the door for a line change.
Had Poitras simply been hit into the boards, he may not have gotten an injury. But his leg ended up hitting the corner of the opening of the New York bench, causing the second-year forward to double over in pain. Poitras needed assistance from the Boston training staff to make his way to the Bruins dressing room.
The Bruins announced that Poitras had suffered a lower-body injury during the game, and he did not return the rest of the way. But imaging came back clean and the 20-year-old was back on the ice for Boston on Friday.
Poitras said the aftermath of the hit resulted in “just a bruise,” and he anticipates being back in action Saturday when the Bruins play the Penguins in Pittsburgh.
“Felt pretty good. Little sore but nothing where it’s going to stop me from moving the way I want to move and stuff like that,” Poitras said after Friday’s practice.
Matt Poitras on his status: “When I woke up this morning I felt better…got some imaging and it was clean so I’m still sore but just a bruise.”
More practice coverage here: https://t.co/lUL53BGA5r pic.twitter.com/Yo1ZLwHwei
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 28, 2025
Poitras saw a replay of the hit after Thursday’s loss and called it a “scary” play, but didn’t hold any ill-will toward the Islanders involved in the incident.
“It was just unfortunate and unlucky; can’t really blame anyone for that,” he said. “It was just a fluke play.”
Injuries piling up for Boston Bruins
Losing Poitras would have really tested Boston’s depth going forward, after the team lost forward Trent Frederic to a lower-body injury in Tuesday night’s overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederic is considered week to week, but could still be traded by Boston at next week’s NHL trade deadline.
The Bruins are also without top defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who is sidelined after suffering a shoulder injury and infection during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Thursday night’s loss was Boston’s fifth straight, and sent the Bruins to 27-25-8 on the season. With 62 points, the Bruins sit four points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators also have 62 points on the year, but have two games in hand on Boston.
