The Bruins absorbed a brutal one-two punch on Thursday in Winnipeg, losing a forward and a defenseman to injury before the third period even began.
What started as a promising night with Charlie McAvoy officially back in the lineup quickly unraveled into another test of depth and resilience.
Not long after announcing that Jonathan Aspirot suffered an upper body injury and would not return, the Bruins issued a second update from the bench. This time it was winger Viktor Arvidsson, ruled out with a lower body injury. For a roster that has battled health issues since opening night, the timing could not have been worse.
Earlier in the game, reporters noted that Aspirot did not come out for the second period. Minutes later, the Bruins confirmed the bad news. Shortly after that announcement, the team posted another update: «UPDATE: Viktor Arvidsson (lower-body) will not return to tonight's game.»
Arvidsson, 32, has been a key piece of Boston's top six since arriving in free agency. His scoring touch, edge and relentless puck pursuit have helped stabilize Casey Mittelstadt's line and added much needed playmaking to the Bruins' attack. Losing him mid-game forced Marco Sturm to shuffle wingers and lean heavily on depth players to fill minutes.
The injury string is especially frustrating given that Boston had just welcomed McAvoy back after a month-long absence. With the lineup finally trending toward full health, the sudden departure of Arvidsson and Aspirot reignited the same roster challenges the Bruins have managed all season.
Boston's bench played the remainder of the night short at both forward and defense, forcing extended shifts and tighter rotations across the ice. How the team responds in the coming days - both through lineup adjustments and potential call-ups - will determine how disruptive these injuries become.
For now, the Bruins leave Winnipeg with more questions than answers, and with their depth tested once again at a crucial stretch of the season.