Bruins move McAvoy to IR, call-up Poitras in flurry of roster moves

   

BRIGHTON, Mass. —  Matthew Poitras is back with the Boston Bruins, but not under ideal circumstances.

Bruins move McAvoy to IR, call-up Poitras in flurry of roster moves

In addition to calling up Poitras and defenseman Michael Callahan from AHL Providence on Tuesday morning, the Bruins placed defenseman Charlie McAvoy and forward Mark Kastelic on injured reserve and moved defenseman Hampus Lindholm to long-term injured reserve.

According to Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco, McAvoy has been dealing with a nagging injury. He will miss at least the next two games for and be re-evaluated next week. The defenseman has appeared in every game for the Bruins so far this year, recording 20 points with five goals.

Kastelic and Lindholm have both already missed time for the Bruins this season.

Kastelic is currently dealing with an upper-body injury that he sustained after getting crossed-checked in the face against the Tampa Bay Lightning last Thursday.

Lindholm, meanwhile, has been making significant progress toward a return after missing the last 27 games with a lower-body injury he suffered in mid-November. However, the decision to move him to long-term injured reserve is not due to any sort of setback but merely for salary cap purposes.

“Hampus is making good progress,” said Sacco. “He’s skating with [skating and skills coach] John McClane right now, and the next step will obviously be for him to join us, maybe for portions of our practice or the beginning of practice, whenever that time is.”

Poitras rejoins the Bruins after spending the last few months developing his game in the AHL. The 20-year-old forward began the year with the Bruins but was sent down to the minors after tallying just four points with one goal in 14 games. Since then, Poitras has flourished, scoring 20 points with eight goals in 23 games for the Providence Bruins.

“He’s playing well,” Sacco said of Poitras. “He’s created chances down there offensively and putting some points on the board. I think his game is just in a better place right now.”

Callahan has spent the entire year in the AHL, recording six points in 35 games. He will make his NHL debut if and when the Bruins decide to insert him into the lineup.

Poitras will play for the Bruins tonight against the Lightning. Forward Vinni Lettieri is set to as well if forward Charlie Coyle, who is considered a game-time decision while dealing with an illness, is unavailable.

Puck drop between the Bruins and Lightning is set for 7 p.m. EST at TD Garden.