Charlie McAvoy. (Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Bruins will try for their fourth straight win tonight when they host the Red Wings, but it'll be a little extra challenging without defenseman Charlie McAvoy.
The rookie standout has the most points on the Boston blue-line, outside of Torey Krug, he averages 22 minutes of ice a game, and McAvoy plays alongside Zdeno Chara on the top-pairing.
So, no McAvoy means Brandon Carlo will team with the captain and others will slot in behind them.
Banged-Up Bruins Still Streaking Entering Game Vs. Reeling Red Wings
The Bruins will return to the Garden ice tonight against the Red Wings at 7 p.m., but they'll be shorthanded.
Chara, Nick Holden, and coach Bruce Cassidy all know one thing above all else: it's next man up!
"I feel comfortable with whatever I play," Chara said. "We have good enough players to fill the spots. Obviously Charlie can only play like Charlie, and Brandon can only play like Brandon and so on, but whoever it is, I'm comfortable to play with."
"Him and Z were eating big minutes, and so everybody's gonna have to grab a little bit of what he was bringing, and I would expect everybody's minutes to go up a little bit," Holden said.
"We missed him for a pocket earlier this year and we survived it," head coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We also know we have McQuaid and Grizz that sat out last game, they're very capable defensemen. That's the good news--we have good replacements."
Face-off tonight at 7. Wings have dropped three in a row.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports