McAvoy out against Hurricanes as Bruins hit hard by injuries

The Boston Bruins are battered.

Star defenceman Charlie McAvoy was ruled out of Monday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, head coach Marco Sturm said.

Meanwhile, forward Viktor Arvidsson is headed to injured reserve and listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury while forward Elias Lindholm is “getting closer” to a return but remains out with no definitive timeline, per Sturm.

Forward Casey Mittelstadt was also moved to IR.

McAvoy continues to undergo evaluation after taking a puck to the face on Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens. After meeting with doctors on Monday, the team offered no firm update on his status, but surgery could be a possibility, per Sturm.

The 27-year-old defenceman has been a cornerstone of Boston’s back end this season, logging 14 assists before being sidelined.

It’s the latest injury blow to McAvoy, who suffered a right-shoulder AC joint injury last year at the 4 Nations Face-Off, which, with an associated infection, caused him to miss the remainder of the season.

Arvidsson, 32, sustained his injury late in the game against the Canadiens. He has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his first season with the Bruins after an off-season trade from the Edmonton Oilers.

Lindholm, 31, suffered a lower-body injury in late October and was ruled out “a few weeks.”

The Swede had been off to fast start, tallying four goals and five assists in 13 games while centring the Bruins’ top line next to star winger David Pastrnak.

Mittelstadt, 26, has not played since Nov. 6. He posted four goals and five assists in 15 games before going down with injury.

Elsewhere, forward John Beecher was held out of the morning skate pending a roster move. The Bruins have yet to announce the transaction. Beecher, who was a 2019 draft pick, has been a regular presence on the fourth line.

Forwards Riley Tufte and Matej Blumel were recalled from the AHL’s Providence Bruins.