Sources: McAvoy clears protocols before Game 5

RALEIGH, N.C. — Boston Bruins star defenseman Charlie McAvoy has cleared COVID-19 protocols and can take warmups with the workforce in anticipation on enjoying vs. the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday night time in Sport 5, sources advised ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, after Boston’s morning skate, advised reporters that McAvoy and fellow defenseman Hampus Lindholm (upper-body damage) would miss Tuesday’s sport.

However McAvoy’s standing improved by means of the day and might be a serious increase because the Bruins attempt to take a 3-2 sequence lead on the highway. McAvoy walked into PNC Area sporting an N95 masks in time for warmups, in line with Kaplan.

McAvoy was a late scratch for the Sport 4 win Sunday in Boston, and Lindholm hasn’t performed since being leveled on a jarring shoulder-to-chest hit from Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov within the workforce’s Sport 2 loss. Cassidy mentioned Lindholm did not occasion journey to North Carolina for Sport 5.

McAvoy and Lindholm labored collectively as Boston’s high defensive pairing in Sport 1 earlier than Cassidy juggled the lineup for Sport 2, transferring Matt Grzelcyk as much as play alongside McAvoy and placing Lindholm alongside Brandon Carlo.

McAvoy’s return would bolster the again line in a number of methods for the Bruins. He’ll, almost certainly, lead Boston’s defensemen in minutes performed earlier than the top of the night time, and can see time on the facility play and the penalty kill.

McAvoy, 24, is a former first-round decide who posted 10 targets and 56 factors this season for the Bruins. He has two assists this sequence, and is averaging 25:15 time on the ice. McAvoy has been within the playoffs yearly of his NHL profession.

The Bruins fell into an 0-2 gap earlier than rallying with two victories at TD Backyard.

The Related Press contributed to this report.