Bruins injury report: Elias Lindholm ruled out of games this week
“Didn’t give it a go today, just because of where he’s at.”
Bruins fans wanting to get a glimpse of the team’s new top-line center will need to wait a bit longer.
Despite saying on Sunday that the Bruins expected Elias Lindholm to skate with the main group on Tuesday, Jim Montgomery acknowledged after morning skate that the 29-year-old center remains off the ice with an undisclosed ailment.
“That didn’t materialize, took the day off,” Montgomery said Tuesday of Lindholm’s absence on the ice. “Didn’t give it a go today, just because of where he’s at. He’s day to day, not going to play this week in an exhibition game.”
Following Tuesday’s preseason matchup against the Capitals at TD Garden, the Bruins will continue their preseason slate on Thursday and Saturday with road matchups against the Rangers and Flyers, respectively.
Despite Lindholm’s lack of reps so far since the start of camp, Boston’s top free-agent pickup still has ample time to get back up to speed.
Boston still has another three preseason games left on the docket against the Flyers (Oct. 1), Kings (Oct. 3), and Capitals (Oct. 5) before the start of the regular season on Oct. 8.
Lindholm, who inked a seven-year, $54.25 million contract on the first day of NHL free agency on July 1, has only participated in one full day of practice with Boston since camp opened last Thursday.
He skated on Boston’s top line alongside David Pastrnak in their first skate, but has not participated since then due to whatever is nagging him.
“We’re just being extra cautious,” Montgomery said of Lindholm last Friday. “He was a little, I don’t know if ‘sore’ is even the right word, but I told him he’s not practicing today, taking a maintenance day. He’ll be back shortly.”
While the Bruins plan on rolling out younger players and more roster-bubble candidates through these first few preseason matchups, getting Lindholm back on the frozen sheet will be paramount for Boston ahead of the team’s season opener down in Florida.
“He has a little bit of both, [David Krejci] and [Patrice Bergeron],” Pastrnak said Friday of Lindholm’s skillset. “Obviously, he’s a hell of a two-way player, and he has a high hockey IQ. He’s a righty — I played most of my career with the right-hand centermen, so I’m really excited to build chemistry.
“And whether we play together or not, we for sure are gonna have some looks on power play or five-on-five.”
Beyond Lindholm’s absence, Montgomery noted that winger Max Jones is also “day to day” with an undisclosed injury, but added that he could “potentially” play by the end of the week.
The physical forward stands as an intriguing fit on Boston’s fourth line, although the trio of Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, and rookie Riley Duran have put together strong returns so far during camp.
The Bruins did get some good news on Tuesday, as captain Brad Marchand skated with the rest of his teammates who were not playing in that night’s preseason matchup against Washington.
Marchand, who was expected to be a bit behind the rest of his teammates in camp while recovering from three offseason surgeries, donned a red, non-contact sweater during morning skate.
