The Bruins are in Winnipeg with a storyline that could tilt the balance: Charlie McAvoy may return to the lineup, and his presence would bring a big lift to Boston. He’s listed as a game-time decision for Thursday’s 8 p.m. ET clash against the Winnipeg Jets at the Canada Life Centre. McAvoy appeared in a regular jersey during Boston’s optional morning skate, but until the team finalizes the decision, nothing is certain. “Today felt good, and then we just monitor it throughout the day. I have to go talk to the trainers right now. Don’t have an answer for you yet, but see how the rest of the day goes,” McAvoy said. He emphasized that the decision is collaborative: “It’s a mutual, it’s a team decision. It’s a group of people that we rely on to make sure we’re doing the right thing.”
McAvoy has been sidelined since taking a puck to the jaw on November 15 in Montreal, an injury that required facial surgery. Over the past week, he has been practicing with the team, gradually regaining weight and stamina after an all-liquid diet during his recovery. “It’s definitely getting better,” McAvoy noted. “I can do more, which means you can work on conditioning again. Honestly, the best way to get conditioning back is to play in a game, and that’s coming soon.”
His teammates have felt the impact of his locker-room leadership and on-ice presence. Bruins coach Marco Sturm said the return of the alternate captain would be a meaningful upgrade: “Just to see him out there, the presence he brings on and off the ice, in the locker room, is noticeable. It’s nice to have him back. Seeing that smile on his face—it’s been a while. He is our leader, so it’s great to have him back.”
On the ice, Morgan Geekie, who already leads Boston with 22 goals—second-most in the NHL—will have extra hometown supporters in attendance. The Manitoba native’s family from Strathclair is traveling to watch Thursday’s game. Despite the attention, Geekie downplays the spotlight: “Honestly, it doesn’t really change much. People I grew up with would say hi to me no matter what I’m doing. It’s cool, and I really appreciate them coming, but it doesn’t change a whole lot for me.”
Lineup notes include David Pastrnak staying on the third line with Marat Khusnutdinov and Fraser Minten. Pastrnak returned Tuesday after missing five games with an injury, finishing with three assists against the Blues, while Minten scored twice. In goal, Joonas Korpisalo is slated to start for Boston. He last played December 4 against the St. Louis Blues, turning away a season-high 37 shots. This year, he carries a 3.38 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage across 12 games.
Defensively, Andrew Peeke comes into Thursday riding a two-game point streak. Through 31 games, he has six points (one goal, five assists) and logs about 20:20 of ice time per night.
Opposite the Bruins, the Jets are looking to snap a rough stretch, having fallen 4-3 to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Scheifele had a two-goal night, and Logan Stanley also scored in that loss, while Eric Comrie stopped 15 of 19 shots. Winnipeg has dropped four of its last five.
Scheifele remains Winnipeg’s top point producer with 38 points (16 goals, 22 assists) in 29 games, anchoring the first line between Kyle Connor and Alex Iafallo. He also contributes on the power play, with three goals on the man advantage; Gabriel Vilardi leads the Jets with four power-play goals. Jonathan Toews is starting his first season with Winnipeg after a long tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks, tallying nine points (three goals, six assists) in 29 games on the fourth line with Morgan Barron and ex-Bruin Cole Koepke.
Sturm previewed BOS @ WPG, underscoring the tension between risk and reward in a potential McAvoy return, and the way a proven leader can shift team tempo and morale. He’ll have to decide if the benefit of immediate impact outweighs the risk of aggravating the injury.
Would you rather see the Bruins pace the Jets with McAvoy back on the blue line, or prioritize patience and let him heal fully before returning to game action? Share your thoughts in the comments.
