Boston Bruins’ Johnny Boychuk out four weeks
Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk will reportedly be out for at least four weeks with a broken arm.
The youngster sustained the injury in the first period of the club’s game against the New York Rangers on Saturday 23 October. The injury is said to be a slight fracture in his left forearm.
The Bruins are likely to miss the defender, who has stepped up his role with the club this season, as they are thin in terms of puck-moving defenseman. Already with a fairly young blue line it is not clear who the Bruins will call up to replace the defender.
The 26-year-old has been making his living, early in the 2010-11 season, with his offence, while earning plenty of ice time. Boychuk’s role has been steadily increasing, starting the season by playing roughly 21 minutes, before being bumped to over 25 minutes
against the Washington Capitals on 21 October. Garnering time on special teams has pushed the Alberta native into an important role with the club.
The Bruins have had a strong start to the season, currently sitting at 4-2, which is good enough for third in the Northeast Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference. However, the club still manages to win games with its defence, as they are first in
the League, only allowing an average of 1.83 goals-against per game. Meanwhile, the squads top line of David Krejci, Nathan Horton and Milan Lucic, has helped to boost the team on offence, where they now average three goals a game.
The hulking Boychuk, who stands at 6’2”, 225-pounds was given a two year contract extension over the summer, which sees him earn $1.8 million this year and next.
So far in six games this season Boychuk has managed three assists and a plus-three rating.
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