Bruins Have a Big Problem on Defense

Another day, another Boston Bruins injury on defense.

Saturday, Matt Grzelcyk joined the ever-growing list of injured Bruins defensemen when he left following the first period of Boston’s 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Bruins finished yet another game with five defensemen, which is becoming an all too common theme as of late.

Grzelcyk joins Charlie McAvoy, who has missed the last three games and will miss tonight’s game at the TD Garden against the Washington Capitals on the shelf. Kevan Miller will not play against the Capitals either, as they are giving him the night off on a back-to-back. Miller recently returned after missing 46 days with an issue with his surgically repaired knee.

Brandon Carlo has played four periods of hockey since March 5 when he suffered a concussion on a hit from Tom Wilson of the Capitals. Coach Bruce Cassidy has listed Carlo as week-to-week, which does not sound promising.

Bruins will be severely shorthanded on defense against the Capitals.

If you are going to watch tonight’s game, you’re going to need a roster. The Black and Gold will most likely be down four of their six Opening Night defensemen against the co-leaders of the East Division.

No Grzelcyk, McAvoy, Miller, and Carlo is not good. Which blueliners are going to be active for the game?

Most likely Jeremy Lauzon, Connor Clifton, Steven Kampfer, and Jakub Zboril will be four of the defensemen in uniform in front of rookie goalie Dan Vladar. Who else? That’s the question.

Some options for Cassidy are Jarred Tinordi, who was claimed off of waivers from the Nashville Predators in February, Jack Ahcan, who made his NHL debut last month against the Buffalo Sabres, or rookie Urho Vaakanainen.

Regardless of who is uniform tonight and with injuries piling up quickly on defense, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney might be making a few calls in the next day to see what blueliners are available by Monday’s 3 p.m. deadline.