Help is on the way for the Boston Bruins.
The Bruins recalled defenseman Jack Ahcan and forward Oskar Steen from the AHL’s Providence Bruins on Saturday ahead of their matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It appears as though Providence’s COVID situation has lightened up, allowing for the call-ups to be made. Earlier in the week, the situation caused for the team to be in a COVID shutdown.
It’s the first time Ahcan has been called up to Boston this season, while the third time for Steen.
Getting Ahcan and Steen comes at perfect time for the Bruins
Before calling up the two members of the P-Bruins, Boston was looking at having exactly enough skaters for Saturday’s game.
Brad Marchand has one more game to sit out for his slew-footing suspension, Anton Blidh was back skating this morning, but it’s unclear if he’ll return from his injury, and Jakub Zboril was hurt on Thursday in the Bruins’ 2-0 win over the Predators.
That left them with exactly 12 forwards and six defensemen for Saturday with no reinforcements on the way. Or so we thought.
Ahcan has had a very good season down in the AHL. He has skated in 19 games, posting a goal and 10 assists in that span. But he’s looked the most NHL-ready out of any of the defensemen down in Boston’s minor league system.
Steen has skated in 23 games with Providence, recording five goals and six assists. Given his experience up with the Bruins already this season, it made sense for him to get the call-up. He has two assists in two games skated this season with Boston.
Whether either of the two play on Saturday remains to be seen. At morning rushes, neither Zboril or Charlie McAvoy were skating. If neither are available, the Bruins would have no choice but to put Ahcan in the lineup, as well as Connor Clifton.
Steen was skating as an extra this morning so looks like he was recalled just as an extra. But we’ll see later tonight.
The Bruins and Lightning square off at 7 p.m. Likely, more information on the status of some of those in questions will be clarified soon.
But Boston at least has some help. Which they could very well need.