The Bruins lost two forwards to injury in Saturday’s game against the Penguins and will need to call up a few players from Providence to have a full roster for Sunday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Head coach Claude Julien told reporters after the game that Loui Eriksson has a concussion, which was suffered from a massive hit he took from Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik in the first period. Eriksson missed five games earlier in the season due to a concussion suffered on Oct. 23.
Julien also said that center Chris Kelly was slashed (although he didn’t say when it occurred) and picked up a lower-body injury. He will not be on the trip to Toronto. Boston will also be without Shawn Thornton, who has a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for his incident with Orpik in the first period.
Julien does not know who will join the Bruins from the minors for Sunday’s game, but it would be surprising if Ryan Spooner didn’t get called up. The 21-year-old center has appeared in two games for the NHL club this season and played well, earning two assists. Spooner leads the P-Bruins with 24 points in 21 games.
Matt Fraser might also get a call up. The 23-year-old right-winger leads Providence with 16 goals and has scored five goals in his last five games. If Boston decides to add a player with grit, toughness and size to replace Thornton on the fourth line, then we may see Providence’s Bobby Robbins in the lineup against the Leafs.
(UPDATE: Ryan Spooner and Matt Fraser have been called up to the Bruins, per Mark Divver of the Providence Journal)
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