Jim Montgomery Offers Significant Update On Injured Bruins Defenseman

The Boston Bruins played the final two periods of Tuesday night’s come-from-behind victory over the St. Louis Blues down a defenseman after Hampus Lindholm exited the game late in the opening frame.

Jim Montgomery shed light on Lindholm’s prognosis when he spoke with reporters after practice Wednesday.

“Hampus is a lower-body injury,” Montgomery said, per team-provided audio. “It’s going to be weeks. Weeks is plural.”

Lindholm fell to the ice after blocking Blues defenseman Justin Faulk’s blast before he made his way off of the ice. He wasn’t on the bench to start the second period and moments later was ruled out for the rest of the contest with a lower-body injury.

Andrew Peeke is also out of the lineup with his own ailment after taking a nasty hit into the boards last week in the Bruins’ shutout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Peeke is also considered week-to-week.

Short two defenders, the Bruins recalled Jordan Oesterle from Providence ahead of Boston’s tilt in Dallas against the Stars.

While general manager Don Sweeney is responsible for recalling Oesterle, Montgomery said the coaching staff is in communication with Providence, and the Bruins bench boss added he was impressed with the veteran blueliner during training camp.

“His skating, his mobility, he’s an excellent skater in every possible fashion,” Montgomery said. “… And then it’s his brain. He’s a real smart hockey player that is exceptional at breaking the puck out in transition.”

With Lindholm out of the lineup, Charlie McAvoy resumed his place on the top power-play unit, and Mason Lohrei took over at the point on the second unit.

“Very comfortable with where he’s done it before,” Montgomery said of Lohrei being the lone defenseman on the power play. “It’s the situation where I think he’s very comfortable when he’s on the second unit. He does very well for us.”