As the Boston Bruins push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, they'll have to do it without Hampus Lindholm.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters Sunday that the 31-year-old defenceman underwent surgery for a fractured patella and is "unlikely" to return this season.
Lindholm was placed on injured reserve in November and was initially expected to be out for multiple weeks.
He left Boston's 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 12 with three minutes remaining in the first period after blocking a shot in the slot from defenceman Justin Faulk.
The Swedish blue-liner had three goals and four assists in 17 games this season while averaging 20:51 in ice time.
Over his 12-year NHL career, Lindholm has emerged as a consistent top-pair defenceman with Boston and the Anaheim Ducks. In 2023-24, he recorded 26 points in 73 games and was a plus-18 with 100 blocked shots.
The Bruins enter play Sunday with a 27-24-7 record, which has them one point out of a playoff spot in the East.
Sweeney also said there was no timeline for the return of Charlie McAvoy from a shoulder injury. McAvoy was hurt while playing for the U.S. the 4 Nations Face-Off and was hospitalized after getting an infection.
--with files from The Associated Press
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