Bruins D Matt Grzelcyk Will Miss Rematch With Rangers Friday

Unfortunately for Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, he just can’t stay healthy this season. 

After not taking a single shift in the final nine minutes of regulation or in overtime and playing just 11:41 total in a 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers Wednesday night, Matt Grzelcyk was not on the ice for practice Thursday at Madison Square Garden. Fellow defenseman Kevan Miller – who returned this season after missing all of last season – was also not skating Thursday but according to head coach Bruce Cassidy, it was just a maintenance day for Miller but worse news for Grzelcyk.

“Miller yes; ‘Gryzz’, I don’t think will be able to go tomorrow,” Cassidy replied when asked if Thursday was a maintenance day for both defensemen. “We’ll put him as day-to-day, lower-body. Obviously had a tough start to the year but. …Clifton will most likely go back into his spot. He did a good job for us when ‘Gryzz’ was out so that’s what it will look like for us tomorrow.”

Matt Grzelcyk had missed six of the Bruins’ previous seven games with two different lower-body injuries and it is not known if this injury that will force him to miss another game Friday night is one of those nagging injuries that has plagued him. Grzelcyk did not look himself in the game Wednesday and was on the ice for two Rangers goals and finished at a minus -2. This may explain why. 

Matt Grzelcyk has three assists in six games this season. Last season, the 26-year-old rearguard had four goals and 17 assists in 68 games. The Bruins were hoping Grzelcyk could help fill some of the void left on the powerplay with Torey Krug’s departure but due to injuries, he just hasn’t been able to get into the groove the season yet.