Boston Bruins Foligno (Lower Body) Out, Due For MRI

The news isn’t good for Boston Bruins forward Nick Foligno.

The veteran winger was forced out of Saturday night’s Bruins win over the Lightning in Tampa Bay after his left leg buckled under the weight of Lightning defenseman Cal Foote falling on top of him.

This does not look good for Nick Foligno pic.twitter.com/q5DO5Pua0b

— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) January 9, 2022

It was expected he wasn’t going to be able to play Monday night against the Washington Capitals, and he’ll be replaced in the lineup by Karson Kuhlman while getting ready for an MRI on his leg when the team returns to Boston.

Foligno’s absence gives Kuhlman a chance to play Monday night against Washington, his first game action since Dec. 16 prior to the COVID/holiday break for the Black and Gold. It also means that 23-year-old rookie Oskar Steen (five points in seven games this season) will likely stay in the lineup even after Jake DeBrusk returns from the league’s COVID protocol later this week as well.

“Foligno is out. He’ll get an MRI done in Boston [on Tuesday] and then we’ll have a better update once they take those pictures,” said Cassidy of Foligno, who had just scored his first goal as a Bruin in the New Year’s Day win over the Sabres. “He’s played himself into a spot and he’s kept his spot because of his play. Very simply put.

“Obviously Jake is getting close to the lineup and we’ve tried to keep him on the left side. With Foligno’s injury whether it’s long term or medium term, it allows Steen another opportunity to stay him. But [Steen] has made it really difficult on us to take him out and we haven’t.”

Here’s a look at the projected Boston Bruins lineup for tonight’s game against the Capitals with the status admittedly unclear for both Derek Forbort and Conor Clifton this morning amidst some testing issues. Cassidy indicated that Charlie McAvoy was feeling better after missing last weekend’s game against the Lightning and is trending toward a return for Monday night’s tilt against the Washington Capitals.

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Lazar-Nosek-Kuhlman

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