The Boston Bruins are expected to be without David Pastrnak, their top forward this season, for at least the next two games after he underwent an elbow procedure on Friday.
“David underwent a successful removal of the olecranon bursa from his right elbow on Friday, December 16 at Newton Wellesley Hospital by Dr. Matthew Liebman,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in a statement on Saturday morning. “He will likely be unavailable for the games on Sunday and Tuesday. His condition will be re-assessed on a day-to-day basis.”
The Bruins are home against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday and then host the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
After that they go on the road for a four-game road trip.
While the rest of the Bruins offense has struggled this season, Pastrnak has shined with 19 goals in only 27 games. That goal total not only leads the Bruins (nobody else on the team has more than nine goals at this point) but is also second best in the NHL behind only Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. With 26 total points he has already matched his point total from the 2015-16 season (it took him 51 games to reach that mark a year ago) and is only one point away from matching his career high.
He has already shattered his previous career high in goals (15 in 51 games a year ago).
He missed some time earlier this season due to an upper body injury.