The new on Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak is not good. Despite X-rays coming back negative last week, they were apparently not so kind to the Bruins' 2014 first-round pick this time around. According to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe, after the swelling in Pastrnak's foot reduced, a second set of scans were taken, revealing a "non-displaced fracture" as a result of a shot that rung off of Pastrnak's foot during a game against the Arizona Coyotes on Oct. 27.
"With David's case, things changed a little bit," Boston general manager Don Sweeney said, per Benjamin. "The initial X-rays were normal. We waited for swelling to go down. The symptoms were still persisting, so we went to a have a more definitive CT scan. And it did reveal a small non-displaced crack in an awkward location, so we have to give him some time.
"The course of action doesn't change for him, except he just needs a little more rest."
There is no immediate timetable for Pastrnak's return, though it seems he's likely to avoid surgery. Pastrnak played in two more games after blocking the shot with his foot, but missed the four contests following. When the Bruins left for their three-game road trip to Washington, Montreal, and Brooklyn, Pastrnak stayed behind to rest and rehab.
There was talk that he could return after this past weekend, but Pastrnak remains sidelined.
With the young forward on the mend, players like Alexander Khokhlachev - who is dealing with his own fracture after being injured in his first game back in the AHL - and Frank Vatrano have gotten playing time on Boston's second line alongside David Krejci and Loui Eriksson. Vatrano in particular seems to have acquitted himself well, potting his first NHL goal on Saturday against the Canadiens.
But if the Bruins are to keep their current season's prospects afloat, they'll need Pastrnak back sooner rather than later. Through 10 games this year, Pastrnak has two goals, two assists and is a minus-three.
The Bruins are 7-6-1, good enough for fifth in the Atlantic Division.
