The Bruins placed defenseman Brandon Carlo on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 8, according to a team release. In a corresponding transaction, the team elevated netminder Brandon Bussi from AHL Providence on an emergency basis.
Head coach Jim Montgomery said that 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and will not play Thursday night against the Golden Knights, so Bussi will back up Ullmarkâs tandem partner, Jeremy Swayman.
Ullmark isnât the only player who suffered an injury in Tuesdayâs overtime loss to the Coyotes. Rookie Matthew Poitras suffered a shoulder injury and will also miss tonightâs game. He, too, is listed as day-to-day.
Carlo left the teamâs game on Monday against the Avalanche in the second period with an upper-body injury, but it wasnât clear what caused the premature exit. As a result of the IR placement, the 27-year-old has been ruled out of the teamâs next three games. He will be eligible to return next Thursday against the Avalanche.
In 39 games this season, the Bruinsâ top shutdown defender has two goals, eight assists, 10 points and a team-high +15 rating while averaging over 20 minutes per game. AHL call-up Parker Wotherspoon, who has two assists and a +2 rating in 13 NHL appearances this season, is projected to remain in a second-pairing role alongside Hampus Lindholm in Carloâs absence.
Luckily for the Bruins, it doesnât appear anyone elseâs absence is extremely long-term, either. Itâs a tough loss to go without Ullmark for a stretch, whoâs again been one of the better goalies in the league with a .915 SV% and 8.1 goals saved above average in 20 starts (21 appearances), but Swayman has put up slightly better numbers this season in the same amount of action.
In his place for now will be the 25-year-old Bussi. Named to the AHLâs All-Rookie Team last season after he posted a .924 SV% in 32 appearances for Providence in his first season after completing his collegiate career at Western Michigan, heâs taken a significant step back this year with a .901 SV% and 10-6-3 record in 20 appearances. Heâs been recalled on multiple occasions over the past two years due to short-term injuries to Swayman and Ullmark, and although heâs solidly third on Bostonâs depth chart, heâs still yet to make his NHL debut.
Poitras, 19, was injured in his third game back after representing Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden. The 2022 second-round pick has five goals and 15 points while averaging 13:46 through his first 30 NHL contests.
