Noting that might not seem fair to the players, Sturm added, “I know that . . . but that’s what it is.”

Jokiharju, 26, is a 2017 first-round pick (Blackhawks, No. 29) who has the skills to think about doing more than the basics. Those skills, in part, led the Bruins last summer to guarantee him $9 million over three years, following his brief work on their blue line last spring after being picked up from the Sabres at the trade deadline.

Get Starting Point

A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.

In his 35 games this season, Jokiharju chipped in with a meager 0-9—9, albeit most of the time working in a No. 3 pairing role. He was back in the lineup after being scratched (coach’s decision) for seven straight games, Sturm opting not to employ him after Jokiharju was on the ice for two goals in a 3-1 loss to the Flyers on Feb. 28.

He got an assist Monday when his long wrister led to the rebound that David Pastrnak collected and promptly potted for a 1-0 lead at 4:02 of the first period.

“Just do your job, that’s what we get paid [for],” said Jokiharju, when asked after the morning workout at the Rock how he interpreted Sturm’s expectations. “Keep it simple and do your job.”

Jokiharju acknowledged feeling a sense of frustration in not being asked to do more.

“But I’m a Finnish guy, I don’t complain,” he added, “I just do what I am told.”

Jokiharju, who had fellow Finn Joonas Korpisalo working behind him in the Bruins net, was part of the Team Finland contingent at last month’s Winter Olympics. Jokiharju hoped to springboard off the Olympic experience and into a more vital role with his NHL team.

“You see the system a little bit better up top,” he said, noting the view from the press box. “But I don’t really enjoy, obviously, not playing. It’s easy to see some mistakes up there, but like I say, it’s really good to be back.”

Less than a month removed from the Olympic Games, the NHL and the Players’ Association formally announced the return of the World Cup of Hockey tournament.

The best-on-best tournament, comprised of eight teams, will be staged during the 2027-28 season. Its 17 games will be played in Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague.

Tournament officials released a video of Pastrnak, proud son of Havirov, Czechia, heralding the tournament’s intended stop in his mother country.

Avalanche blue liner Cale Makar, who grew up in Calgary, appeared on the same video, noting how pleased he was games would be played in his hometown. Superstar Connor McDavid, captain of the Oilers, expressed similar delight that some games would be staged in Edmonton.

Canada, the US, and Czechia will be three of the eight taking part, along with Finland and Sweden. The identities of the three remaining teams will be impacted in large part by whether the IIHF by then has accepted Russia back into its community. Russia, because of the ongoing war it launched against Ukraine, was banned from participating in the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off and last month’s Olympic Games.

Jeremy Swayman, whose win in Washington on Saturday was his career-best 26th, suited up as backup to Korpisalo. He’ll be back on the job Tuesday night in Montreal for the final stop of the three-game road trip . . . The Bruins have surrendered six opening goals in the 10 games (including Monday) they played in the wake of the Olympics. Overall, they were 5-3-1 in those prior nine games and 2-0-1 in the three games they opened the scoring . . . Charlie McAvoy, whose two goals backed the 3-2 overtime win in Washington, entered the night having scored eight of the last 10 scored by the club’s defensemen . . . The Bruins’ power play entered in a 4-for-32 (12.5 percent) rut. Morgan Geekie (2) and Pavel Zacha (2) owned the only goals on the advantage across the nine games.

Boston Globe Sports Report: Episode 20

This week we cover everything from the Celtics, to Red Sox players dominating in the World Baseball Classic, to FIFA, and NFL free agency.

Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com.