MILAN — Panthers rookie Sandis Vilmanis, vilified by Bruins fans for his leaping elbow to the jaw of Charlie McAvoy on Feb. 4, said it was an accident.

“Of course I didn’t mean to do that,” said Vilmanis, speaking to the Globe after Tuesday’s practice with Team Latvia at the Milan Cortina Olympics. “You know, it just happened so quick. And, of course, you don’t see who it is, right?

“Yeah, I made, uh, not a great play there. But I mean, it’s hockey. It happens really quick.”

Vilmanis, who didn’t take a shift after the incident, exited that game with what the Panthers said was an upper-body injury. He has since recovered, and will be in the lineup when Latvia opens Olympic play against McAvoy and the United States on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Bruins fans have found his social media accounts and let him know their displeasure.

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“Of course they have,” said Vilmanis, who was booked for a minor penalty (illegal check to the head) but nothing further. “It’s normal. Fans have their opinion, of course.”

The 22-year-old left winger, who has 14 career NHL games under his belt, hadn’t faced the Bruins before last week. It didn’t take long for him to understand the loathing those teams have for each other.

“Oh yeah, the first couple of shifts, I already had a couple hits on me,” Vilmanis said. “It’s a heavy game, a hard game.”

He expects the same Thursday, but nothing extra from McAvoy, who said this week he was focused on playing hard no matter the opponent. Team USA coach Mike Sullivan also downplayed the incident.

“That’s in the rearview mirror,” said Sullivan, who also happens to be McAvoy’s father-in-law. “These guys are focused on the opportunity we have in front of us.”

Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy of Team USA said this week he was focused on playing hard no matter the opponent.Bruce Bennett/Getty

Vilmanis’s teammate, Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis, wasn’t sure the Bruins were done with him.

“Not here, probably,” Balinskis said. “Maybe when we go back to the National League. Maybe when we play Boston again he may need to keep his head up a little bit more. But I don’t think he’s in trouble.”

Matt Porter can be reached at matthew.porter@globe.com. Follow him on BlueSky at mattyports.bsky.social.