The Bruins defenseman said he knew immediately he \u201cwas in some trouble\u201d after a ricocheted slapper off the stick of Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson hit him in the face.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had just a linear fracture right here all the way down,\u201d said McAvoy, tracing his finger from the left side of his mouth to his jawline. \u201cAnd some displacement, and lost a lot of teeth on my bottom, but I\u2019ll save you the visual. Just take my word for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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McAvoy was told by doctors that solid food will be back on the menu six weeks after the repairs, which would put him about three weeks away.<\/p>\n
As far as returning to play, no timetable has been set.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, we\u2019ll see. There\u2019s steps that we\u2019ve got to cross,\u201d McAvoy said. \u201cObviously getting weight on, getting energy, feeling good is the biggest thing. You don\u2019t want to be out there and feeling like you\u2019re going to pass out, so there\u2019s that. There\u2019s getting cleared by the doctor. There\u2019s X-rays. There\u2019s certain checkmarks that we have to get by before we can get back in any game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wearing a red noncontact jersey and a full shield, McAvoy practiced with the Bruins at Warrior Arena for the second straight day. Aside from being considerably thinner \u2014 he\u2019s lost nearly 20 pounds \u2014 McAvoy looked active and engaged throughout the 45-minute session.<\/p>\n
Though there was no checking or jostling, McAvoy said any motion is a reminder. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou feel everything,\u201d he said. \u201cIt vibrates a lot, like when you lean down and on shots and stuff. It\u2019s a weird feeling. It\u2019s been one of the weirdest injuries I\u2019ve ever had. The feeling of having so much trauma in your mouth is just a wild feeling. But we\u2019re doing everything we can to get back fast, and I\u2019m healing really good. Hopefully not too much longer.\u201d<\/p>\n
McAvoy said building strength is a priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got to get that back,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely tough, with the lost weight. I feel weak and energy is tough to come by. I lost close to 20 pounds in the first week and a half. It\u2019s a shock to your body, and then trying to get it back now while getting out there and doing more than I\u2019ve done in a while and trying to get energy high, we\u2019re trying to play catch-up.\u201d<\/p>\n
The facial fracture is the second big injury McAvoy has suffered this calendar year. He was lost for the season after suffering an injury to his right shoulder acromioclavicular joint and subsequent infection at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.<\/p>\n
He lauded the support he received from his family and the Bruins in navigating the difficult times.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy family. The guys. The support of the staff and everybody from the top down is in our corner and in my corner, and that just means the world to me, and to allow me to focus on the things I need to focus on and know that there\u2019s so much love and support for us in this building,\u201d McAvoy said. \u201cYou can\u2019t describe it. It just means the world to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
McAvoy\u2019s teammates have been excited about having him back on the ice, and vice versa.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it\u2019s great to be around the guys and just to be back in the rhythm a little bit,\u201d said McAvoy, who has 14 points (all assists) in 19 games this season. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see them and that helps me equally the same way. I\u2019m happy to hear it helps them. I take a lot of positivity from this group and so many great guys here that are encouraging me on this way back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marco Sturm said McAvoy\u2019s presence brings up the energy level at practice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t say it enough [about him]. He\u2019s such a big part of our team, on and off the ice,\u201d said the coach. \u201cWe miss him every day. Just to have him around again, it puts a smile on everyone\u2019s face, including us coaches. He\u2019s one of the best defensemen in the league, I think, and to see him hurt like that hurt all of us. That\u2019s why we can\u2019t wait to have him back.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
David Pastrnak took a step toward returning from a lower-body injury suffered Nov. 26 on Long Island by skating with skills coach John McLean before practice. Sturm said the All-Star right winger is still considered \u201cday to day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @globejimmcbride<\/a>.<\/p>\n