Boston left winger Matt Beleskey will miss the next six weeks with a right knee injury sustained on a hip check from Taylor Fedun on Saturday against the Sabres, the team announced.
Beleskey is off to a quiet start in his second season with the Bruins, collecting just two goals and three assists in 24 games despite averaging more than 15 minutes of ice time per game. Last year, he posted a career high in points with 37 in 80 games.
The injury should open up a spot for Ryan Spooner on Boston’s third line left wing, at least in the short-term. Spooner is believed to be on the trade block after a sluggish start to the season, one that has seen him collect nine points through 25 games. Frank Vatrano, who is still believed to be a couple of weeks away from returning from a foot injury, also should garner some consideration for that spot in the lineup when he gets the green light to play.
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The Bruins are close to getting a bit of good news on the injury front though as right winger Noel Acciari practiced with the team for the first time on Monday since suffering a lower body injury back in early November, notes CSN New England’s Joe Haggerty. While he won’t directly slot into Beleskey’s spot, he’ll undoubtedly add some energy to Boston’s fourth line when he returns.