Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy fell to the ice with blood pouring from his face after taking a Noah Dobson slap shot up high against Montreal. Marc DesRosiers / Imagn Images
MONTREAL — Charlie McAvoy took a Noah Dobson slap shot to the face at 11:01 of Saturday’s second period. The Boston Bruins defenseman immediately hit the deck with blood pouring from his face.
Scary moment as Charlie McAvoy takes a slap shot to the face.
Hoping he is okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/mhg7FOveTN
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 16, 2025
Head athletic trainer Dustin Stuck ran onto the ice to check on McAvoy. Stuck helped McAvoy to the exit at center ice of the Bell Centre with the closest access to the Montreal Canadiens medical staff rather than to the runway leading to the Bruins room. He was later ruled out of the game.
UPDATE: Charlie McAvoy (upper-body) will not return to tonight’s game.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 16, 2025
McAvoy was undergoing testing at the arena after the Bruins’ 3-2 win, according to Marco Sturm. The Bruins coach did not know whether McAvoy had been taken to a hospital. He was hopeful McAvoy could fly to Boston with his teammates postgame.
“Praying for him that everything’s going to be fine,” said David Pastrnak. “I haven’t heard anything yet. Hopefully he’s going to be all right. It’s a tough break. Very tough moment. Just praying for him to be all right.”
In his last appearance at the Bell Centre last season during the 4 Nations Face-Off, McAvoy injured his shoulder. This led to an infection that required emergency treatment upon Team USA’s return to Boston. McAvoy did not play again in 2024-25.
Nov 16, 2025
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