According to interim coach Joe Sacco, the physical forward is out with an illness. Frederic’s absence leaves the Bruins without one of their most physical players. He has seven goals and seven assists in 47 games. The Bruins are now missing, Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, Cole Koepke and Frederic.

Charlie Coyle scored twice in the third period to save the Bruins the ignominy of losing to the 31st-ranked San Jose Sharks, lifting the B’s to a 6-3 victory at the Garden on Monday. The

Coyle will start the game on the third line on the wing with Matt Poitras, who returns at center and Trent Frederic. Vinni Lettieri will play his first game in Boston this season in Coyle’s regular spot with Elias Lindholm and Brad Marchand. Oliver Wahlstrom will sit out with Coyle available.

After the Bruins' brutal loss, head coach Joe Sacco made some serious changes to the club's lines at practice. After being scratched last game, Oliver Wahlstrom skated on the first line at practice. Morgan Geekie also moved down the middle, while David Pastrnak played at right wing.

The other moves related to injury classifications, with franchise defenseman Charlie McAvoy surprisingly placed on the injured reserve list.

Being back in the NHL tends to make days sunny again.

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 14: Boston Bruins center Matthew Poitras (51) flips the puck up ice during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 14, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Bruins called up Matt Poitras from Providence on Tuesday, but the team also placed Charlie McAvoy on injured reserve.

Bruins president Cam Neely admitted that Boston has to prepare for "two paths" as buyers or sellers this season.

A poor start doomed the Lightning, as they allowed four unanswered goals in the opening 26:05. Although they pushed hard in the final 14 minutes of the second period and reduced the deficit to two, they were unable to pull themselves out of the hole they dug.

In a wildly entertaining and raucous game, the Bruins had their most emotional win of the season in their grasp only to cough up a two-goal lead late in the final 3:13 of regulation and lose in a shootoout.

After finding his game in Providence, center Matt Poitras was recalled by Boston on Tuesday and, though Charlie Coyle (illness) was a game-time decision, the 20-year-old Poitras was set to be in the lineup against the Tampa Bay Lightning regardless of Coyle’s status.