BOSTON -- The Bruins had to learn how to play without Milan Lucic for a month from mid-October to Nov. 19 when he suffered a broken finger. Now they'll be without him for another month after Lucic suffered a high-ankle sprain Wednesday night against the Minnesota Wild.
General manager Peter Chiarelli revealed Friday morning that Lucic could miss up to four weeks after suffering the injury to his left ankle.
The game against the Wild was just his fourth contest back after having surgery to repair his broken finger.
Lucic, who scored two goals since his return, fell backward awkwardly in the third period after a hit at the blue line by Minnesota defenseman Marek Zidlicky.
"It's something we've been dealing with since the beginning of the year. Injuries are part of the game and we've just got to go forward with what we've got. That's always been the case and that's what we have to deal with now," coach Claude Julien said before the Bruins' Friday matinee with the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden. "Obviously, you lose a pretty good player who had a pretty good impact on games at times. We've been without him for a month and we'll have to deal without him for a little longer now."
The Bruins entered Friday's game against the Devils with a 5-5-4 record without Lucic in the lineup. Since his return, the team was 4-0-0.
With Lucic out, Vladimir Sobotka returns to the lineup for Friday's game.