The anticipation inside TD Garden in Boston is palpable Thursday night as the United States faces Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship, an exciting event that has quickly become a standout alternative to the NHL's usual All-Star Weekend.
While both teams are as healthy as they can be at this stage of the season, the U.S. is missing one key player: star defenseman Charlie McAvoy. McAvoy suffered a serious AC joint injury in his shoulder after dealing with an infection, which led to his hospitalization on Feb. 18.
Despite the injury, McAvoy played through the pain against both Finland and Canada in their previous meetings, pushing through the discomfort from the injury sustained during the tournament.
However, with health concerns still lingering, McAvoy has since been released from the hospital and made a surprise appearance in the USA locker room before the game. There, he revealed the starting lineup to his teammates, giving them a boost of energy and morale ahead of their championship showdown.
Check it out:
USA and NHL fans were thrilled to see Charlie McAvoy in the building, especially in a stadium where he is widely regarded as a fan favorite. Having spent all eight seasons of his professional career with the Boston Bruins, McAvoy has become a staple of the city's hockey scene.
"Truly the heart and soul of this team." A fan posted.
"This made me emotional." Another fan revealed.
"Remember the average human would still be in a hospital bed. Dudes such a beast. for a speedy recovery. Deep bacterial infections are no joke!" A fan said.
One more fan said, "He wanted to play tonight."
Earlier on Thursday, McAvoy hinted at his surprise appearance when he posted a message on social media, saying, “Free as a bird,” while driving in his car and listening to “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, the song played after every U.S. goal.
