Bruins winger Noel Acciari has undergone surgery to repair a left index finger fracture, the team announced. As a result, he is expected to be out of the lineup for the next six weeks. The injury was sustained in their season opener back on October 5th. He becomes the second winger that Boston has lost this week after David Backes was diagnosed with diverticulitis.
Acciari had cracked the opening night lineup after splitting last season between the Bruins and their AHL affiliate in Providence. He played in 29 NHL games in 2016-17, recording five points (2-3-5) and 16 penalty minutes while also collecting a goal in four postseason contests.
While the team will have an open roster spot when he’s placed on injured reserve, they sit just $270K under the salary cap at the moment which doesn’t give them enough room to call anyone else up unless they choose to place Acciari on long-term injury reserve. However, they should have Patrice Bergeron (lower body) back soon while Austin Czarnik (illness) skated with the team today so they shouldn’t need to call anyone up right away to take Acciari’s place.