Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy briefly left Wednesday night's game against the Florida Panthers after a high hit from forward Sandis Vilmanis. The incident occurred in the first period as McAvoy carried the puck through the neutral zone. Vilmanis delivered an open-ice collision, appearing to leave his feet and making contact with McAvoy's head with his elbow.

McAvoy remained down on the ice before being helped off by teammates and staff, heading to the tunnel for evaluation. The hit immediately sparked concern, particularly given McAvoy's importance to the Bruins' defense and his upcoming participation in the Milan Olympics for Team USA. TSN's Chris Johnston noted the unfortunate timing of the incident, especially with the Olympics on the horizon.

Vilmanis was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head. Many fans and analysts expressed surprise that this was the only penalty assessed. The 22-year-old Vilmanis, a Latvian drafted by Florida in 2022, did not play for the remainder of the game after the hit. It is not clear whether this was a disciplinary decision by the Panthers or a precautionary measure.

However, there was good news for Bruins fans as McAvoy returned to the ice at the start of the second period.

The Bruins and Panthers are battling for position in the Eastern Conference standings, adding intensity to the game. The Bruins entered the game with a record of 32-20-4.

McAvoy, age 28, has been a key player for the Bruins this season. He has been consistently contributing on the scoresheet, with goals and assists in many of his recent games. He wears extra face protection due to an earlier injury sustained in November, but it hasn't impacted his performance.

The game continued without further incident involving McAvoy or Vilmanis. Updates on any potential supplemental discipline for Vilmanis are expected in the coming days.