Bruins’ Matt Grzelcyk leaves game vs. Oilers with lower-body injury

Boston Bruins’ defenseman Matt Grzelcyk left Wednesday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers with a lower-body injury. The team announced on social media that he would not return to the game.

Grzelcyk appeared to be injured early in the first period after Oilers’ forward Ryan McLeod slashed the Bruins’ defender on the left ankle. Grzelcyk did not return after the incident.

Going into Thursday night, Grzelcyk had two goals and five assists for seven points and is averaging 17:38 through 42 games with the Bruins this season. Now in his eighth NHL season, all with Boston, the 30-year-old Grzelcyk has 25 goals and 106 assists for 131 career points.

Drafted in the third round by the Bruins in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Grzelcyk spent four seasons with Boston University, serving as captain for his junior and senior seasons. Through his four college seasons, he scored 26 goals and 69 assists for 94 points in 124 career games.

Heading into Wednesday night, the Bruins have a 33-12-11 record with 77 points, second in the Atlantic Division and one point behind the first-place Florida Panthers. The Oilers were the first opponent of a four-game west coast swing for the Bruins, as they face the Calgary Flames on Thursday, the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday and the Seattle Kraken on Monday.