Hampus Lindholm could only watch as the Bruins’ defensive structure — tabbed as one of the pillars of strength on Marco Sturm’s roster this season — crumbled over the last few weeks.
A lingering lower-body injury, suffered during Boston’s home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 9, sidelined the 31-year-old blueliner for eight of Boston’s previous nine games entering Tuesday’s home matchup against the Islanders.
In those eight games, the Bruins went 2-6-0, relinquishing 4.25 goals per contest. But as Lindholm watched his team fumble pucks in the D zone, the desire to return to the ice was countered by the patience prescribed to ensure that his nagging injury was not going to be a season-long hurdle.