Cue that familiar, unwelcome feeling.
“Same [as] I had when I broke it,” McAvoy acknowledged Saturday morning. “Honestly, my jaw hurts a lot. Can’t really chew, it’s constant pain. We did our due diligence with the doctor, but he said I’m in a fragile state with that.”
In the last 12 months, McAvoy has been hospitalized for a separated shoulder that became a staph infection, stemming from the 4 Nations Face-Off, and had his jaw wired shut after he was felled on Nov. 15. (Happily, he also became a father.)
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On Wednesday, he knew he was in trouble after the first-period hit, but he was out there for the second period.
“In my head, I have the Olympics. I can’t lose this opportunity to come to Italy,” he said. “But at the same time, I got my brothers out there. We need points. I was going to show what it means to me. It’s that kind of team. It’s been that kind of year. I’m really happy with what we accomplished in the first half.”
Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman, who flew over with McAvoy to join Team USA, wasn’t surprised to see him gut it out.
“He wanted 2 points in that game,” Swayman said. “That’s something that resonates with all of us, players and teammates. I’m more than jazzed to have him on the Bruins and Team USA. It’s going to be special to see him perform.”
US general manager Bill Guerin said McAvoy’s “character is through the roof, his toughness and grit,” and that the Bruins have impressed him.
“You don’t have the type of year they’re having without good leadership,” Guerin said, referring to McAvoy and Team Czechia’s David Pastrnak. “They had some good years with [Patrice] Bergeron and [Zdeno] Chara, and they’re carrying the torch.”
As McAvoy deals with what he called “the nonsense” that accompanies his latest malady, the hit has been a hot topic in the hockey world. Vilmanis, who clearly left his skates and delivered a hit to the head, was given a minor penalty without additional discipline.
McAvoy was irritated enough by the incident to share a grisly selfie of his swollen jaw on social media after arriving in Italy, along with a video of the play. No caption. It spoke for itself.
The Americans’ Winter Games opener, coincidentally, is Thursday against Vilmanis and the Latvians, but 4 Nations Face-Off-style frontier justice is unlikely. Fighting at the Olympics means a match penalty and possible further suspension.
Anyway, Team USA has more pressing concerns.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” McAvoy said. “We’ve been talking about it since 4 Nations: Our time is now. We have enough superstars, and it’s been a while since we’ve won anything really big at the men’s level.”
That was before they won the World Championships in May, their first win at that tournament in 92 years.
The Bruins’ No. 1 blue liner was one of four US men’s hockey players to fly commercial to northern Italy in time for Friday’s Opening Ceremony, the others being Swayman, Jake Oettinger, and Zach Werenski.
After two days of heavy travel — Fort Lauderdale to Boston, then Boston to Newark to Milan — and eight combined hours of sleep, McAvoy joined the rest of the delegation.
When he sat down in a cafe with a Globe reporter Saturday morning, the adrenaline and buzz had yet to wear off.
For nearly three hours, Team USA — the 91st of 93 countries to walk — sat in a tent outside the stadium, with water and snacks, trading lapel pins and meeting athletes from other countries. McAvoy was stirred by the diplomats’ speeches and their messages of peace. He and Swayman gave bear hugs to Pastrnak, the Czech flag bearer.
“The look on his face, you can’t put a price on it,” McAvoy said. “I think it was probably one of the coolest things he’ll ever do in his life. And so well deserved.”
David Pastrnak led the largest Team Czechia contingent in Winter Olympics history on Friday.Gregory Shamus/Getty
Even for a veteran of the bright lights, it was a night beyond comparison.
“It stands alone,” McAvoy said. “We’re in the hallway there, and the group in front starts singing the national anthem. You’re coming out of the tunnel, and the fans that are right there are chanting and cheering for us. It’s an unmatched feeling, just the pride that you have. Just to be part of that group … truly something special.”
This week we dig into Super Bowl LX preparations and if Drake Maye’s shoulder will be the main storyline of Patriots vs. Seahawks this Sunday.
Matt Porter can be reached at matthew.porter@globe.com. Follow him on BlueSky at mattyports.bsky.social.