Bruins fans may not see Charlie McAvoy on the ice again until the playoffs.

The team announced Tuesday that McAvoy sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee Saturday against the Canadiens and is expected to miss four weeks. That timeline would have the 20-year-old defenseman returning to the lineup just in time for the Stanley Cup playoffs, which begin April 11.

Boston enters Tuesday with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference (88 points), trailing only the Lightning (94). The Bruins' focus in the final weeks of the regular season will be seeding, and having McAvoy sidelined doesn't figure to help the cause.

The Boston University product has played alongside Zdeno Chara, contributing seven goals and 25 assists in his rookie season. Only Chara has averaged more time on ice for the Bruins than McAvoy's 22:07 per game.

McAvoy missed four games after having a surgical procedure in January to address an abnormal heart rhythm but has been a steady contributor since his return.