David Krejci and the tale of missing teeth

*Insert tape, bask in the pleasantly-monotonous humming sound of your 1950 Bell & Howell movie projector and roll film*

David Krejci and the Boston Bruins found themselves in a tied hockey game with the New York Islanders on Thursday toward the end of the second period. The 32-year-old kept his head down following a pass from Danton Heinen — a big no-no at any level of hockey, let alone from a 12-year veteran — and took a massive hit from Islander defenseman Thomas Hickey.

The Czech centerman immediately headed down the tunnel to the locker room, but not before leaving behind marginal amounts of his pride, health and teeth on the ice. Two of Krejci’s chicklets fell to the TD Garden ice surface right by the Islanders bench.

No one seemed to notice Krejci’s bloody teeth on the ice, except for ex-Bruin Johnny Boychuk. The veteran defenseman — who apparently didn’t want his former teammate to miss out on tooth fairy money — graciously picked up the dislodged chicklets and returned them to Boston’s bench before heading to the locker room for intermission.

*End scene*

David Krejci loses a tooth after a big hit, ex-Bruin Johnny Boychuk returns it to the Boston bench pic.twitter.com/L0P13o8JFZ

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) November 30, 2018

“I have fake ones up there. Lost both of them and just had some dental work done yesterday so it’s all good now,” Krejci remarked to the press after Boston’s morning skate around on Saturday. “It’s nice of [Boychuk], but I obviously didn’t use them.”

Boychuk’s all-time hockey move even received some raised eyebrows from Boston’s head coach.

“I found out he lost one or two. I didn’t see Johnny do that. Brought it back to our bench? Or his own? He did?” Bruce Cassidy asked following the B’s 2-1 shootout win over the Isles. “I love Johnny, he’s a good guy, but that’s weird.”

Krejci rejoined his teammates for the third period but took a maintenance day for Friday’s practice presumably for dental work. He returned to Warrior Ice Arena Saturday and is probable for Boston’s 7 p.m. tilt with the Detroit Red Wings.

The Bruins have quite the hefty dental bill through entering the third month of the 2018-19 season. Krejci, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and Ryan Donato — who lost five teeth in Providence — have all visited the dental office after joining the old-fashioned hockey smile club.

“I’ve been to the dentist office many times,” Krejci added.