Charlie McAvoy hit Team USA practice in a full shield, and the Bruins defenseman’s Olympic reset suddenly looks like damage control.

Before the Panthers game, McAvoy already looked like he was inching toward a normal visor again.

Then in Boston’s final game before the Olympic break, McAvoy took a high elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis.

McAvoy briefly left the game but returned later for the beginning of the second period, and everyone assumed the worst had been avoided.

The next wave of reality came when McAvoy posted the clip and the aftermath, including a swollen face photo. That’s the kind of thing you only share when you feel ignored.

Then Sunday in Milan, it was revealed that McAvoy still has to wear his full shield for the Olympics.

Elliotte Friedman noted McAvoy was wearing a full shield at Team USA’s first practice.

Friedman also had McAvoy paired with Quinn Hughes, which is a scary amount of puck-moving on one pair.

That pairing has been teased in projections for weeks, and now it’s on the ice for real.

The full shield part is the headline, though, because it screams lingering face and jaw concern. McAvoy even admitted in Milan that the Panthers hit brought back the same swollen jaw pain from when he broke it months ago.

Charlie McAvoy forced to wear a face shield

Team USA’s first practice wasn’t about systems, it was about shaking off travel and getting moving. That’s why seeing McAvoy fully protected hit so hard.

McAvoy has 39 points in 45 games this season, and Team USA needs his minutes, not a late tournament scratch.

He is going to be an important piece to Team USA's roster, especially considering he was announced one of the captains for the team.