Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said before the All-Star break that he would be "shocked" if Jake DeBrusk wasn't ready to return for Boston's first game back on Saturday against Washington.
Well, DeBrusk wasn't at practice on Thursday, and he's unlikely to play on Saturday. Montgomery isn't sounding any alarms, though, telling reporters after practice that there hasn't been a setback.
In fact, the injury isn't even why DeBrusk missed Thursday's practice. He hit travel delays trying to get back from his hometown of Edmonton.
"Travel issues," Montgomery said. "Flight from Edmonton -- I don't know if it was weather or plane -- his flight got canceled yesterday. Didn't fly this morning, couldn't get here. I think he's landing shortly."
Montgomery went on to explain that DeBrusk was already trending towards not playing Saturday after the results of his latest imaging just before the All-Star break -- results that Montgomery didn't yet have when he said he expected DeBrusk to be back right after the break.
"He was unlikely," Montgomery said. "I thought he was going to be likely to play, but when we took off to Toronto, he got his last imaging and we didn't think he was going to be ready for Saturday. We're hoping for either Dallas [on Tuesday] or Nashville [on Thursday]."
DeBrusk has missed five weeks since suffering hand and leg injuries in the Winter Classic on Jan. 2. The team announced an initial timetable of approximately four weeks, but obviously it has taken a little longer.
The Bruins, of course, have no reason to rush DeBrusk at all. They still have the best record in the NHL and can afford to wait until he's 100%. His return will be a welcome one, though, as DeBrusk was in the midst of a career year at the time of the injuries and had just played hero in the Winter Classic. Before going down, DeBrusk was second on the team in goals (16) and tied for third in points (30).
With DeBrusk still out, Craig Smith was on the top line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand at Thursday's practice. The team recalled Jakub Lauko from AHL Providence and he skated on the fourth line, which was centered by Trent Frederic. Usual fourth-line center Tomas Nosek remains out after fracturing his foot on Jan. 19. He is expected to miss at least two more weeks.
Here were the Bruins' lines and pairings at Thursday afternoon's practice:
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Craig Smith
Pavel Zacha - David Krejci - David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall - Charlie Coyle - Nick Foligno
A.J. Greer - Trent Frederic - Jakub Lauko
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm - Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort - Connor Clifton
Jakub Zboril
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
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