While the Bruins continue to suffer some sort of injury on a seemingly nightly basis, they're also getting their stars back. Two days after Zdeno Chara returned to the lineup, the B's will have their usual top defensive pair back together Tuesday night in Tampa, as coach Bruce Cassidy announced that Charlie McAvoy is ready to return.
McAvoy has been out since March 3, when he suffered a sprained MCL against the Canadiens. The Bruins announced a few days later that McAvoy would be re-evaluated in four weeks, and it has now been exactly four weeks since they said that. The fact that McAvoy is able to return right at that four-week mark and get some regular-season games under his belt before the playoffs is obviously encouraging and an indication that his recovery went smoothly.
It comes at the perfect time, as the Bruins have a chance to take a huge step toward clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference Tuesday night. They're currently two points ahead of the Lightning with a game in hand, meaning a win Tuesday would make it a four-point lead with just two games remaining on Tampa's schedule. It would also complete a season sweep of the Lightning, including three wins in the last two and a half weeks.
In other Bruins injury news, Cassidy said Rick Nash skated in Boston Tuesday, while Riley Nash and Sean Kuraly did not. Tommy Wingels will miss Tuesday's game, but Cassidy said his hand injury is not expected to be long-term. There was no further update on Brandon Carlo.
Here were the Bruins' lines in morning skate, according to the team:
Marchand - Bergeron- PastrnakDeBrusk - Krejci - DonatoHeinen - Backes - AcciariSchaller - Cave - Gionta
Chara - McAvoyKrug - HoldenGrzelcyk - Miller
The Big Bad Blog is presented by:
