BRIGHTON -- After getting on the ice last week, David Krejci has rejoined the Bruins for practice and skated with the team on Monday morning at Warrior Ice Arena. Krejci was wearing the maroon no-contact jersey, but was going through most drills without any obvious problems after missing the last three-plus weeks because of a back problem.
The Bruins are 3-3-3 in the nine games since Krejci exited the lineup, but the power play has truly hit hard times without Krejci, David Backes and Ryan Spooner. Krejci, 31, hadn’t even been able to get on the ice until a few days ago, but his return ahead of a long trip through California is a pretty good sign.
Krejci said that he’ll be on the three-game road swing through California and he aims to return in one of the next three games provided there are no setbacks.
“It feels pretty good when I’m on the ice, so that’s a good sign,” said Krejci, who has a goal and six points along with a minus-5 in six games this season. “I’m going to go on the trip with the guys, hopefully, I have a good day [on Tuesday] and then we’ll go from there. Hopefully, I can take off the no-contact jersey and do a little battling [in practice] and then we’ll see how it goes.”
“This was the third time in a row that I felt really good on the ice, so hopefully that keeps going. My goal is to [play on the trip]. I’d love to play in the first game, but I can’t really guarantee anything right now.”
On the other side of it, Noel Acciari, Brad Marchand and Anders Bjork were all missing from practice on Monday for a Bruins team that been weathering the injury storm all season.
Marchand played in the past couple of games after missing two games with what the team indicated was a concussion, Acciari had played in the last three games after missing nearly all season with a broken finger. Bjork took a huge hit from Matt Martin at center ice in Saturday night’s loss to the Leafs. Spooner skated on his own ahead of Bruins practice after missing the last month because of a torn groin, and is nearing the early end of the 4-6 week timetable that he's expected to be sidelined.
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So the Bruins are slowly, but surely, getting healthier in the middle, and will certainly welcome back both Krejci and Spooner with the center depth they will provide once they are again healthy enough to play.