BOSTON – While it wasn’t all optimism and sunshine when talking about the Bruins injury situation, general manager Don Sweeney did sound an optimistic tone that the Black and Gold will get their full lineup back by the time the Stanley Cup playoffs roll around.
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Zdeno Chara (upper body), Charlie McAvoy (left MCL), David Backes (right leg laceration) and Jake DeBrusk (upper body) all skated on Wednesday as they work their way back from injuries, and Sweeney indicated that their respective returns to the lineup “look sooner rather than later.” Rick Nash didn’t join them on the ice as his recovery has put him a little bit further back on the injury recovery timeline. But Sweeney still said there’s hope the Bruins will have their full complement of players when the postseason gets rolling in a couple of weeks, and the Bruins do have eight more games on the schedule before the postseason gets going.
“Some of those guys were on the ice today continuing to work back toward playing,” said Sweeney. “I don’t think we have a definitive timetable on any one of those players, but they’ve also gotten closer to returning to our lineup. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.
“David Backes skated fully today and he’ll skate again tomorrow. It’s the same with Zdeno, Charlie and Jake, so they’re closer more than far away, which is a positive sign for us. We’ve had some challenges, but the coaching staff has prepared each and every player every night with a ‘next man up’ attitude. But we’re looking forward to getting our full lineup together and getting everybody back, hopefully before the end of the season.”
Chara indicated that he’s ready to play after missing the last seven games and watching the Bruins go a solid 3-1-3 without him in the lineup after he was hurt in the road comeback win over Carolina.
“I’m feeling better and making progress. When it’s time to be in the game, I’ll be ready to play,” said Chara. “I’m so proud of the team and what the guys have been able to do with so many people out of the lineup. I’m very proud of them. It’s great to see how they battle back in every game, and come back from being down two, three, four goals and still getting points. It’s just a great indication that this team has a ‘never give up’ attitude and is willing to fight till the last whistle.”
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The good news is that Patrice Bergeron and Torey Krug have already returned to the lineup and the team continues to pile up points as they chase the Tampa Bay Lightning. The better news is that perhaps another player or two might just return when the Black and Gold suit up for a pivotal game against Tampa on Thursday at TD Garden down a point in the Atlantic Division standings with a game still in hand.