Chara out, but Pastrnak back for Bruins in Ottawa

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The Bruins won’t have Zdeno Chara for the Thanksgiving night showdown with the Ottawa Senators and the Canadian Tire Center, but they will be getting back 20-year-old right winger David Pastrnak. 

Claude Julien confirmed his leading goal scorer will be back in the lineup after missing the past three games with an upper body injury. Pastrnak will bring his 10 goals back to a line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand that could use his explosive finishing ability. 

In a corresponding move, the Bruins returned rookie forward Sean Kuraly to Providence after a couple of decent games with the Black and Gold. Kuraly has appeared in five games with Boston this season with zero points and two penalty minutes. He has played in 10 games for Providence with two assists and nine penalty minutes.

The Kuraly roster move also means that winger Jimmy Hayes somehow stays in the lineup despite not having scored a point in an NHL game since Feb. 24, a stretch of 33 games with zeroes across the board for a player brought to Boston for his net-front offense. Hayes has actually been more active with shots on net and registered hits and perhaps is feeling some urgency with Frank Vatrano inching closer to a return from his foot injury. 

The Kuraly move to Providence might also clear up a roster spot for Kevan Miller coming off the injured list and potentially jumping back into the lineup with Chara injured. Julien told reporters in Ottawa that Miller would be a game time decision after returning to regular practice for the past week plus.

Miller missed the first 19 games of the regular season with a fractured hand, but earlier this week was cleared by the B’s medical staff to play in games. 

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