BOSTON – Rick Nash was again out of the Bruins lineup on Saturday and it’s not planned for him be on the road trip with the Bruins through Philly, Tampa and Florida that will take up most of next week, so it’s very unlikely he’ll play in the next six days. That’s the bad news when it comes to the Bruins power forward.
The good news is that Nash continues to work out daily and make progress toward getting back on the ice and it certainly seems as if thoughts that he might be done for the season are tremendously premature with six games to go in the regular season.
“He’s been working out. He’s progressing at his pace,” said Bruce Cassidy. “If I had anything more for you I’d give to you because I know it’s been interesting, for lack of a better term. That’s as much as we’ve got. He’s working out, but not ready to skate.”
Both Nash and Sean Kuraly (upper body) won’t make the three-game road trip with the Bruins, but Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy are expected to make the trip and could return as soon as Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia. The Bruins have been vague with the injury for Nash, but it’s widely speculated that he suffered a concussion on a heavy hit from Cedric Paquette in the third period of Boston’s 3-0 shutout win over the Lightning a couple of weeks ago.
Nash, 33, skated in the morning a couple of days later, but then was a surprise scratch that Monday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets prior to missing the last couple of weeks. Saturday afternoon will mark the sixth straight game that the power forward has missed after posting three goals and six points in 11 games for the Black and Gold following his trade from the Rangers.
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Jake DeBrusk returned to the lineup on Saturday against the Florida Panthers and had two goals. In Nash’s absence, the Bruins will go with a line of DeBrusk, David Krejci and Ryan Donato that’s certainly long on speed and skill, but a little short in the size department.
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