The Boston Bruins have been without two of their most talented players, right winger David Pastrnak and defenseman Hampus Lindholm, for almost three weeks.
Veteran goalie Linus Ullmark also has missed the last two games and won't play Thursday night when the B's take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road.
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Luckily for the Bruins, it might not be long before all three players finally return to the lineup.
“Linus is doing much better,” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters Thursday, as transcribed by NESN. “I anticipate he will play one of the games this weekend. We’ll make that determination after we get back (to Boston).”
Jeremy Swayman has started in net the last two games for Boston. The rookie netminder beat the Penguins last Saturday and then halted the St. Louis Blues' nine-game win streak with a 3-2 overtime victory Tuesday night. He'll get the start again Thursday in Pittsburgh.
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Pastrnak exited the Bruins' win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 4 and hasn't played since. He has an undisclosed injury. Lindholm has a lower body injury and hasn't played since he left the Bruins' loss to the Detroit Red Wings on April 5.
“Both guys are feeling better and possibly both could be in the lineup by Sunday,” Cassidy said. “So if not, Tuesday (against the Florida Panthers), we think? They could play Sunday (or) Tuesday, we’re looking like. Probably not Saturday. That’s the timeline I was given this morning.”
The Bruins close the regular season with six games in the next nine days, including Thursday's tilt in Pittsburgh.