It’s a busy week ahead for the Bruins with a trip to New York to take on the Rangers Tuesday and the Islanders Thursday, before ending the road trip Saturday night in Ottawa.
With their upcoming trip, help and health could be on the way.
Patrice Bergeron, Matt Grzelcyk and Urho Vaakanainen all skated Monday and could return at different points during the road trip.
Good news all-around.
The biggest of news of it all was the return of Bergeron who practiced Monday in a red non-contact jersey. Bergeron has not played since leaving the Bruins loss to the Penguins last week after a collision with Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby.
“He won’t play tomorrow (against the Rangers), will not travel today (Monday),… head coach Bruce Cassidy said of Bergeron. “Hopefully will meet us on the road if he progresses well.…
While Tuesday will be the third straight contest Bergeron has missed, there’s a real possibility the Bruins captain returns on Thursday. Certainly a better outlook than we had thought when Bergeron went down the tunnel against the Penguins.
It also sounds like defenseman Matt Grzelcyk will be back tomorrow. The blueliner left Thursday’s loss to the Hurricanes with an upper-body injury.
“Better today, I’m going to say he’s probable tomorrow,… said Cassidy. “Let’s get through morning skate.…
Then there’s Urho Vaakanainen who has not played since a hit from Tampa’s Yanni Gourde knocked him out of action.
“Vaakanainen is back in the mix,… said Cassidy, “won’t play [Tuesday].…
Between COVID related absences and different injuries, the Bruins have struggled to consistently play with a full deck of cards.
Even if and when the Bruins are fully healthy later this week, they still won’t be at full strength as Brad Marchand continues to serve a six-game suspension after getting into things with Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry.
Marchand has appealed his suspension and Cassidy expects that he will join the Bruins in New York to partake in his appeal hearing in-person.
Despite the lack of key pieces on both sides of the puck, the Bruins played well Saturday shutting out the Senators in Ottawa 2-0 behind goals from Trent Frederic and Curtis Lazar.
Jeremy Swayman stopped all 30 shots he saw and will get the start against the Rangers on Tuesday.