Bruins About to Get Big Time Reinforcements on The Back End
Lindholm, McAvoy are full participants at B's practice, poised to return in next few games
BRIGHTON, MA – The light has flicked on at the end of the tunnel for a Boston Bruins team that’s persevered through some significant injuries over the last few months. The back end has been particularly victimized with Hampus Lindholm out since mid-November after blocking a shot with his left leg, and Charlie McAvoy out for the last few weeks with a nagging injury that needed some time to heal up as well.
The Bruins have managed to hold onto a wild card playoff spot through that time period, and now both Lindholm and McAvoy returned to be full participants at Monday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena.
“For Hampus, he’s been out so long that it was really exciting to see him buzzing around out there,” said Brandon Carlo. “With the camaraderie out there with the group, it’s always fun to see some of your teammates out there for sure. They brought a little bit of juice to practice, Charlie looked good and so did Hampus, so we’re excited for that to get back to being out with the group.”
Both defensemen didn’t travel to Buffalo for Tuesday night’s game against the Sabres, but it sounds like their return is imminent as both players could become game-time decisions as soon as Thursday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.
“They won’t be traveling with us, but obviously a good sign that they are both on the ice and practicing with us [taking] contact drills,” said Joe Sacco. “They’re obviously going in the right direction, so that’s a great sign. [Nikita Zadorov] is one of four defensemen in the lineup that are shouldering more responsibility right now on any given night with those two guys out. Increased role, increased minutes and I think all of our ‘D’ have been handling it well for the most part.
“It’s not easy and we don’t expect any of our ‘D’ to change their game, but when [Zadorov] is moving his feet and he’s physical then he really has a presence out there.”
Zadorov has been the guy that’s picked up the bulk of the workload averaging 21:18 of ice time per night during the month of January, but Andrew Peeke is a guy that’s really stepped up as well with some offense (1 goal, six points) and solid two-way play while averaging 19:27 of ice time per game, and Mason Lohrei has done the same while shouldering 19:30 of ice time per game.
It's been a whirlwind series of days for McAvoy, in particular, as he and wife Kiley welcomed a baby boy named Rhys Michael McAvoy into the world in the early hours of Sunday morning. He then reported to Warrior Ice Arena for practice and is locked in on a return to the ice to continue the defensive-minded approach that’s become successful for the Black and Gold this season.
The Bruins have managed to drop their goals against average (3.10) down to 20th in the NHL from a horrendous 20-game start to the season, and that has become the identity for sustainable success this season.
“Just got to finish off checking the boxes and meeting with the doctors so I can get back as quickly as I can, but feeling good and it was exciting to be back out there with everybody,” said McAvoy, who said he’s probably going to be okay health-wise for the 4 Nations Faceoff tournament. “The ‘D’ has done an amazing job. There’s no secret here that our team is built on defense. The only way that we’re going to have success is if we’re defending our end and those guys have raised up to that challenge.
“We’ve had great efforts up front and [Morgan Geekie] and Pasta are playing amazing right now, but I’m so proud of the ‘D’ and the goalie right now being committed to defense. That’s got to be our staple right now.”
Lindholm, on the other hand, is simply excited to play games again after missing the last 34 games with a left leg injury and will provide a big boost to a defensemen corps that’s utilized Jordan Oesterle, Michael Callahan and Parker Wotherspoon to fill the void of one of Boston’s biggest workhorse defensemen.
“It feels good to be able to do some contact and get into some battles. You’re excited to get out there and fight with the fellas. It’s been a long way [to recover] but you find ways to go out there and improve and hopefully can infuse some extra energy for the buys and within my game,” said Lindholm. “When you’re on a team and at the level that we are it’s always difficult [to watch] because you feel like you could go out there and make a difference. But I think the boys have been fighting hard. It’s a tough stretch [coming up] and hopefully I can be a big factor in helping us get over the hump.”
Lindholm also confirmed that his injury also took him out of the running for Team Sweden in the 4 Nations Faceoff tournament being put on by the NHL in February, a case of bad timing for the Swedish defenseman.
“The injury was kind of the cause of me not going, which I totally understand,” said Lindholm. “It was kind of bad [timing] so I’m just focused on the Bruins, getting back and being a difference for our team. You can’t do anything about the timing of it all, so I’m just focused on the here and now.”
In other injury news, Mark Kasterlic remains out of the lineup and Oliver Wahlstrom (illness) did not make the trip to Buffalo as well. Cole Koepke did travel and will be an option for Tuesday night against the Sabres as it appears he has recovered from his own upper body injury suffered a couple of weeks ago.