Bruins notebook: Some of the wounded return in time for new year

The Bruins ended 2019 without a trio of their key players in the lineup.

They began 2020 with nearly a full squad.

Torey Krug and David Krejci returned to the lineup on Thursday against the Blue Jackets and Charlie McAvoy was a game-time decision, but played. Both he and Krug spent some time on injured reserve after taking big hits against the Capitals on Dec. 23.

McAvoy was leveled by T.J. Oshie in the waning minutes of a 7-3 game and it put him out for three contests ahead of Thursday’s game.

“Feeling good, was able to skate the last couple days, kind of ramping up a little bit,” said McAvoy. “Good skate this morning and we’ll just see what happens

“It’s hockey, I guess. Haven’t really thought about (the hit) for a while, just been focusing on myself and the team and trying to cheer these guys on the last week. Just trying to focus on myself and getting better.”

Krug took a hit from notorious Capitals forward Tom Wilson late in the game as well and didn’t return, and he also missed three contests.

He didn’t have any qualms with the play, a less controversial one than the one that injured McAvoy.

“I thought it was a good, clean hit,” Krug said. “I mentioned the other day that I knew he was on the ice, I knew he was coming, he just got to me a little bit quicker than I expected. But I thought it was a good hit.”

Krejci was also back following a lower-body injury that kept him out in New Jersey, where the Bruins blew a third-period lead and fell in the shootout again.

Connor Clifton remained out against the Blue Jackets from the upper-body injury that sidelined him against the Devils, and he’ll miss Saturday against the Oilers, too. John Moore, who has played over Clifton at times anyways toward the end of 2019, was paired with Matt Grzelcyk in his place on Thursday night.

It’s still as healthy as the blue line has been since the Capitals game, so it’s a good start to the new decade, health-wise.

Blidh on conditioning loan

Anton Blidh was injured in training camp and hasn’t played since, but he was sent to AHL Providence for a conditioning loan on Thursday, being transferred off the long-term injured reserve.

Blidh scored 10 goals in 74 games with Providence last season. He signed a two-way contract extension before the season with the Bruins, but likely will be assigned to Providence when his conditioning loan is up.

The B’s also assigned defenseman Jeremy Lauzon back to Providence after he played in one game in New Jersey while the team coped with defensive injuries.

Chara makes history

Along with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau of the Sharks on Thursday night, Zdeno Chara became the 12th, 13th or 14th player in NHL history to play in four decades.

He made his NHL debut on Nov. 19, 1997, and has been a member of the Bruins over the course of three different decades.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/37u8jeE