Bruins could get two regulars back in action Wednesday
Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy’s team could get a significant boost Wednesday night against the Capitals, with both center David Krejci and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk full participants in Tuesday’s practice.
Out of action for the last four games with a lower-body injury aggravated in a Feb. 18 loss to the Devils, Krejci (and Grzelcyk) being full participants is certainly encouraging.
But as the Bruins know — especially so in the case of Grzelcyk, who has missed seven straight games and all but six of Boston’s 19 games this season — there’s no celebrating until they’re on the ice and in the lineup for a game.
“He’s like Grz, he [participated in] a full team practice [and] did everything,” Cassidy said of Krejci. “So I’ve got to get together with the medical team. And then they’ll better assess how we did today.
“Until tomorrow morning comes, we won’t make a decision because there could be residual effect. That’s what happened to Grz on the road, just didn’t feel great the next day. So until he feels good the following day after a skate, it’s tough to say. And I would put Krejci in that category. So tomorrow morning I’ll have a better idea.”
With Krejci out, the Bruins have utilized Jack Studnicka as a middle-six center option, while Grzelcyk’s absence (as well as the losses of both Kevan Miller and Jeremy Lauzon since then) has opened the door for appearances by Urho Vaakanainen, John Moore, and Steven Kampfer. The Bruins also claimed then-Predators defenseman Jarred Tinordi off waivers over the weekend.
Wednesday will mark the start of a three-game homestand for the Bruins, with a two-game set against the Capitals followed by a one-off with the Devils next Sunday night.