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Bruins getting bodies back as cancelations pile up

February 9, 2021, 3:37 PM ET [2 Comments]
Anthony Travalgia
Boston Bruins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
As the Bruins prepare for a trio of games in New York—two against the Rangers and one against the Islanders—this coming week, they got some good news at practice Monday and Tuesday.

Matt Grzelcyk, Jake DeBrusk and Jack Studnicka all returned to practice on Monday with Grzelcyk and DeBrusk taking contact. After being spotted in a red non-contact jersey Monday, Studnicka was cleared for contact Tuesday and was seen in a normal practice jersey.

DeBrusk and Grzelcyk both suffered lower-body injuries in the Bruins two-game series with the Penguins to end January and have not been back since.

While the team nearly swept their way through a four-game road trip in Washington and Philadelphia, the two were back in Boston skating on their own, awaiting the team’s return to rejoin their teammates in practice.

“You just want to be back with the team. I know it’s really exciting to play in those games, and I was really excited watching it on TV and really happy to see everyone’s hard work pay off and have the success we’ve had so far,” said Grzelcyk.

Grzelcyk has had some tough luck to start the season, missing six of the Bruins 11 games this season with a pair of separate lower-body injuries.

"I feel really good. It's tough not being able to go on the road trip but I was just trying to do as much as I could without having any sort of setbacks this past week,” said Grzelcyk. “Feeling really good physically. Got a good practice in [Monday]. We'll see how it goes, but [returning Wednesday is] certainly what I prepare to do."

Should Grzelcyk return to the lineup Wednesday, he will be back on the Bruins second pairing to the left of Brandon Carlo, a spot he’s practiced in in each of the last two days.

The return of Grzelcyk would ultimately force Connor Clifton out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. Clifton has played very well since stepping in for Grzelcyk and this change would in no way be a direct result of his play.

Jeremy Lauzon and Jakub Zboril could also have been considered as the odd man out in a Grzelcyk return, but the two youngsters have provided the Bruins with reliable play on the backend.

“Well, the good news is the guys on the left side have been solid so there’s been no discussion, ‘Hey, they’re not ready, they’re not handling it, they’re regressing,'” said Cassidy. “They’ve certainly had games where they’ve been better than other nights. But for the most part they’ve been fairly consistent.”

DeBrusk who has missed five straight games also expects to be back in the lineup on Wednesday. Had the Bruins game Saturday night against the Sabres not been canceled due to COVID-19 related issues, DeBrusk may already have had his return to the lineup.

"Was trying to make that Saturday game against Buffalo, but obviously with everything going on it got postponed so it gives me a couple of extra days to practice with the team and feel 100 percent getting into it,” said DeBrusk. “But I feel 100 percent. I feel ready to go."

Before his injury DeBrusk was skating to the right of Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron on the top line as the team awaited the return of David Pastrnak. With Pastrnak back, DeBrusk has practiced on a line with Charlie Coyle and Anders Bjork, playing the left side.

Although he’s spent most of his Bruins tenure to the left of David Krejci, DeBrusk has shown the ability to jump up and down the lineup and play both wings, something he has no issues with.

"That's kind of been my MO, playing the left side, the right side. It's one of those things where you want to get back in the lineup and help anyway you can," said DeBrusk.

"I've played with both [Coyle]. and [Bjork]. I played with [Coyle] a little bit toward the end of last year and kind of have a familiarity with him. Obviously different players.”

Studnicka is expected to be a healthy scratch as well as Anton Blidh who played the last two games in replacement of DeBrusk.

Saturday’s contest with the Sabres was the Bruins first COVID-19 related cancelation of the season. Their contest Monday with Buffalo was also canceled, as well as their Feb. 15 home game with the Devils. If their contest with the Devils on Feb. 18 goes off as scheduled, it will be their first home game since Jan. 28.

With three games this week, and three scheduled for the week of Feb 21, if the Bruins/Devils game on the 18th is canceled, the Bruins will go eight days between games.

However, their game against the Flyers on Feb. 21 at Lake Tahoe is now on the fence as the Flyers game with the Capitals scheduled for tonight had to be postponed as COVID-19 related issues are making its way through Philadelphia.

Crazy times indeed.
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