The Bruins are expected to have captain Zdeno Chara back in the lineup for the first time in seven weeks.
Chara was on the ice Thursday morning at TD Garden for the team’s pregame skate.
The captain’s return comes as a delight to Coach Claude Julien, who has watched his team struggle without its captain, going 11-7-1 since Chara was sidelined with a torn left PCL.
Julien said that he’s “counting on” having his defenseman play against the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday night.
Another prominent Bruins player, David Krejci, is expected to miss his ninth straight game.
Alternate Captain Patrice Bergeron said that you have to take the good with the bad.
“Throughout the whole month-and-a-half or whatnot that he was gone, there was definitely some adversity through that time,” Bergeron said. “You know I think we’ve managed, managed it pretty well. Overall we definitely had some ups and downs during that time, but still it’s definitely gonna give us a lift to have our captain back, if he is back tonight”