BOSTON — The Bruins had only 10 forwards for Tuesday’s practice at TD Garden.
First-line center David Krejci returned to practice, but center Carl Soderberg and winger Daniel Paille were absent because of a virus, per Bruins head coach Claude Julien.
Julien said the team was tested for the mumps virus that is affecting a few teams around the NHL. He didn’t say what specific virus Soderberg and Paille are fighting.
“We took those precautions before we even went out there,” Julien said. “We made sure everyone was tested and everybody was vaccinated that needed to be vaccinated for that. We took all the precautions we needed to take when we went to Anaheim. … It is a concern, I think the league’s concerned about it. We’ve taken the precautions that we needed to take already.”
Fourth-line winger Simon Gagne also didn’t practice and isn’t with the team right now.
“Gagne is on a personal leave of absence right now,” Julien said. “We don’t know how long it’s going to be.”
Gagne has scored three goals (two in the last four games) with one assist in 23 games with the Bruins.
The Bruins have another day of practice before welcoming the Chicago Blackhawks to TD Garden for the first time this season Thursday night.
