Bruce Cassidy Gives Encouraging Updates On Charlie McAvoy, Zdeno Chara

Even with the expected returns of Patrice Bergeron and Torey Krug on Sunday, the Boston Bruins remain the walking (skating?) wounded.

Reinforcements appear to be on the horizon, however.

Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy on Sunday provided updates on injured defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Zdeno Chara, who are recovering from an MCL sprain and an upper-body injury, respectively. Cassidy also offered good news on forward David Backes, who remains out after recently suffering a knee laceration against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy have resumed skating back in Boston, per Cassidy. Also says David Backes has started working out and is not that far off. #NHLBruins

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 25, 2018

While these certainly are positive developments for the B’s, it wasn’t all good news coming out of Minnesota. Here’s what Cassidy had to say about injured forwards Rick Nash and Jake DeBrusk, per The Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont:

Cassidy considers Chara, McAvoy closest to coming back. Said this morn that he believes DeBrusk, 61Nash not yet skating (back in Boston). https://t.co/OLO3vS2GFv

— Kevin Paul Dupont (@GlobeKPD) March 25, 2018

With their playoff position in the Eastern Conference largely secure, the Bruins likely will play things extra safe with their injured stars. Still, with the Stanley Cup Playoffs scheduled to start April 11, the B’s don’t have much time to get their usual squad back and firing on all cylinders.