Pastrnak, Kase, Nordstrom And McAvoy Still Out For Bruins

Boston Bruins forwards Chris Wagner and Anton Blidh returned to the ice Tuesday but forwards David Pastrnak, Ondrej Kase, and Joakim Nordstrom, as well as defenseman Charlie McAvoy, remained out. They all are still deemed ‘unfit to play’ and there is no timetable on their return. However, Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy did say that he expected some players back by tomorrow and if not then, by Thursday.

“Hoping for a full roster by then,” Cassidy told the media in a Zoom call after practice Tuesday.

The NHL released the latest COVID19 test results data on Monday but per league rules, names were not released and there has been no word on the status Kase, Nordstrom, and McAvoy. Unless, as Pastrnak’s agent J.P. Barry

With Pastrnak still out of the lineup, rookie forward Jake Studnicka saw some action on the right wing of the top line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Studnicka assisted on a Zdeno Chara goal in the scrimmage after a beautiful give and go with Bergeron.

Studnicka ➡️ Bergeron ➡️ Studnicka ➡️ Chara 🚨#NHLBruins | @TDBank_US pic.twitter.com/ZYHyVv1OCw

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) July 21, 2020

Speaking of that top line, Marchand took an inadvertent stick to the eye but returned and was even screened on the Chara goal.

Brad Marchand took an inadvertent stick in the eye at #NHLBruins practice. He stayed on the ice and screened for a Zdeno Chara snipe!! Phew!! pic.twitter.com/sk6zCXUlLs

— The Camera Guys (@NBCSCameraGuys) July 21, 2020

Blidh skates with Karson Kuhlman in place of Kase on the right with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk on the second line.

For a second straight day, head coach Bruce Cassidy had Nick Ritchie and Sean Kuraly alternating wings around Charlie Coyle on the third line. 

Wagner was back on the right side of the grind line with Par Lindholm at center and Trent Frederic and Paul Carey sharing the load on the left in place of Nordstrom. 

Defenseman Connor Clifton skated alongside Chara in place of McAvoy.

Goalie Jaro Halak took two hard shots off his glove hand and after the second one, he broke his stick in frustration and raced over to the bench but later came back. Tuukka Rask confirmed Tuesday after practice that the reason he was sporting a splint on the ring and middle fingers of his left hand was that he broke his finger doing box jumps a few weeks ago. Cassidy said Halak was fine and credited the breaking of the stick to a “more competitive practice”.

Forwards

Marchand – Bergeron – Bjork/Studnicka

DeBrusk – Krejci – Kuhlman/Blidh

Ritchie – Coyle – Kuraly/Senyshyn

Frederic/Carey – Lindholm – Wagner

Defense

Chara – Clifton/Vaakanainen

Krug – Carlo

Grzelcyk – Lauzon

Moore – Zboril

Goalies

Rask

Halak

Vladar

Lagace