The Boston Bruins will get a boost to their lineup Wednesday when forwards Brad Marchand and David Backes return to action, head coach Bruce Cassidy announced at the team’s morning skate.
Backes has missed the past month while undergoing treatment for diverticulitis. The 33-year-old registered one assist in the five games he played earlier this season. Marchand has been out with undisclosed injuries since Nov. 11 and was recently retroactively placed on injured reserve. Marchand had eight goals and seven assists in the 14 games he’s played this season.
Ryan Spooner is also ready to step back onto the ice. Spooner missed Sunday’s 4-2 loss against the Oilers after playing two straight games against the Penguins and Devils. Prior to that two-game stretch he had missed five weeks with a torn groin.
The Bruins host the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning and Cassidy will turn to Tuukka Rask in net despite the fact the goalie has lost his past four starts and Anton Khudobin has been somewhat of a revelation this season going 7-0-2 in nine starts. Forwards David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk are dealing with injuries and are considered day-to-day.
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