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Boston Bruins continue to drop; but are others close to return?

By Christina Tsaknopoulos |
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 05: Boston Bruins right wing Noel Acciari (55) gains the blue line watched by Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok (19) during an NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators on October 5, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Predators 4-3. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 05: Boston Bruins right wing Noel Acciari (55) gains the blue line watched by Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok (19) during an NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators on October 5, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Predators 4-3. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Already the 2017-2018 season is showing to be a challenge for this young injured Boston Bruins team.  From losing Torey Krug in the early stages of the preseason, to losing both Patrice Bergeron and David Backes.  Now, Noel Acciari has been lost to a fractured index finger.

This morning, the Boston Bruins provided an update on Noel Acciari’s status.  During Thursday night’s season opener, Acciari left in the second period after blocking a shot on the penalty kill.  It is is now known that Acciari will miss up to six weeks of the season, as he is now currently recovering from surgery to repair a fractured index finger.

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 5: Boston Bruins Noel Acciari checks Nashville Predators Alexei Emelin into the boards during first period action at TD Garden in Boston on Oct. 05, 2017. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 5: Boston Bruins Noel Acciari checks Nashville Predators Alexei Emelin into the boards during first period action at TD Garden in Boston on Oct. 05, 2017. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

Acciari’s role with the Bruins is to primarily be one of those 4th line “energy” players that aren’t afraid to put their nose into the dirty areas to try to create havoc in the opponents offensive zone, as well as to provide a solid player for their penalty killing unit.  Boston signed Acciari to a two-year contract on June, 28th 2017.

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Connor Ryan of Masslive.com spoke to Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy about Acciari:

“He (Acciari) give us some flavor to that bottom of the lineup; in terms of physicality”.  “He has good chemistry with Nash; as they both play a straight-line game”.   Cassidy further goes on to say “I thought they gave us a hard-to-play against line with some ability to chip on offensively”.

If Bergeron is unable to dress for Mondays afternoon tilt with Colorado; that will leave the injured Bruins without THREE of their much-needed forwards.  Each forward provides a different need to these Bruins; but one thing Bergeron, Backes and Acciari all have in common is they are all used on the PK.

The Boston Bruins tweeted early this morning what the shuffled line pairings looked like;

Update on Austin Czarnik

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 23: Detroit Red Wings defenseman Trevor Daley (83) handles the puck, challenged by Boston Bruins forward Austin Czarnik (27), in the third period of the Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings pre-season NHL hockey game on September 23, 2017 at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, MI. The Red Wings won 5-1. (Photo by Tony Ding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 23: Detroit Red Wings defenseman Trevor Daley (83) handles the puck, challenged by Boston Bruins forward Austin Czarnik (27), in the third period of the Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings pre-season NHL hockey game on September 23, 2017 at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, MI. The Red Wings won 5-1. (Photo by Tony Ding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Based off of these line parings we could see Austin Czarnik get back into the mix to help these injured Bruins.  Czarnik has also been missing in action since the last week of training camp when he came down with a nasty virus that prevented him from being able to take the ice.

TY Anderson from WEEI interviewed Czarnik after todays practice:

“I’m just trying to get better every single day”.  “I thought today was really good, I skated the last two days and felt all right, but today was the best day so far.  Definitely getting stronger out there and getting my health back. I’m excited”.

So while the Bruins might have lost yet another forward; they could be close to getting some reinforcements back

Torey Krug coming back early

While the Bruins keep being the barer of bad news; there was some optimism to come from today’s practice.  Torey Krug has officially been cleared for contact.  Krug has been missing in action since the second period of Boston’s preseason game again the Detroit Red Wings on September 19th after taking a puck to the face and breaking his jaw.

BOSTON, MA – MARCH 11: Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Philadelphia Flyers at the TD Garden on March 11, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 11: Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Philadelphia Flyers at the TD Garden on March 11, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Krug was interviewed today after the teams practice. “This is one of those things that you can and lucky enough with the skating coach here, obviously the gym that we have here, I was able to stay in shape and keep that conditioning level up.” Krug said.

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The 2016-2017 season saw Krug net 8 goals with 43 assist in 81 games.  While he was poised to make a strong impact during the post season last year he went down right before the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with an MCL injury.  This prevented him from participating in the 1st and only round of the playoffs for the Bruins.  It is still unknown if Krug will be ready for Monday’s tilt, but things seem to be looking good for Krug’s return.

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