Boston Bruins head coach Marco Sturm is hopeful that Pavel Zacha will be able to return to the lineup in the team’s first game after the Olympics.
Zacha was supposed to represent Czechia at the Olympics, but the forward suffered an injury on Jan. 29. The injury was deemed minor at the time, but after he missed more time, he ended up getting replaced on the roster, which was a tough pill to swallow for the impact forward.
“That was one of the most frustrating things, especially when it’s something you were looking forward to. It was really hard,” Zacha said after Bruins practice on Wednesday. It’s hard watching the games, knowing I can’t be there to experience it. …
“I thought right away I’m going to be going, because right away it got better,” he said. “Then it was stagnant and started to get worse. For three days, it was good, then it started to get better. After a week and a half, I knew it wasn’t going to happen.”
However, Zacha used that time to recover, and Sturm admits he’s gotten a lot better and could be in Boston’s lineup in the first game after the Olympic break.
“Hopefully,” Sturm said. “He’s been here in treatments. He’s definitely on the right track.”
Zacha was able to practice on Wednesday, and he admits the time off was good for him to get healthy for the Bruins' playoff push.
“It was good that I had some time to come back,” Zacha said. “For our season, it’s going to be good for me to have some rest.”
Zacha has recorded 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points in 54 games this season.
Boston will return to the ice on Feb. 26 at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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