Bruins Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk Creeps Closer to Game 5 Return
By Sean Facey
With defensemen suddenly in short supply for the Boston Bruins, the most recent news on Matt Grzelcyk is encouraging. Matter of fact, it will pump up fans.
Grzelcyk made his return to the ice for practice on Wednesday, skating in a red non-contact jersey.
GRZELCYK SKATES: Bruins defenseman Matt Gryzelcyk makes his return to the ice wearing a red non-contact jersey.
— Ian Steele (@ISteeleABC6) June 5, 2019
Head coach Bruce Cassidy sounded hopeful for his return in game five of the Stanley Cup Final. @ABC6 #NHLBruins #StanleyCup
Head coach Bruce Cassidy is optimistic that the 25-year-old defender will be available for Game 5.
Grzelcyk missed Games 3 and 4 of the series after sustaining a head injury on a hit from Oskar Sundqvist of the St. Louis Blues in Game 2.
His status is of paramount concern for the Bruins, who could possibly be without captain and defensive linchpin Zdeno Chara for Game 5 and beyond after he took a puck that deflected off his stick directly to the jaw.
.@Matt_Grzelcyk5 on the ice in a red non-contact jersey for this morning’s practice. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/Rz0jIbkS1g
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 5, 2019
Having Grzelcyk back on the ice would at least slightly offset the loss of Chara and give the Bruins a sense of security defending against the likes of Vladimir Tarasenko and Brayden Schenn.
The Bruins defense has taken quite a beating in the Stanley Cup Finals, but if they can just weather the storm a bit longer, they'll be richly rewarded.