The Boston Bruins are set to return to the ice on Saturday to face the Buffalo Sabres following a holiday break, with the team hoping to turn around their fortunes after a challenging pre-break stretch. Boston finished their last outing on a four-game losing streak, but the break provided an essential opportunity for the team to reset and recuperate.
Head coach Marco Sturm provided updates on player health, indicating that while Tanner Jeannot will miss Saturday’s game due to an injury, both Jonathan Aspirot and Henri Jokiharju are making progress and are closer to rejoining the lineup. Although they will not play against the Sabres, their return is becoming imminent.
“(Aspirot) will be getting a little bit closer,” Sturm commented before the game. “(Jokiharju) is skating again. So slowly, guys are coming back.” The coach noted that their presence on the trip is a positive sign, although he could not confirm the exact timeline for their return to game action.
Aspirot has been sidelined since December 11 and was placed on injured reserve, while Jokiharju has not played since November 28 due to an undisclosed injury. With a current record of 20-17-1, the Bruins find themselves outside of the playoff picture and are eager to gain momentum with a solid performance against the Sabres.
The match against Buffalo is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with pregame coverage starting on NESN at 6 p.m. The Bruins are hopeful that the return of injured players will help rejuvenate the team’s performance as they look to improve their position in the standings and make a push for the playoff spots.