The Boston Bruins will be without a couple important players when they take on a quality St. Louis Blues team Tuesday night at TD Garden.
Bruins right winger David Pastrnak suffered an injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets last week, left the game early and hasn't played since. B's defenseman Hampus Lindholm suffered a lower body injury versus the Detroit Red Wings last week. He wasn't able to finish the game and has not played since.
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Neither player will be in the lineup against the Blues.
"I don't have a whole lot new. I guess they're dragging on a little longer than I thought with the first diagnosis," Cassidy of Pastrnak and Lindholm.
"Other than that, I wish I had better news. I still don't believe it will be long, long term. But I thought both would be a little farther along by this time when we first got the reports last week out of Detroit and Columbus."
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Pastrnak and Lindholm both skated before Boston's morning skate Tuesday, so that is a bit encouraging.
Matt Grzelcyk left Sunday's loss to the Washington Capitals after getting injured in the first period. He did not return to the action.
The 28-year-old defenseman also won't play against the Blues, but his return could come as early as Thursday night when the B's host the Ottawa Senators.
"Feels a little better, but we'll aim for Thursday," Cassidy said of Grzelcyk. "(Connor) Clifton will go in. We'll juggle some people around."
These injuries are concerning with the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs just a couple weeks away. The Bruins finish their regular season schedule April 29.
The B's won't advance very far in the playoffs if Pastrnak and Lindholm aren't at or close to 100 percent health. Boston has just two natural left-sided defensemen in Mike Reilly and Derek Forbort without Lindholm and Grzelcyk in the lineup.
The power play has unsurprisingly struggled -- 0-for-16 over the last four games -- with Pastrnak sidelined. His 14 power-play goals are six more than any other player on the Bruins' roster.