After missing nearly two months of action while on injured reserve, Hampus Lindholm took a significant first step toward his eventual return to the Boston Bruins lineup.
Lindholm was back on the ice at TD Garden on Tuesday, skating ahead of the team’s morning skate for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Nov. 12.
Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco said there is no timetable for Lindholm’s. That, however, doesn’t undermine the progress Lindholm has made in his recovery or how much the Bruins have missed him.
There’s an argument to be made that Lindholm had been the best and most consistent player for the Bruins before he blocked a shot off his left leg in St. Louis. He was certainly their best defenseman.
Through the first 17 games of the season, Lindholm had been skating an average of 20:51 of time on ice per night while playing on both special teams units. His seven points were the best among Bruins defensemen at the time, and his three goals remain second, even after missing the last 25 games.
Boston hasn’t had a goal from a defenseman since Charlie McAvoy scored twice in a 6-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 1. That wouldn’t be all that concerning if the Bruins were producing up front, but a lack of high-end skill and speed has left them starved for goals for much of the year.
“We need to keep putting the puck toward the net and making sure that we have that shot mentality with two on the inside,” said Sacco. Sooner or later, some of those will go in, and then, just making sure that our timing is accurate when we want to join the rush, support the attack, and get up in the play. Those are the opportunities for D-men to score.”
The Bruins have made a conscious effort to do just that in recent games, but it has come at the expense of their defensive structure. Boston has last each of its last four games while being outscored 16-10.
