Charlie McAvoy. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Not enough urgency or execution from the Bruins in last night's 4-0 loss in Tampa. Lightning were more desperate and it showed, so it'll be a fascinating finish in the chase for the top spot in the East.
Each team has 110 points. B's have three games left, starting tomorrow in Florida, and the Bolts are down to their last two. And, both clubs have been dealing with injuries.
Boston once again won't have Brandon Carlo for the postseason. The defenseman has a fractured ankle.
But, there's good news--fellow blue-liner Charlie McAvoy returned from his 15-game absence last night wearing a knee brace and handed out a team-high four hits while skating almost 22 minutes.
"Just good to be back out there again," McAvoy said. "Kind of used the first period as a feeler. Couple plays, probably could've skated a little bit more. Just trying to get back into the swing of things. I felt like by the third, the third was my best period, and just going to keep getting better."
"Obviously not the result we wanted or the kind of game we wanted, but we've got to come back at some point," he continued. "I'm glad to have that one behind us, I'm sure everyone's glad to have that one behind us. Now we roll, we've got three big games to make a big dent and put ourselves in the position we want to be in."
Rick Nash started skating in Boston yesterday for the first time since suffering an upper body injury two weeks ago. Riley Nash and Sean Kuraly aren't quite there yet.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports