Lazar Returns to Practice, 'Good Chance' He'll Play This Week

BOSTON - Curtis Lazar practiced in full on Tuesday and is likely to be available as early as Wednesday's game vs the Florida Panthers. Craig Smith will not be traveling for the two-game trip due to injury, and Linus Ullmark and Jeremey Swayman will both see the net with Ullmark schedlued for Wednesday in Sunrise and Swayman on Thursday in Raleigh.

"It's great. I mean, just to get back with the guys and stuff. It's always fun to get back in the mix. Spirits are high. I'm feeling good and ready to go," said Lazar, when asked how it feels to get back on the ice after returning from a elbow subluxation injury or a "pulled/slipped elbow," that had him out for the past month.
A month, however, is a very short time compared to what was almost a regular season-ending surgery, that Lazar says at one point was in the cards.
"We actually were very close to that. Very fortunate to avoided that," said Lazar. "That would have been...you're coming back kind of around the playoffs...it more so would have been, I guess, a baseball injury."
Lazar gave credit where credit was due, thanking the training staff for doing what they needed to do in order to get him back up to speed.
"A lot of credit to the training staff here as well, helping me get back ahead of my timeline," said Lazar. "We attacked it right away and it allowed me to get better each and every day...no setbacks. I'm very thankful."
While watching his team from a far, Lazar was able to capitalize on his time at home, making sure his now 7 month old baby learns a thing or two about his team. "I'd like to be out there, but, you know, to get him adjusted to realize what team he's cheering for is always good to," Said Lazar.
As far as Lazar's return to game action, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy is optimistic for a Wednesday return in Florida.
"[Wednesday] is pretty good chance. He'll definitely be in by Thursday, if not [Wednesday]," said Cassidy.

Smith will not be making his return as he takes this trip off to continue his recovery in hopes of a weekend return.
"He wasn't feeling great today, so we're going to leave him off the plane and hopefully get him ready for Saturday," said Cassidy.
With back-to-back games on deck, Cassidy plans on taking advantage of the opportunity to evaluate where the B's stand with two strong offensive opponents on the horizon - the Panthers and Hurricanes, both of whom remain undefeated.
"Early in the year it is tough to get a read, you look on the schedlue and you got Buffalo, you get San Jose; they weren't very good the year before, no one's picking them and they're undefeated, right? So you just don't know with these teams that are undefeated," said Cassidy.
"Carolina, we've seen every year. They're right there, so it'll be a good evaluation of your own team," said Cassidy.
Of course it is hard to not factor in injuries when looking at this Bruins team, but Cassidy is taking it game by game.
"You'd like to be full strength, but that's just the way it is. Let's see where we're at against two really good offensive teams," said Cassidy.