Pastrnak could return for Bruins against Islanders

BOSTON -- David Pastrnak, who practiced with the Boston Bruins on Monday for the first time since injuring his left thumb after a team sponsorship dinner on Feb. 10, is a game-time decision against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, MSG+, NESN, NHL.TV).

"He's out there skating today and it looks like he will play," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said after Tuesday's morning skate. "It'll be a game-time decision, but it's trending that way."
The 22-year-old forward required surgery on his thumb and missed the past 16 games. The Bruins went 11-0-1 the first 12 games without him in the lineup, as part of their 19-game point streak streak (15-0-4) from Jan. 29-March 9, and are 12-3-1 the past 16 games.
"It felt good good," Pastrnak said. "I'm really happy to be back on the road with the guys and be part of the group. It's big excitement."
Tuesday is the start of a four-game road trip for the Bruins, who are in second place in the Atlantic Division with 95 points, four ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs for home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference First Round with 10 games remaining for both teams.
Pastrnak needs to wear a split on his left hand, which has been an adjustment for him, and which necessitated some changes to his glove. He has been wearing the splint for a couple of weeks, he said, and it's unclear how long he will continue to wear it.
"It doesn't really affect me at shooting, obviously just a little bit stickhandling," he said.
The forward was with a couple of his teammates coming from the dinner when he fell, an injury that general manager Don Sweeney initially said would keep him out at least two weeks. By the time Pastrnak returns, the injury will have cost him more than five weeks and at least 16 games, in addition to the career-high pace he was on in terms of points.

In 56 games, Pastrnak had 66 points (31 goals, 35 assists), which would have put him on pace for 96 points. His NHL career high is 80 points (35 goals, 45 assists) last season.
"On my way to the car, I slipped and I fell," said Pastrnak, speaking Monday for the first time since the injury. "It was unfortunate that I got hurt from it. I was really upset. It would be the last thing I wanted to do. Four weeks in the gym, skating with no stick. Obviously, these things happen in life and I just try to take advantage and get better as a player."
Pastrnak said he had a feeling immediately that something was wrong. Being left handed, he braced himself with his left hand, which resulted in the injury. He said it did not feel right as soon as he got up.
"I'm a lefty, so I usually put my left hand always first," he said. "Put all the weight on it. Maybe if that happened when I was 18 with 160 [pounds], that wouldn't hurt. But now I'm 190. Kind of hurt."
When he does return to the lineup, Pastrnak, who is tied with forward Brad Marchand for the team lead in goals, will once again skate on the top line with Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. But given that the team was pleased with Danton Heinen in that spot during Pastrnak's absence, it opens the door for Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy to move Pastrnak down to the second line as David Krejci's right wing, if he feels that could balance Boston's scoring.
"That's where he's going to start," Cassidy said. "It's a comfort level for him. And then we'll see."
Sweeney said last month, in announcing the injury, that Pastrnak was upset and disappointed by what had happened. The forward reiterated that on Monday.
"I let the guys down a bit," he said. "Obviously it's tough time, you know? It's not an injury that happened on the ice. I took full responsibility for that and obviously that's what hurt me most. Could I avoid it? Obviously, I wish and I think these things happen. But definitely the thing that I could let somebody down, I hate that. The first couple of weeks was tough."