Hampus Lindholm, out since Nov. 12 with a lower-body injury, was also a full participant in practice for the first time since going down in St. Louis after taking a shot off the knee. Like McAvoy, he will not travel to Buffalo but is closing in on a return to game action.

Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo will both be back on the Bruins blue line leaving Hampus Lindholm as the only defenseman missing. Mark Kastelic remains out of the lineup, but there was good news on him as well as he was back at morning skate on Thursday.

Trying to bounce back from yet another brutal loss, the Bruins could be getting their best all-around defenseman back for Thursday's game against the Jets.

Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm both returned to Bruins’ practice on Monday. Neither will play on Tuesday at Buffalo, but their return signals a significant step in their efforts to return to the lineup.

The Bruins host the Jets on Thursday. Lindholm, who is currently on Long Term Injured Reserve has been out since suffering a lower-body injury on Nov. 12 against the Blues. McAvoy had been out since Jan. 11 with an undisclosed injury.

The Boston Bruins are reeling after a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. However, on Wednesday, there was encouraging news about the return of one of the team’s top two defensemen.

This is exciting news for the Bruins, as Lindholm and McAvoy are two of their top defenders. Skating in regular jerseys is a major step in the right direction for the pair. However, they won't be back in the lineup just yet, as head coach Joe Sacco said they won't be options against the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 28.

With a 5-1-1 record (11 of a possible 14 points) banked away, the Bruins have certainly done their part to stay afloat in a crowded-beyond-belief Eastern Conference playoff picture. They’ve essentially done that without their top defensemen,

Mason Lohrei’s has seen extended icetime this year. The ups and downs have been predictable, but he hopes they will be beneficial in the long run.

If the Bruins are going to lock down one of the eight playoff seeds in the East, the hope rests largely on Charlie McAvoy's broad shoulders, along with those of Hampus Lindholm.

Off, injuries are starting to pile up for star players across the league. Among them are Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov and Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who are expected to miss several weeks.