Two of the Boston Bruins' standout players have been on quite the journey, celebrating their Olympic gold medal win across two continents. But with the Bruins' game at TD Garden fast approaching, their return is still up in the air.
Marco Sturm, reflecting on the whirlwind tour of Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman, noted with a chuckle, “It’s very tough to follow them. I don’t even know where they’re at right now.”
Originally, the plan was for the team to head to New York City after their victory festivities in Milan. However, a snowstorm in the northeast threw a wrench in those plans, rerouting them to sunny Miami instead. There, they continued their celebrations at E11ven, a hotspot that’s no stranger to championship revelry, as seen with the Florida Panthers.
Their journey didn’t end in Miami. On Tuesday, Team USA was whisked away on a military jet to Washington, DC, where they toured the White House and were guests for the State of the Union.
Both McAvoy and Swayman were present at the White House event, although five of their teammates, including Jake Oettinger and Kyle Connor, were not.
The Bruins are gearing up for their Thursday night clash at TD Garden, with practice scheduled at Warrior Ice Arena on Wednesday morning. Yet, the timing of McAvoy and Swayman’s return remains uncertain. Sturm expressed hope for their prompt arrival, despite the unpredictable weather and flight schedules.
As the Bruins dive back into their regular season, they’re set to host the Blue Jackets on Thursday and then travel to Philadelphia for a Saturday afternoon game.
Joonas Korpisalo made a return to practice after securing a bronze medal with Team Finland. While his starting status for Thursday remains undecided, Sturm is keeping a close eye on Swayman’s situation.
With Michael DiPietro also in the mix, the Bruins have options. DiPietro, who has been stellar in the AHL, boasts a 22-6-0 record, leading the league with a 1.76 goals against average and a .938 save percentage.
Whether or not the gold medalists make it back in time, the Bruins might need to tap into their depth as they face the final stretch of the season. With 25 games remaining, there’s little room for a slow start.