The Bruins might have been a bit shorthanded at practice with eight players overseas, but they got a boost with some positive news on the home front.
Pavel Zacha hit the ice again, sporting a red non-contact jersey, marking his first practice appearance since his January 29 injury. Zacha had exited the Bruins’ ninth consecutive home win with an upper-body injury.
Unfortunately, this injury kept him out of the Olympics, a tough pill to swallow since Team Czechia had named him to their roster last summer.
“Deciding not to go was really tough,” Zacha shared after practice. “Watching the games now is hard because I can’t be there. But not missing too many regular season games thanks to the break is a silver lining, giving me time to ease back in.”
Missing the Stadium Series and the Winter Olympics was particularly frustrating for him, events he had eagerly anticipated. Initially, Zacha thought he might still make it to the games, but the injury took a turn for the worse.
“At first, I was optimistic about going since I was feeling better,” Zacha explained. “But then progress stalled, and it worsened. After about a week and a half, I realized returning in time wasn’t likely.”
The decision was mutual, involving Zacha, the Bruins’ staff, and Team Czechia’s staff.
When asked about Zacha’s potential return against Columbus on February 26, Marco Sturm responded with cautious optimism: “Yeah, hopefully.”
With a limited roster at practice, the Bruins also called up goaltender Michael DiPietro from Providence.
“For me, it’s about being a well-rounded player, both on and off the ice,” DiPietro said regarding his call-up. “When the opportunity arises, whether this season or next, I’m ready to seize it. Confidence is key when that chance comes, and of course, you aim for success.”
DiPietro has been a standout with the Providence Bruins, boasting a 21-5-0 record. His impressive 1.64 goals against average (GAA) and .942 save percentage (SV%) have him leading the league, tying for the most wins in the AHL and topping the charts in GAA and SV% among goalies with at least 900 minutes played.