The Bruins say there is a chance.
There is no guarantee he will play in Game 5 of the first round series between the Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes, but the Bruins’ right winger, David Pastrnak, will take pregame reception prior to puck drop at 4 p.m. Scotiabank Arena.
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‘He’s going to the warm-up. He feels much better. I do not want to speculate who will come out, just because if Pastrnak can not go, then it is an unnecessary move, “said Bruce Cassidy.” Of course, if he is healthy, he will join. [Patrice] Bergeron en [Brad] Marchand. ”
It will be interesting to see what they do if they choose to keep Pastrnak out after the 24-year-old missed each of the last three games with an upper body injury.
They could stick with Anders Bjork after getting less than stellar results over the last three games, they could try a boy like Jack Studnicka who saw promise in the limited playing time, or they could re-ordain their attackers and the line gives a different look by loading with Charlie Coyle on the right. The guess here is that Studnicka would get a look after Bjork was unable to catch the performance in Pastrnak’s absence, and maybe Coyle would get some time there later in the match, depending on how the Bruins do it.
Overall, one has to wonder why they would even think about playing Pastrnak up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series against a Carolina team that took his heart effectively from the third period of Game 4 had ripped will be a few off-days ahead of the next series if they can pack it into five games and that would give Pastrnak plenty of time to rest, recover and be as close to 100 percent as he can be, despite the opponent of quality expect a face in the next round.
Clearly, if Pastrnak feels good enough to take on warm-ups, however, his return is difficult – whether he needs to in this first-round series, or in the next round of play in the Toronto bubble.
