Bruins regain key players as Olympic stars return and Zacha recovers from injury
The Boston Bruins are preparing for a busy week as key players return from international duty and injuries. Three of their athletes—Joonas Korpisalo, Jeremy Swayman, and Hampus Lindholm—are still competing in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, with the gold medal match set for Sunday. Meanwhile, head coach Marco Sturm has confirmed that forward Pavel Zacha is fit again after an upper-body injury.
Pavel Zacha took part in full practice on Friday, wearing a regular jersey instead of the non-contact one. Sturm declared him 'good to go,' ending a spell on the sidelines. His return is timely, as the 27-year-old has been a steady performer this season, notching 37 points in 54 games.
The Bruins have also been without both regular goaltenders, Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo, due to their Olympic commitments. Sturm, however, is not pushing for their immediate return. Instead, the focus remains on those already back in Boston. Elias Lindholm, Hampus Lindholm, and David Pastrnak have all returned to the city and could rejoin team practice as early as Monday.
Elsewhere, young forward Fraser Minten is eagerly following the Olympics. The Vancouver native, who took up hockey after watching the 2010 Winter Games at age five, will watch Sunday's gold medal game between Canada and the USA at Warrior Ice Arena before Bruins practice. Despite having teammates on Team USA, Minten is cheering for Canada. Meanwhile, Finland's Joonas Korpisalo and Henri Jokiharju face Slovakia in the bronze medal match on Saturday.
Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman remain in Milan, preparing for the epic gold-medal showdown against Canada on Sunday.
The Bruins will regain several key players in the coming days, boosting their roster after Olympic absences. Zacha's recovery adds further strength, while the team awaits the return of their international competitors. Practice sessions next week will provide the first chance to see the reunited squad in action.
