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.

While speaking with reporters following practice, Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm shared that he does not believe he will return to the lineup against the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 30. View the original article to see embedded media.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lindholm remains on long-term injured reserve and will miss his 35th straight game against Buffalo on Tuesday. However, he is progressing toward a return. Lindholm has three goals, seven points, 35 shots on net and 17 blocked shots across 17 appearances this season.

The lead lasted all of 55 seconds. The B’s top line got hemmed in its own end for much of the shift and, after it finally pushed it out of the zone, the players got caught in a change. On a Sabre 4-on-3, Matt Poitras got lost out high and Dylan Cozens connected with the wide-open trailer Thompson, who ripped a slapper past Swayman.

Sure, the Boston Bruins were without three of their top defensemen – Charlie McAvoy (wrist), Hampus Lindholm (knee) and Brandon Carlo (ill) – but Boston’s overall defense was terrible during a 7-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers could each use at least another forward before the NHL trade deadline. What are their main and secondary needs?

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.