Bruins Make Roster Move Amid Pivotal Stretch Before Break

The Boston Bruins are slowly getting back to full strength with three games remaining until a two-week break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Mark Kastelic will be back in the mix Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild after missing eight of the last 10 games, which included a stint in the concussion protocol. The Bruins assigned forward Vinni Lettieri to Providence with Kastelic being activated off injured reserve.

“I’m very excited, I don’t know how long it’s been, but it’s been long enough,” Kastelic told reporters following morning skate, per team-provided video. “Really just eager and hungry to hopefully contribute and just put my best foot forward and have fun out there.”

Kastelic has been a valuable piece on Boston’s fourth line in his first season with the Bruins. The veteran forward already set a new career high with 13 points coming from four goals and nine assists.

Kastelic, who said he doesn’t have any restrictions as he returns, also brings a physical presence to the Bruins lineup, having dropped the glove eight times this season.

“He’s on the ice, he’s playing hard every shift,” Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco told reporters, per team-provided video. “I think that sometimes, if the game is quiet one way or the other, (Kastelic) has the ability to draw people into it more the way he plays. And that’s good for our team.”

Lettieri spent eight games with the Bruins and tallied two goals over that span.

The Bruins, who are still awaiting the return of defenseman Hampus Lindholm, are in a pivotal stretch as they currently are on the outside of the playoffs at the moment. Boston is one point behind both the Detroit Red Wings and and Columbus Blue Jackets, who hold the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots. The Red Wings and Blue Jackets also have a game in hand on the Bruins.

Points in their final three games before the break would be critical for the Bruins as they look to make a playoff push.