BRUINS: Defenseman Charlie McAvoy takes big step toward return to play

Charlie McAvoy, who hasn’t played since Oct. 18 because of a concussion, participated in a full-contact practice on Monday, and accompanied the B’s on a two-game trip to Florida and Tampa Bay.

BOSTON -- If practice was that exciting, imagine how Charlie McAvoy will feel when he gets to play a game.

That hasn’t happened since Oct. 18, and it’s a certain bet it won’t happen when the Bruins visit the Panthers on Tuesday night (7:05, NESN, WBZ-FM/98.5), but McAvoy took a big step toward his return on Monday: The Bruins’ 20-year-old defenseman went through his first full-contact practice since returning home from that Oct. 18 game at Edmonton with a concussion.

“I was really looking forward to it,” said McAvoy, who was on the ice for close to an hour on Tuesday, counting a pre-practice session with skills instructor Kim Brandvold. “I thought it went very well.”

McAvoy, dealing with the first concussion of his career, admitted he was “a little bit” nervous about hitting and getting hit.

“I think that’s just human nature, being a little bit nervous, excited, a little worried how I’d respond,” he said. “But overall, at the end of practice … I feel like I put in a lot of work, and I’m feeling really well. My head feels well, my body feels good -- I feel like I just had a great workout, and I’m very optimistic because of that.”

The Bruins, who have lost a total of eight defensemen to various injuries this season (McAvoy is one of four who currently aren’t playing), have missed McAvoy in different ways than others. While teamed with veteran captain Zdeno Chara (currently sidelined by a knee injury) on the Bruins’ shut-down defense pair to start his second NHL season, his skating skills and offensive instincts are what set him apart from the group.

“He can be a one-man breakout,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Very effective … getting it up the middle of the ice. He can give us a few cleaner entries, rushes. In the neutral zone, he’s pretty good at hitting that seam when it’s there, and getting the forwards going, so some easier attacks. I think we miss that part of his game the most.

“The shutdown part is good, as well, but … it’s the breakouts, that first-pass execution, that I think is his bread and butter.”

Whether he plays or not, McAvoy, who missed 19 games as a rookie last season (four to undergo a heart procedure; 15 with a knee injury), was thrilled just to accompany Bruins on a two-game trip that takes them to Tampa Bay on Thursday night.

“I can’t wait to get to get on the road with the guys,” he said. “I miss being on the plane, being around them every day. Getting up (Tuesday) morning, skating, just being there around the guys and kind of feeling that excitement of a game day -- I’m really looking forward to it.”

As eager as he is to play, McAvoy doesn’t want to experience a setback -- or hurt the team -- by coming back too soon.

“Not until I feel good, and obviously until our doctors and trainers -- we all agree that it’s the next step,” he said.

“I don’t want to come back if I’m in a position where I’m nervous to get hit. You can’t play like that. So I need to be completely prepared and ready to go out and be a pivotal part of the team, in order to help us win. And I feel like that day is close.”

Around the boards: Rookie center Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, who had been a healthy scratch for two straight games, was recalled on Monday from AHL Providence, where he played in Sunday’s 3-2, overtime loss to the Charlotte Checkers. “It’s important that he keeps active,” Cassidy said. “I’m not promising he’ll be in or out (against the Panthers), but we wanted to get him a game if he wasn’t going to play here Saturday (4-2 loss to the Red Wings).” … Defenseman Torey Krug, who is riding a five-game points streak (0-6--6), was given a maintenance day on Monday, but Cassidy said he expects Krug to play on Tuesday.