Bruins to welcome injured defensemen back to lineup

Matt Grzelcyk and Kevan Miller are both expected to return from injuries during the Bruins’ two-game weekend.

BOSTON - The Bruins would like to let some of their defense rest before the regular season ends one week from Saturday.

 It might be possible.

 After spending several weeks without three of their Top 6 defensemen, the Bruins expect to get a couple back this weekend: Matt Grzelyck seems on track to play in Saturday’s matinee against the Panthers at TD Garden (1:05 p.m., NESN, WBZ-FM 98.5), and Kevan Miller could follow him as soon as Sunday night, when the Bruins begin a three-game trip in Detroit (7:35, NBCSN, WBZ-FM 98.5).

 “We’ll make those determinations (Saturday) morning, but (Grzelcyk) looks like he’s a day ahead of Kevan,” Bruce Cassidy said on Friday at Warrior Arena, where the Bruins held one of their final full practices of the regular season. “Game-time decision for both, really, but I would say (Grzelcyk) on Saturday and then Kevan on Sunday night.”

 Grzelcyk has missed eight games since his right arm and shoulder were pinned against the glass from behind by Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist in a March 10 game at Pittsburgh. He spent much of the past week skating in a non-contact jersey, but he was allowed full participation on Friday.

 “I feel good,” Grzelcyk said. “I’ve been working hard with Kevan Miller and Marcus (Johansson, the winger who returned on Wednesday after missing 11 games with a lung contusion), to get our legs under us and be prepared when we do come back.”

 After missing nearly three weeks, Grzelcyk steps back in for a five-game, eight-day segment that takes the Bruins to the end of the regular season. He thinks that will give him enough game action for when the playoffs begin on April 10 or 11.

 “I’m thankful I didn’t have to be out too long, and can get in a few games before the playoffs,” Grzelcyk said. “Obviously, you’d like to have as much time as possible, but at the same time, it’s been a long year. I’ve gotten to play a good amount.”

 Grzelcyk, in fact, has played 61 of the Bruins’ 77 games to date, matching his number of appearances as a rookie last season. He’s second among Bruins blue-liners to Brandon Carlo’s 68 games and tied with John Moore, the most recent defenseman to leave the lineup: Moore sustained an upper body injury on Monday night in Tampa and is out on a week-to-week basis.

 Miller, well down the games-played list at 36, has missed the past 15 with an unspecified upper body injury -- his third injury of the season. He missed 13 games with a hand injury between Oct. 20-Nov. 17, then went right back out of the lineup for 13 more games after a puck hit him in the throat on Nov. 26 at Toronto.

 The current injury has perhaps been the most frustrating, because the initial prognosis had him missing relatively little time.

 “It got diagnosed, but felt not great,” Miller said, “so we came back, got an MRI, got re-diagnosed … it’s part of the nature of it sometimes.

 “Unfortunately, it’s been longer than I’d hoped for (he last played on Feb. 23) after getting the first result, but after the second one, we had it pretty clear. I think we’re right about on schedule.”

Around the boards: Johansson will start Saturday’s game at right wing on the Bruins’ top line, with Brad Marchand (97 points) and Patrice Bergeron, while David Pastrnak will skate with Jake DeBrusk and David Krejci. Pastrnak’s five-point night against the Rangers on Wednesday included an even-strength goal and assist after Cassidy dropped him down to play with DeBrusk and Krejci -- which was where Johansson started. … Winger Karson Kuhlman, re-assigned to AHL Providence on Wednesday, was called back up from the P-Bruins on Friday, again on an emergency basis. The Bruins, who have no spare forwards, are leaving immediately after Saturday’s game for their three-game trip. … Cassidy said Tuukka Rask will start in goal on Saturday; Jaroslav Halak on Sunday.