Bruins Confirm Rest-Of-Season Statuses Of Injured Bruins Stars

The Bruins will finish the season without two key contributors.

Charlie McAvoy and Mark Kastelic practiced for multiple weeks while recovering from upper-body injuries. There was an argument to be made that either player could play for Boston to close the season. However, interim head coach Joe Sacco shut the door on that idea Thursday.

“Just not ready to play, that’s the bottom line,” Sacco told reporters, per the Bruins. “With where they’re at in the process, I think we feel and the medical staff feels they’re just not ready to play these two games after tonight.”

McAvoy suffered a shoulder injury while playing for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off. He last played in a Bruins game Feb. 8 and held out hope for a return, but he’ll get a chance to recover from his injury for a full offseason.

Kastelic suffered an upper-body injury March 20 and was a key contributor for the Bruins in his first season after Boston acquired him in a trade that sent Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators. The 26-year-old signed a three-year contract extension in January, so he’ll look to continue to be a contributor to the B’s in his second season with the team.

The Bruins continue the final stretch of the regular season when they take on the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Garden on Thursday. Puck drop is scheduled at 7 p.m. ET on NESN.