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.

The Bruins are set to receive a lift in the coming days, as Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy were regular participants in practice Monday.

The Bruins have not had Lindholm and McAvoy anchoring their D corps together since the former suffered a lower-body injury on Nov. 12 against the Blues.

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 Bruins expected far more when they signed Lindholm to a seven-year, $54.25 million contract on July 1. But this looks like his level.

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.

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 ...

Grabs helper Tuesday

For this matchup against the Sabres, the Bruins' forward group will be getting a boost. This is because forward Cole Koepke will be back in the lineup after missing each of the Bruins' last five games.

Bruins defenseman Michael Callahan more than held his own in his second career NHL game, helping Boston beat the Senators.

Pillar of consistency. That’s a good way to describe the Boston Bruins over the past 20 years. With three trips to the Stanley Cup Final (winning in 2011)

The up-and-down Boston Bruins remain squarely on a crowded playoff bubble in the Eastern Conference. Team president Cam Neely has acknowledged that a “retool” could be on the table between now and the March 7 trade deadline.