The Boston Bruins are reeling after a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. However, on Wednesday, there was encouraging news about the return of one of the team’s top two defensemen.

Sure, the Boston Bruins were without three of their top defensemen – Charlie McAvoy (wrist), Hampus Lindholm (knee) and Brandon Carlo (ill) – but Boston’s overall defense was terrible during a 7-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Bruins host the Jets on Thursday. Lindholm, who is currently on Long Term Injured Reserve has been out since suffering a lower-body injury on Nov. 12 against the Blues. McAvoy had been out since Jan. 11 with an undisclosed injury.

The McAvoy family grew after Charlie McAvoy’s wife Kiley, gave birth the couple’s first child on Sunday morning.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is still recovering from an undisclosed injury with no set return date.

The Boston Bruins return to the ice on Jan. 28 to face the Buffalo Sabres. They will look to stay hot after winning each of their last two contests. View the original article to see embedded media. For this matchup against the Sabres,

Will remain sidelined Tuesday

Lindholm has been a 22-point flop. He is signed for six more seasons with no-move protection through 2029. Lindholm, 30, is practically untradeable, even if the Bruins eat part of his remaining salary.

Boston was thumped in Buffalo on Tuesday, and the return of McAvoy – out since Jan. 11 with a wrist injury – will certainly help.

While a clash of the NHL's top two teams looms this weekend, the Winnipeg Jets have business to take care of first as they continue a three-game road trip in the East against the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm both returned ... and that it wasn’t gonna be a problem for that,” the Boston Bruins defenseman told reporters after Monday’s practice.