Overview
- Zacha practiced in a red non-contact sweater on Wednesday, with coach Marco Sturm describing him as on the right track for Boston’s first game back against Columbus.
- An upper-body injury from a Jan. 29 high hit by the Flyers’ Nicolas Deslauriers ended Zacha’s bid to play for Czechia in Milano-Cortina.
- Zacha said early progress stalled and then worsened, leading him to conclude he could not perform at 100 percent.
- He called it a mutual decision with Bruins GM Don Sweeney and Czech GM Jiri Slegr to withdraw so Czechia could summon next-up forward Filip Chlapik.
- He noted the disappointment of missing the Games but pointed to extra recovery helping Boston’s stretch run, with the club sitting in a Wild Card spot and facing a heavy March schedule.