Bruins' Zacha Returns to Practice in Non-Contact Gear

Injured forward misses Olympics, eyes return to lineup

Feb. 22, 2026 at 8:23am

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Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha returned to practice on Wednesday, wearing a red non-contact jersey as he continues to recover from an upper-body injury suffered on January 29. Zacha missed the Olympics due to the injury but is hoping to return to the Bruins' lineup soon.

Why it matters

Zacha's return to practice is good news for the Bruins, who have been shorthanded with several players overseas for the Olympics. His potential return to game action will bolster the team's forward depth as they push for a playoff spot.

The details

Zacha left the Bruins' ninth straight home win on January 29 with the upper-body injury. He said the decision to miss the Olympics was "really hard" but that not missing too many regular season games was also a positive. The Bruins also recalled goaltender Michael DiPietro from Providence, where he has been dominant this season.

  • Zacha was injured on January 29.
  • Zacha returned to practice on February 18.

The players

Pavel Zacha

A forward for the Boston Bruins who is recovering from an upper-body injury.

Michael DiPietro

A goaltender recalled from the Providence Bruins, where he has been one of the best goalies in the AHL this season.

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What they’re saying

“Making the decision of not going was really hard. And especially, you know, even watching the games now. It's hard to watch a little bit [because] I can't be there and experience it. On the other hand, not missing too many games in the regular season with the break is also good, [because] I had some time to kind of slowly come back.”

— Pavel Zacha

“For me, it's just being a well-balanced player, off the ice and in person. When and if the time comes, whether it be this season, next season, whatever. I just want to take the ball and run with it. You want to be confident when you get that opportunity, and obviously you want success.”

— Michael DiPietro

What’s next

The Bruins are hopeful that Zacha will be able to return to the lineup against the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 26.

The takeaway

Zacha's return to practice is an important step in his recovery, as the Bruins look to get healthy and make a push for the playoffs. The team's depth will be tested with several players overseas, but the recall of goaltender DiPietro shows the organization is committed to putting the best possible team on the ice.