Breaking News: Bruins likely to be held without a key player for tonight's game!

Boston Bruins David Backes wasn’t skating in today’s morning practice, and Jimmy Hayes was on the wing with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.

Backes went down hard in a game last Wednesday against the Calgary Flames after scoring what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the second period. He returned to the game despite what looked like a potential knee injury after being helped off the ice.

While Backes did return to action, this may be more than just an injury scare, especially if he does not dress tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The former St. Louis Blues captain has 15 goals and 20 assists in his first season with the Bruins.

Jimmy Hayes filled the right wing spot on the Bruins top line in the morning practice. The journeyman winger has played in 129 games for the Bruins since joining the team for the 2015-16 season, and has 15 goals and 19 assists with the team.

Hayes will be looking to find a place on the ice, instead of in the press box, where he as languished for most of the month. This opportunity comes as the Bruins try to lock down their position in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and one game after Edmonton snapped Boston’s four-game winning streak on Thursday.

The Bruins are 6th in the east with 82 points in 72 games, good for the third seed in the Atlantic division. They play division rival and wildcard hopeful Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.