from Caryn Switaj at BostonBruins.com,

The Bruins have been without captain Zdeno Chara for 19 games. Head Coach Claude Julien is planning on having him back in the lineup on Thursday night, when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Garden.

"Not officially, but I’m counting on him," Julien said Thursday morning, while the team was on the ice for a pregame skate.

While the official decision hadn't yet been made for tonight, the talk about Chara's impending return has made for an excited Bruins' room.

Since he suffered the knee injury on October 23, it's been a long month and a half for the Bruins without their longtime leader.

"There was definitely some adversity throughout that time, and I think we've managed it pretty well overall," said alternate captain Patrice Bergeron, looking back on his time out of the lineup (the Bruins have gone 11-7-1 in his absence). "We definitely had some ups and downs, but it's still definitely going to give us a lift to have our captain back if he is back tonight."

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