McAvoy Returns From Suspension as Bruins Close Out Frozen Frenzy in San Jose

Charlie McAvoy is back. Boston's top defenseman rejoins the Bruins lineup tonight in San Jose after sitting out six games on suspension, and he will do so on the top defensive pair alongside Hampus Lindholm. McAvoy told reporters after practice in the Bay Area on Monday that he is ready to jump straight back into game action.

Head coach Marco Sturm used Monday's practice to reshuffle his defense around the return. Connor Clifton came out of the lineup, while the third pairing of Frederic Brunet and Mason Lohrei stayed together, giving Boston a new-look blue line for the last game of the NHL's Frozen Frenzy.

The timing could hardly be bigger. The Bruins (4-2-0) visit the Sharks (3-2-0) at just after 11 p.m. ET as the 16th and final game of the night, with all 32 NHL teams in action in staggered starts across the league's fourth annual Frozen Frenzy. It is the first of two meetings between the teams in 11 days, and San Jose brings a three-game winning streak against Boston into the matchup after the Bruins had previously won 14 straight in the series.

McAvoy's return gives Boston its full-strength defense back at the close of a four-game road trip that wraps up in Dallas a week from today.