In his first game since March 13, Chara (upper body) recorded five shots in 21:14 worth of ice time in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Flyers.

EDGE Analysis

The Bruins' captain and shut-down blueliner logged a team-high 2:56 worth of penalty killing duty in his return from a nine-game absence, while taking his regular shift on a pairing with Nick Holden. Looking ahead, there's a solid chance that Chara will be reunited with his usual defensive partner Charlie McAvoy (knee) as soon as Tuesday night's road game against the Lightning.

Coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed that Chara (upper body) will return to action Sunday against the Flyers.

EDGE Analysis

The return of Chara, who last suited up March 13, arrives at a good time, with fellow defender Brandon Carlo now sidelined with what has the looks of a long-term lower-leg injury. Though Chara may have lost a step at this stage of his career and no longer sees regular power-play duty, his conditioning, veteran savvy and long reach help him remain a strong shut-down defender for the Bruins. To date, he's logged seven goals and 23 points to go along with a plus-26 mark over the course of 68 games.

Chara (upper body) is expected to lace up the skates Sunday in Philadelphia, Fluto Shinzawa of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Chara was injured in Carolina back on Mar. 13 and has missed the last nine games since the incident. The 6-foot-9 blueliner has potted seven goals and 23 points in 68 games on the season, alongside a plus-26 rating and 134 hits. Chara's return is big for the Bruins, even if it won't do too much from a fantasy perspective.

Chara (upper body) will travel with the Bruins for a three-game road trip that begins Sunday against the Flyers.

EDGE Analysis

The towering blueliner remains a steady two-way contributor when healthy. While 40-point seasons have been siphoned from this tank, he's still had enough gas to muster 23 points, 134 hits, and 114 blocked shots to complement a plus-26 rating through 68 games this season. Keep a close eye on Chara's progress, as the Bruins only have five games left in the regular season.

Chara (upper body) won't play Saturday against the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

That said, both Chara and Charlie McAvoy (knee) will travel with the Bruins to Philadelphia and could play in Sunday's game against the Flyers. The duo skated together at practice Friday and appear poised to return to action, but it probably makes sense to hold them out Saturday, given that back-to-back game scenarios are generally less than optimal for players who have missed time due to injury.

Chara (upper body) considers himself "day-to-day" in advance of Saturday's game against the Panthers. "We go literally by 24 hours," Chara noted Thursday. "Definitely I want to be out there, I want to play. But at the same time I have to do what's right for the team and what's right for me at this time of the year."

EDGE Analysis

It's possible that coach Bruce Cassidy will provide updates on some of the Bruins' injured players later Friday, but if not we may not get a handle on Boston's Saturday lineup until warmups, given that the team won't have a pre-game skate prior to the team's 1 PM ET puck drop.

Chara (upper body) won't play Thursday night against the Lightning.

EDGE Analysis

On the plus side, coach Bruce Cassidy indicated that both Chara and his defensive partner Charlie McAvoy (knee) are progressing well and could return to action as soon as this weekend, when the Bruins play back-to-back games against the Panthers (on Saturday) and Flyers (on Sunday).

Chara (upper body) has signed a one-year, $5 million contract extension with the Bruins.

EDGE Analysis

The big blueliner's deal, which will keep him in Boston through the 2018-19 campaign, also includes an additional $1.75 million in performance-based incentives. While the 41-year-old may have lost a step at this stage of his career and is no longer a power-play mainstay, Chara remains a strong shut-down defender, as evidenced by the plus-26 mark he has logged through 68 games to date. Meanwhile, Chara, who last suited up on March 13, is nearing a return to action, per ESPN.com. The same applies to fellow defenseman Charlie McAvoy (knee), with added clarity on the duo's status likely to arrive prior to Thursday night's showdown against the Lightning.

Per coach Bruce Cassidy, Chara (upper body) is back on the ice.

EDGE Analysis

While Chara remains sidelined for Tuesday's game against the Jets, Cassidy sounded hopeful that the big blueliner would join his teammates on the ice soon. As such, consider Chara day-to-day in advance of Thursday's home game against the Lightning.

Chara remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

EDGE Analysis

It doesn't look like we'll see the Bruins' captain in action before the team returns home next Thursday against the Lightning, with coach Bruce Cassidy focused on having key cogs like Chara in good health as the postseason approaches. Chara, who last suited up on March 13, has logged seven goals and 23 points in 68 games to date, to go along with a plus-26 rating. While a lack of power play time has limited Chara's fantasy upside, the 41-year-old has more than held up his end of the bargain defensively and will be counted on to to provide a shut-down presence on the Boston back line upon his return to action.