Boston Bruins center Brad Marchand Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Bruins get Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo back Tuesday vs. Devils

The Boston Bruins will get a pair of key figures back as they close March out with Tuesday's game versus the New Jersey Devils.

Per Amalie Benjamin of the NHL's official website, forward Brad Marchand and defenseman Brandon Carlo will return to Boston's lineup on Tuesday. Marchand, who leads the Bruins with 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) in 29 games, was added to the NHL's COVID-19 protocols list on Saturday but said he was the victim of a so-called "false positive." 

Boston had two games postponed due to COVID-19 concerns the previous week but returned to action for this past Thursday's matchup against the New York Islanders. 

"You never want to miss a game. You never want to miss a day on the ice," Marchand explained. "But every team is going through it. … This is a bump in the road. This is what comes with it, to be able to play the games and to do our job. So we're not going to complain about this with everything that's going on and what people are going through. To miss a couple days isn't a big deal. Back at it tonight." 

Carlo, meanwhile, suffered a concussion back on March 5 caused by a hit delivered by Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson:

Carlo missed 10 games while sidelined, and the NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Wilson seven games. 

"I got cleared yesterday," Carlo said on Tuesday. "They kind of asked me if I felt like I would need a little time for the rust and everything, but no, I'm super excited to get back and play in the lineup. … I'm excited to get back out there and trying to help and be an energetic voice on the bench."

The Bruins begin Tuesday evening fourth in the NHL East standings with 39 points, only one point ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers. The top four teams from each division qualify for the playoffs. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Rangers designate right-hander for assignment
Watch: Denmark's Christian Eriksen nets goal at Euro 2024 three years after suffering cardiac arrest
Giants place left-hander on 15-day IL with ankle sprain
Oilers crush Panthers in Game 4, stay alive in Stanley Cup Final
Dodgers ace leaves game against Royals due to triceps tightness
Sam Mayer uses overtime restart to win Xfinity Series' return to Iowa
Liberty forward pushes herself into MVP conversation with big game vs. Aces
Tiger Woods makes big admission about his U.S. Open future
Cubs P 'Mike' Imanaga continues hot start vs. Cardinals
Celtics' All-Defensive guard reportedly could replace Kawhi Leonard on Team USA
Tee Higgins' contract decision adds pressure on Bengals in 2024
One-time Defensive Player of the Year open to reunion with former team
College baseball has become too regional for its own good
Three Padres prospects who should be untouchable in trade talks
Connor McDavid's history-making night helps Oilers stave off elimination
Astros scratch Justin Verlander as nightmare season continues
Watch: Oilers chase goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky from Game 4
Watch: Rockies third baseman takes advantage of Pirates laziness' to steal home
Pirates place young catcher on concussion IL
Watch: Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final gets off to chaotic start