Charlie McAvoy pushed the Bruins a step closer to whole again as he jumped into line rushes Friday morning, a huge milestone in his injury recovery.

The Bruins' top defenseman practiced for the second straight day, still in a red no contact jersey and wearing a full shield, but the jump from individual work to structured rush participation marked real progress. For a blue line battered by injuries, seeing McAvoy rejoin the Bruins at practice brought an immediate lift.

McAvoy's skating has looked smooth since returning earlier this week, but mixing into pair rotations reflects greater confidence from both the training staff and head coach Marco Sturm.

Sturm has made it clear the Bruins won't rush him back, yet the team also understands how much McAvoy's presence changes everything. His ability to settle breakouts, control matchups and anchor special teams has been sorely missed during one of Boston's most chaotic stretches of the year.

Charlie McAvoy resurgence lifts Boston Bruins during injury crisis

As a fan you felt a sense of relief watching him rotate in and out of the rushes. Boston's next men up have battled, but replacing a 25-minute defenseman is impossible. McAvoy's return to rhythm, even in a protected role, brings structure the Bruins desperately need.

Here are the looks from practice that confirmed the big step forward.

Boston continues to juggle an injury list that includes Michael Callahan, Jordan Harris, David Pastrnak, Henri Jokiharju and Matej Blumel, but McAvoy reentering rush work signals that reinforcements are finally approaching. If he keeps progressing through contact-free sessions, the Bruins could soon evaluate him for full participation - and from there, his game return might arrive sooner rather than later.

For now, Friday felt like the clearest moment of optimism Boston has had in weeks. Getting No. 73 back on track could be the turning point this team has been waiting for.