Bruins Notebook: David Pastrnak inching closer to return

After a 10-goal outburst over the last two games, the Bruins’ frustration and desperation to find offense the first three road games produced has subsided — for now.

Just the same, it was a welcome sight to see David Pastrnak on Monday donning the white practice jersey of the healthy for the first time this season, shedding the red non-contact shirt he wore last week.

Exactly when he gets into the lineup remains to be seen. Coach Bruce Cassidy said that he doesn’t expect him to play in either of the two home games against the Penguins on Tuesday or Thursday, but his progress in these last days of rehab from offseason hip surgery will be reassessed going into the weekend when the B’s face former teammate Zdeno Chara and the Washington Capitals for the first time on Saturday.

Pastrnak’s trademark exuberance was on full display at practice, even if the realities hit him in the face like the January chill.

“It was the first contact day today and it’s obviously not fun getting hit for the first time after four months. I obviously have to get used to that,” said Pastrnak. “This is the worst part for professional

athletes always, with the injuries. It’s always tough to see your friends playing and you just can’t. I’m happy that I can finally practice with the guys. It’s been a long road and I really can’t wait.”

Pastrnak suffered a shoulder injury in his first pro season and two seasons ago broke his thumb in an off-ice mishap. But this is his first major surgery that profoundly affected his offseason.

An example to be followed by more youth athletes, Pastrnak loves to compete and will do so in sports other than hockey in the offseason. That was out, and in was a more careful, methodical rehab that has put him on the cusp of returning to game action ahead of the original mid-February target.

It still wasn’t as fun as kicking the soccer ball around.

“The hardest part was obviously the first two months. As you guys know, I’m an outgoing kid and every offseason I mix everything in with the workouts and the ice hockey and with certain sports like tennis and soccer, which I take as my preparation for the season instead of running around in circles. I go play soccer and stuff. I’m very, very outgoing and a very (sports-oriented) person,” said Pastrnak. “Those first two months were really hard. Obviously, I couldn’t do anything, had to follow a program and really work myself every single week just step by step. That was really difficult for me. I had to change my preparation for the season. But I always look on the positive side so I got to know my body really, really well.”