Peverley hopes to return before playoffs

WILMINGTON -- Bruins forward Rich Peverley skated for the third straight day Friday at Ristuccia Arena. The veteran winger then spoke to the media for the first time since suffering his knee injury last month. 

Peverley has been out since Feb. 15, when a knee-on-knee hit from then-Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill left him with a sprained MCL in his right knee. 

"I feel pretty good," he said. "I've been skating for a couple of days, and it's getting better every day." 

Added Peverley: "The first couple of days were kind of just getting back into it, and then today was a little bit harder, a little longer. I felt pretty good on the ice. It's just about taking gradual steps."

Peverley has yet to practice with teammates and said that there is currently no timetable for when that will happen. At the time of his injury, the Bruins estimated that he would miss 4-6 weeks. He hopes to make a return to the lineup before the end of the regular season.  

"I think it would be tough to just go right into the playoffs," he said. "I'd like to get in [before then], but I'm taking it day-by-day right now and [will] see where it goes." 

The 29-year-old had also been dealing with a nagging injury prior to suffering his knee injury. The team had given him practices and games off in December and January to accommodate the injury, and Peverley estimated in January that the injury might pester him throughout the season. He said Friday that the injury had gone away prior to his knee injury, and that it is no longer bothering him. 

"It went away when I was still playing, so I dealt with it in different areas, and it was a lot better," he said. "It wasn't bothering me at all." 

Peverley added that it's been difficult to watch the Bruins, who have lost four straight.  

"It's tough," he said. "You want to win games even if you're not playing -- you're part of a team. Every team has its ups and downs during the year. It's no different. Hopefully we can get out of this slump soon."

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