Having Zdeno Chara and David Krejci take contact at practice for the first time since the two Bruins’ stars were sidelined with injuries is one of the more encouraging signs for the Boston Bruins in the past several weeks. Now the anticipation shifts to their return to the lineup.

During a second intermission report last week on Hockey Night in Canada, the Bruins targeted a Thursday return for Chara, who missed the last 19 games with a left knee injury. That reality is one step closer as the Black and Gold prepare for another matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks.

For Krejci (hip), however, his return might not come as soon as Chara’s.

“Krejci hasn’t been cleared to play yet,” head coach Claude Julien said after Tuesday’s practice. “Both have been cleared for practice. Right now, I can say that I feel more optimistic about Zee that he will [return to the lineup], but I don’t know about David.”

In the 19 games without Chara, the Bruins haven’t been that dynamic team we’ve been used to seeing in The Hub of Hockey in previous years. But even with a few shaky performances in that span, they were able to tread water going 11-7-1 in that span.

During the last month and a half, the Bruins defense was put to the test. Veterans like Dennis Seidenberg was put to the task to help guide the bunch, while Dougie Hamilton looked to speed up his progression as a bonafide top three defensemen and the callups from Providence were needed to help stabilize the situation.

There were few bright spots during this stretch, but having Chara back in the lineup is a considerable difference.

“He’s a big presence obviously,” goaltender Tuukka Rask said about Chara. “He gets a great read on plays all the time, and he’s good on offense too. So we’ll find out when he comes back again.”

“There was a lot of teams that were happy to play us without him in our lineup,” Julien added. “There’s going to be a lot of teams sad to have him back soon, and hopefully that happens Thursday.”

There’s no question that the Bruins are excited to have Chara back sooner rather than later. But the 6-foot-9 captain is just as eager to go out there and be a difference maker again.

It couldn’t have come at a better time, either, especially after just winning once during their four-game west coast trip last week.

“I’m excited to be back with the team,” Chara said. “It’s something that I worked really hard for.

“Obviously the Bruins organization – the training and medical staff – did a great job to put me where I am today. I’m just very excited to be back with the team and practicing and as of now I’m taking every day and give 100 percent, and that’s how it stands right now.”

With 31 points, the Bruins hold a two-point lead over the Florida Panthers for the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. With Chara back, they’ll be in a better position to climb up the standings.

The results still remain to be seen, but Chara’s return, along with Krejci’s (whenever that is) will be a step in the right direction.

“It’s very important,” Chara said. “We have almost a half a season around the corner, so we have to realize where we are and where we want to be. So we have to look at that and get better.”