The hits just keep on coming for the Boston Bruins.

Just as he returned from his bout with diverticulitis, David Backes suffered a setback with the same illness that caused him to miss the first five games of the 2017-18 season. As a result, the Bruins announced that Backes will miss approximately eight weeks as he undergoes surgery to remove a portion of his colon.

“We lose another centerman,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said following Wednesday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena. “It’s tough. He’s a leader on the team, plays in all situations.

“We lose another good soldier is the way that I look at it.”

In addition to Backes, the Bruins were without David Krejci and Anton Khudobin for Wednesday’s practice. Krejci has missed the last four games due to a back issue, while Khudobin was out for Monday’s game contest against the Blue Jackets after tweaking an area of his lower body during Sunday’s practice.

Zane McIntyre, who was sent back down to Providence after serving as Tuukka Rask’s backup during Monday’s 4-3 shootout loss in Columbus, was one of two P-Bruins recalled on an emergency basis.

Jordan Szwarz, who is second on the Baby B’s in scoring with eight points, was the other player recalled on Wednesday. The 26-year-old has four career goals in 35 career NHL games. His last NHL appearance came in the 2014-15 season during his stint with the Coyotes.

“I was just thinking last night when I got the call that it’s been two years since I’ve played in an NHL game,” Szwarz said about the time between call-ups. “Obviously a lot of emotion coming here, and I’m pretty excited to get the opportunity given here and I hope that I can make the most of it.”

The one bit of good news on the Bruins’ injury front was Noel Acciari hitting the ice for conditioning and stick handling drills prior to practice. Acciari suffered a broken finger in the B’s opening night win over the Predators. Assuming the original six-week diagnosis is still accurate, Acciari should be a week or two away from being cleared to return.

As they prepare to face the expansion Golden Knights – the league’s biggest success story during the first month of the season – and their fourth-string goalie on Thursday, here’s a look at the Bruins lines and defensive pairings during Wednesday’s practice in Brighton.

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak
Danton Heinen-Jordan Szwarz-Anders Bjork
Jake DeBrusk-Riley Nash-Tim Schaller
Matt Beleskey-Sean Kuraly-Frank Vatrano

Zdeno Chara-Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug-Brandon Carlo
Paul Postma-Kevan Miller