Bruins: Savard could return in 2nd round

BOSTON, April 13 (UPI) -- Injured Boston Bruins star Marc Savard could return to the team by the second round of the playoffs, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said Tuesday.

Savard sustained a severe concussion in March when he took a blind-side hit to the hit head from the shoulder of the Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke. But Chiarelli said Savard has been showing improvement lately, TSN reported.

Savard on Monday completed a "brisk walk" and his concussion symptoms have been diminishing steadily, but he is still experiencing intermittent headaches, Chiarelli told the Canadian broadcaster, adding that Savard must remain symptom-free for seven days and pass an exertion test before being cleared to play again.

Cooke's hit on Savard led to NHL rules changes barring hits to the head when a player can't see his opponent coming.

TSN said a best-case scenario for the Bruins, who open the playoffs Thursday against Buffalo, would be for Savard to return late in the second round should Boston advance.