Boston Bruins: Nathan Horton Skates for First Time Since February Setback

Boston Bruins forward Nathan Horton skated with backup goaltender Tuukka Rask on Wednesday morning, according to the team.

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Nathan Horton skated for about 40 mins at Ristuccia with Tuukka Rask and Strength Coach John Whitesides before the full practice ^BB

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 4, 2012"

It was the first time Horton had skated since post-concussion symptoms set back his recovery in February.

He hasn't played for the Bruins since Jan. 22 when he was hit by Philadelphia Flyers forward Tim Sestito and suffered a concussion. In addition to that concussion, Horton also suffered one in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final last June.

The 26-year-old forward was a major reason why the Bruins won the Stanley Cup last season, scoring game-winning overtime goals in Games 5 and 7 during the first-round series with the Montreal Canadiens, and was productive throughout the playoffs. 

It's unlikely, however, that he returns this season to make an impact on another Bruins playoff run.

There is no timetable for his return, but his ability to skate certainly shows that he's making some improvement at least.

A March 27 report from CSNNE.com said that it's unlikely that Horton will play again this season. That still may be the case, but seeing Horton skate is definitely an encouraging sign in his recovery.

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Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.