"It'll obviously take a game or two to get back up to speed, but everything's positive," Nash said.
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Center Sean Kuraly, who missed seven games with an upper-body injury, also practiced.
"Rick Nash looked good," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Him and Kuraly both skated, full participants, all is well for them. ... We're encouraged by Rick and Sean."
Forward Riley Nash, who missed five games because of an ear laceration, did not practice after skating Monday. Cassidy said he expects him to practice Wednesday. Forward Noel Acciari had a maintenance day.
During line rushes, rookie forward Ryan Donato was without a line. Although Donato had nine points (five goals, four assists) in 12 games after leaving Harvard to sign with Boston on March 18, he could be scratched for Game 1.
Cassidy said Rick Nash's return means Donato would have to play down in the lineup and that might not be the role the 22-year-old rookie is best suited for. However, the Bruins have consistently used five rookies before and after Donato's arrival.
"Then the last part is, how many young guys do you think can go into the lineup at once and we sustain our level of play, because it's the second season," Cassidy said. "So we factor all those in. And that's where it's going to come down. Now Game 1 it does, but maybe Game 2, it could change in a hurry."
Donato said he would understand if he's scratched.
"I just come with a positive attitude really," he said. "I think obviously it's tough joining at the end of the season and they've been doing great without me. I'm just going to keep working hard and whenever they need me or my number's called, I'll be ready to go. I won't really take it as an insult, I'll just take it as the team's been great all year, I won't take it too personally."
