'Twas the day before the 2009-10 season opener for the Boston Bruins, and all were ready for a return to normalcy.
The Bruins finished their third practice with the squad that will take the TD Garden ice Thursday night against Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals. Center David Krejci looks to be a go, and the team is ready to get going.
“I think I’m in, but of course, I still need the trainers to say that,” said Krejci, who has made an amazing recovery from offseason hip surgery and is two months ahead of schedule. “I’m ready. I feel good, and I should be in there [Thursday].”
Krejci’s teammates felt the same way as far as where they are in preparation for the season opener. Last year at this time, Patrice Bergeron was preparing to play his first game in almost a season, after suffering a major concussion in 2007-08, but now with that behind him and a season under his belt, Bergeron will feel more comfortable this year.
“It’s different now because I have that season behind me and I feel normal,” he said. “I’m just ready to play and have a great season.”
Veteran Mark Recchi, who is entering his 21st NHL season, also looks at the start of a season as “normalcy.”
“This is our job and our livelihood, so obviously when you’re not playing, your schedule isn’t as regular,” Recchi said. “This is an exciting time always, because you have a chance to improve and be better … and hopefully win the Stanley Cup.”
The Bruins once again worked out the power play on Wednesday, and it appears Bergeron will start down low as the two parings on the power-play units were Zdeno Chara and Derek Morris, and Andrew Ference and Dennis Wideman.
Forwards Marc Savard and Michael Ryder cycled down low on the first unit, with Marco Sturm and Milan Lucic splitting shifts. Krejci and Bergeron were down low on the second unit, with Recchi and Chuck Kobasew splitting shifts.
Here are the probable lines for Thursday night:
Forwards
Milan Lucic-Marc Savard-Marco Sturm
Blake Wheeler-David Krejci-Michael Ryder
Mark Recchi-Patrice Bergeron-Chuck Kobasew
Shawn Thornton-Steve Begin/Vladimir Sobotka-Byron Bitz
Defensemen
Zdeno Chara-Derek Morris
Andrew Ference-Dennis Wideman
Mark Stuart-Matt Hunwick/Johnny Boychuk
Goaltenders
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
