But despite the elements, the transatlantic flights, and the sleeping in hotel rooms, the team has come away with an impressive start to their season.
After a 3-1 win in Washington on Tuesday night, the Bruins improved to 3-1-0 on their young season. They'll finally get a chance to show off at home on TD Garden ice on Thursday night, the back end of this home-and-home series with the Washington Capitals and the Bruins' home opener.
Tuesday night's win saw David Krejci score his first goal of the season while also recording his 42nd career multi-point game of his career with an assist on Milan Lucic's first period goal. Krejci's game is unquestionably going to shape this year's team. The top-line center has already developed chemistry with his linemates, Lucic and Nathan Horton, and his playmaking ability seems to have picked up right where he left off in the playoffs, prior to a season-ending wrist injury in the Eastern Conference semifinals in Philadelphia.
Krejci's vision combined with his patience with the puck makes him a dangerous player for opponents to face. On the power play, he displayed great poise with his teammates while trying to create an opportunity against Washington. In the absence of the Bruins' quarterback on the power play, Marc Savard, Krejci has filled in admirably.
Krejci registered the most minutes of any Bruins forward on Tuesday night, and you can expect that kind of effort out of the centerman night after night. He's fun to watch, and he's going to be one of the biggest contributing factors for the Bruins' success this year.
Hockey returns to Boston on Thursday night. The Bruins will once again try to qualify for the postseason as they have for the past three years, dating back to the 2007-08 season. It appears that the early travels to the season have paid off, and the team is clicking on all levels. Bruins fans hope that the bonding on and off the ice continues for the foreseeable future.
