WILMINGTON, Mass. — The Boston Bruins returned to practice Wednesday after a disappointing 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night at TD Garden.
The Bruins will head out on the road for a five-game trip beginning Friday that includes games against the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks. The Oilers are only team in that group not currently in a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
“We know how important this road trip is,” Bruins forward Milan Lucic said. “We’re all excited for it. When you’re on a road trip like this, 12 days, it’s a chance for the guys to come together, bond and spend a little extra time together on the road and hang out.
“It’s a test of your character, it’s a test of your will. When you look at the teams we’re playing against, it’s definitely not going to be an easy one. It’s real important that we get it started off right. Sometimes a change of scenery is good.”
Wednesday’s session was a bit more physical than normal, which is hardly a surprise after the last four games.
“I think it was everyone realizing that we have to play a certain way to be successful, and having that fight within ourselves and in our game is going to give us success. It’s not about fighting, it’s about battling hard and being hard on the puck,” Lucic said.
“These last four games I think we were a little soft on the puck and protecting it, so I think that’s why guys were playing hard and being hard on the puck, trying to protect it and also trying to get it away from other guys . We just wanted to up the intensity so when it comes to Friday night, it just comes natural like it needs to be.”
These were the lines at Wednesday’s practice:
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Reilly Smith
Chris Kelly-Carl Soderberg-Loui Eriksson
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Craig Cunningham/Jordan Caron
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports
