BOSTON — Mark Recchi has been around long enough to remember when training camp battles really were all-out wars.
"Back then, it was two scrimmages a day and there were a load of fights every day," said Recchi, 42, who played his first year in the NHL in 1988-89. "It was just battle, battle, battle and this went on for a week. [The way camp is now] is more conducive to being a better team."
The Bruins got their first taste of real competition on Monday with a Black-White scrimmage that lasted for two 20-minute periods. There was no brawling like in the old days, but there was a little bit of bad blood.
Midway through the second period, Brad Marchand upset defenseman Dennis Seidenberg with a low-bridge hit at the White blue line. Seidenberg responded with a two-handed slash across the back of Marchand's legs, drawing the only penalty on the play.
"I saw him coming, but I was expecting him to hit me up here, and instead he went for my knees," said Seidenberg. "I got a little annoyed that a guy in practice would come that low, but he knows. He apologized. We're all good."
At least they were after Seidenberg delivered his reminder with a little lumber.
"I should have hit him harder," said Seidenberg, smiling.
At least he still had his stick. Defenseman Joe Rullier lost his in the first period when he was taken out along the boards by Brian McGrattan. The only problem? McGrattan and Rullier were both on the White team.
"I was like 'Gratts, I'm with you buddy,'" said Rullier. "We were roommates with L.A. when we were both 18 and obviously we've played against each other through the years, but he's a good guy. He's my roommate here now, too."
There were a few other solid hits on players actually wearing the opposite color jersey, including a big shot by Blake Wheeler on defenseman Cody Wild. Wheeler promised to play a more physical game this season, and he at least delivered in the first scrimmage.
Zdeno Chara drew the first penalty with a hooking call in the first, while Shawn Thornton was whistled for boarding.
After finishing last in the league in goals scored last season, the Bruins finished the first period of their opening scrimmage in a scoreless tie. But Tyler Seguin got things going just 18 seconds into the second period when he set up Patrice Bergeron with a goal from the slot.
That opened the floodgates, as Chara tied it five minutes later with a one-timer from the center of the blue line off a feed from Jeremy Reich.
"It looked like it was going to be a real, real low-scoring game," said coach Claude Julien. "For a while, I wasn't sure if there were going to be any goals scored. But once that first one went in, it kind of opened up a bit. Overall, I liked what I saw. A lot of young guys started to feel more comfortable and you could see them making some better plays. They were a little nervous at first, but that was the whole goal of having that Black-White game today."
The Black squad scored the game-winner with 2:32 to play on a scramble in front, but even after the game, the players weren't sure who chipped the puck in. Jamie Arniel appeared to get a stick on it while sprawled in the crease, but he wasn't sure, thinking that defenseman Nathan McIver may have been the one to knock it home after pinching in from the point.
"I'm not sure, to be honest," said Arniel. "I was just kind of in the crease. I threw my stick in between his legs and I think one of us hit it. I'm not sure who it was."
Arniel wasn't too concerned with getting credit for the goal, he was just happy to get a chance to play in a scrimmage with some NHL veterans.
"It was really good," said Arniel. "Last year we didn't have anything like this. We just went right into the exhibition games. It's good to get the feel of NHL tempo out there. It was a really fast pace. Guys were snapping pucks off and it was actually pretty tough. It was a challenge, but I was glad we did it."
The logos on the scoreboards haven't been changed since last week's rookie games with the Islanders. The White team's score was actually listed next to the New York logo. Fortunately the Black team prevailed as Lane MacDermid capped the scoring with an empty-netter to make it 3-1 and give the Bruins yet another win over the "Islanders."
