The Bruins have stumbled to a 3-6-0 start that included a 2-1 setback against the Canadiens Thursday night in the opener of a home-and-home series against their ancient rival. Friday’s workout was an attempt to finally get things going in the right direction prior to the rematch in Montreal on Saturday.
“We’re trying to bring some tempo to our game and some execution and do the things right now that will help our confidence and hopefully help us win some hockey games,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “It’s got to start somewhere. I thought today was a good time to up the tempo and push on the execution side of it.”
Missing from the workout heavy on battle drills was Benoit Pouliot. Julien stated Pouliot was sick and it was not known yet if he would make the trip to Montreal.
Julien also once again shook up his lines in the constant quest to find the right mix to create some offense for a team that has scored just seven goals in its six losses.
“What would you expect me to do?” Julien said when asked about the line changes. “It’s a coach that’s trying to find solutions. It’s as simple as that.”
Last year’s top line of David Krejci between Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton was back together on Friday, while Tyler Seguin is now skating with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. With Pouliot out, Jordan Caron skated with Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley. The fourth line of Daniel Paille, Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton remained the only unit unchanged.
Reuniting Lucic with Krejci and Horton is an effort to rekindle the chemistry that trio showed through much of last season and the club’s Cup run. Kelly and Peverley also clicked while skating together in the playoffs, as Julien appears to be reaching back into the past to try to get the Bruins back on track.
“You can look at it any way you want,” Julien said. “I’m just making some line changes. Some of it is, ‘Hey, will bringing some guys back together help?’ Who knows? If it doesn’t, I’m telling you right now you’re going to see changes again.”
