UNIONDALE, N.Y. - In retrospect, a 10-day layoff may not have been a bad thing for Milan Lucic.
The rookie left wing, after missing the last four games because of a concussion sustained Nov. 23, returned to the lineup last night against the Islanders, taking his usual spot on the fourth line.
"Nice to get back out there," said Lucic, who skated 10 shifts for 5:41 of ice time, recording one hit and one blocked shot.
And while Lucic naturally wants to be part of the action, a break around the one-quarter mark of the season could have been what the 19-year-old needed.
"Maybe the injury came at the right time," said Lucic before last night's 3-1 win. "I could get some rest. I feel I'm ready to go. I'm excited."
It's been a long calendar year for Lucic, once a long shot to break training camp with the big boys. His junior team played into late May, winning the Memorial Cup. Lucic participated in the Bruins' first-ever development camp in July. Then he and fellow Boston prospects Brad Marchand and Zach Hamill played in the intercontinental Canada/Russia Super Series before crossing North America once more to kick off training camp in Wilmington, Mass.
After Islanders defenseman Bryan Berard delivered a hit that caused the concussion, Lucic stayed in Boston for the next two games. He returned to practice last Wednesday, then traveled with the team to Florida. Lucic watched the 4-3 win over the Panthers and the 4-1 loss to the Lightning, practicing each day and receiving on-ice instruction from team vice president Cam Neely, who has been with the team on the road trip.
Lucic was one of three players (Matt Hunwick and Tuukka Rask were the others) to practice Sunday in Tampa, and also participated in yesterday's morning skate.
"He's feeling good about himself," said coach Claude Julien. "He's been given enough time to get himself back into playing shape. He's worked hard these past few days."
Third man in
Petteri Nokelainen, who has gotten spare shifts on the third line in the past few games, received a full-time promotion to the No. 3 unit last night alongside Peter Schaefer and Phil Kessel, taking the spot of Brandon Bochenski, and he scored his first goal as a Bruin.
Nokelainen has played eight games at center and five games at right wing since his recall from Providence Nov. 4. Nokelainen skated 17 shifts for 12:42 of ice time, delivered two hits and buried his only shot, in the second period.
"Nokelainen's been playing extremely well on the right side," said Julien. "My message to him was to not change his game. Just continue what he's been doing - playing strong against the boards, being first to the puck, finishing his checks."
Bochenski was a healthy scratch for the eighth time this season. He has zero goals and four assists in 14 games.
"We've been trying to get him to shoot instead of pass," said Julien. "For some reason, he's been trying to make plays. He'll take a step back now, but he'll get his opportunity."
Czech out
Lucic will not be released for World Junior Championship play later this month in the Czech Republic for Team Canada, and said he's fine with the decision. "It would have been awesome," said Lucic, who was passed over for the Canadian roster last year. "But going overseas is so hard. It takes a long time to recover. So I'm looking at it that way. Plus, I'm here." . . Prospects Marchand (Val-d'Or), Hamill (Everett), and Andrew Bodnarchuk (Halifax) were named to Hockey Canada's 37-player list invited to participate in the National Junior Selection Camp later this month in Calgary. Canada will use the camp to decide its final roster for the world juniors. Canada will be gunning for its fourth straight gold medal . . . Dennis Wideman (29:35) and Zdeno Chara (29:23) clocked their biggest workloads of the season last night . . . Yesterday marked the 20-year anniversary of Ray Bourque's famous removal of his No. 7 sweater, which he wore over his No. 77 jersey, in honor of Hall of Famer Phil Esposito.
