WILMINGTON - Approximately 13 hours after the Canadiens finished kicking in their teeth with an 8-2 thumping at the Bell Centre, the Bruins were back at Ristuccia Arena yesterday, aiming to wipe out the humiliation from their memory banks.
It wasn't easy.
The Bruins plugged through an all-business practice in preparation for tonight's showdown against the Islanders, the final game before the All-Star break.
"They're still upset about [Tuesday] night. And rightfully so," said coach Claude Julien after the hourlong practice. "If those things don't sting and burn, you start getting worried about your hockey club. It still bothers them, but at the same time they're also able to focus on what's coming up [tonight]. They know the importance of bouncing back. They know the importance of a win. I don't think anybody had their smiles going this morning, but they were certainly determined to get ready for [the game]."
After the sixth beatdown of the season by Montreal - the Canadiens were equal-opportunity abusers of Alex Auld and Tim Thomas (four goals against each) - the Bruins had few answers.
"They're not as good as when they play us," said Thomas of the Canadiens, who are 5 points ahead of the Bruins. "And we're not as bad as when we play them."
With that in mind, the Bruins used yesterday's practice to forget about the Canadiens (they don't square off again until March 20) and focus on the Islanders. New York enters tonight's game with a 1-point lead over the eighth-place Bruins in the Eastern Conference. So with a victory, the Bruins could jump over the Islanders into the No. 7 slot and feel a bit better about themselves during the weekend pause.
"If we win, that means we pick up 7 of 10 points," Julien said of the current five-game stretch. "To me, it becomes a pretty successful segment. That's what we have to try and do - successful segments and seventh place. I don't think we're going to run away from anybody. It's going to be a tight race right until the end."
By the boards
At the end of practice, Julien and assistant coach Geoff Ward held an on-ice tutorial for Phil Kessel in their latest attempt to shore up the 20-year-old's defense. The coaches instructed Kessel on how to position himself against the wall in the defensive zone when opponents send the puck along the boards.Julien wants Kessel, a natural center, to be more solid along the wall and not get bowled over by pinching defensemen.
"We always tell guys that as long as your stick is on the ice, you're like a tripod," explained Julien. "If you're standing up straight, stick up, on two feet, you're a lot easier to push around. It's protecting the puck and leaning down on your stick. If you're not standing straight, you're not going to get run over."
As Ward rimmed pucks along the boards, Julien gave Kessel some half-speed hits from behind to simulate game action. From that position, Julien explained that wingers have several options - chip the puck off the glass and out of the zone, slow it down with a stick or skate, tie up the defenseman, or even kick it to the waiting center (a high-risk move even for veterans).
But Julien emphasized that wingers such as Kessel must first establish good position and read what the opposing defenseman might do.
"A guy like Phil is agile," said Julien. "He can use that as an asset."
Close call
"Unbelievable pass," said Pascal Pelletier, shaking his head. "That was an NHL pass."The rookie was speaking of Glen Metropolit's saucer pass that the center lifted over a Montreal defender's stick and deposited on Pelletier's tape, giving the winger a partial breakaway that nearly resulted in his first NHL goal.
"I thought the hole was there," said Pelletier of an opening between goalie Cristobal Huet's pads. "But he brought his pads together at the last second. I was too close to put it up high, so I tried to make a move to open up his legs. But he made a pretty good save."
Pelletier and the Czech Mates, fellow rookies David Krejci and Vladimir Sobotka, have skated together the last four games. But all three are still sniffing for their first big league goals.
"As a line, it's been fun," said Pelletier. "But at the end of the day we've got to eventually produce. I'm not saying every game, but we've got to keep working hard and try to bring some offense to the team."
Feeling the sting
Kessel suffered a stinger in Tuesday's second period when he collided with defenseman Francis Bouillon, causing his right arm to go numb. But Kessel, who returned to the game, made it through practice without limitations and will be ready to play tonight . . . Glen Murray, who practiced Monday at the Bell Centre, didn't skate yesterday. Julien said Murray (hip flexor strain) had a slight setback. Neither Murray nor P.J. Axelsson (broken right foot) will be available tomorrow . . . Petteri Nokelainen scored Boston's second goal Tuesday during some rare power-play time. Nokelainen skated with the No. 1 unit in place of Chuck Kobasew, who was serving a fighting major, and tipped a Dennis Wideman blast after positioning himself in front of the net. "I like it," Nokelainen said of his duties in front of the net. "I'll leave the half-wall to guys like [Marc Savard]."Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com.
