Punch is missing

Frustrated Lucic out to regain his touch

WATERBURY, Vt. - During Bruins practice yesterday at the Ice Center, Milan Lucic was matched against rookie defenseman Jeff Penner in a one-on-one down-low drill. Lucic tried a few moves to get around Penner and drive to the net. But Penner stopped him each time, preventing the wing from putting a shot on goal. As the drill ended, Lucic slammed the heel of his stick into the ice in frustration.

It's been that kind of camp for Lucic.

"Right now, I just feel like I've got to get back into the groove of things," he said. "I still feel like I have a little bit of rust that I need to get off. I still don't feel like my game is all back now. So I think I've just got to keep working hard and try to make strides to get my game back where it was."

In the preseason opener against Montreal Sept. 22 at the Halifax Metro Centre, Lucic lined up alongside Marc Savard and Michael Ryder, a placement that reflected the Bruins' top-line hopes for the second-year pro. But Lucic lasted only one game there. And with just over a week remaining until the regular season, he is simply looking to reclaim his crash-and-bang game.

Throughout the preseason, Lucic hasn't had the same pop he did as a rookie, appearing a step behind and not establishing himself physically. In three games, he has one assist and zero penalty minutes.

"Timing and game speed, that's the main thing I need to get back up to where it was," said Lucic, who skated on a line with Martin St. Pierre and Chuck Kobasew yesterday. "I think it's going to take a little more time of working hard in practices and trying not to get down on myself."

Lucic, originally projected to complete his junior career in 2007-08, spent the season with the big boys instead. In 77 games last season, he had eight goals and 19 assists. He also logged 89 penalty minutes, proving to the likes of Washington's Matt Bradley and Tampa Bay's Nick Tarnasky that he was one of the NHL's most intimidating young fighters. In the playoffs, Lucic potted two goals and finished the series on a scoring line with Savard and Phil Kessel to show that his hands weren't just for curling into fists.

During his first year of junior, Lucic was considered a grinder (9-10 -19, 149 penalty minutes). In his second season, he became a go-to scorer (30-38 -68, 147 PIM) and team leader in a developmental explosion that the Bruins hoped could be replicated in the NHL.

Such a spike could take place during the regular season. But Lucic hasn't shown signs of it in camp, perhaps feeling the strain of higher expectations.

"It's the second go-around, so it feels like there's more pressure," he said. "I think the big thing for me is to deal with that pressure. If I deal with it successfully, it's only going to make me a stronger, better player."

Lucic had nothing to lose last fall as a 19-year-old. He also came into training camp after playing as much hockey as possible for a junior. His Vancouver Giants played into late May and won the Memorial Cup. Lucic attended the Bruins' inaugural development camp in July. He participated in the Canada-Russia Super Series in late August and early September, then came to training camp with his game peaking.

After the Bruins' season ended in April, Lucic went through his offseason training in Vancouver but didn't have anything comparable to his 2007 workload.

"It helped getting up to game speed and all that stuff," he said of his crammed 2007 schedule. "You had three weeks to shake off the rust before you actually got here. But I don't think there's any reason to panic right now. I think it's about getting the cement out of the gloves and getting back to making good, smart plays."

While Lucic hasn't been satisfied with his camp, coach Claude Julien isn't worried about the slow start.

"I don't think Looch is a concern," said Julien. "He came into camp in good shape. People want to see him in the groove he was in at the end of last year. I don't think there's anybody quite there yet.

"I think he's on the right track. His attitude and his approach have been great. He's not the type of individual to let success get to his head."

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com.