Progressions are smooth
Sturm, Hunwick back on the ice
WILMINGTON - A surprising but welcome sight at Bruins practice yesterday: Marco Sturm and Matt Hunwick, both wearing red (noncontact) jerseys, taking to the Ristuccia Arena ice prior to the team's workout for a brief skate with strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides.
For Sturm, it was the first time on ice since Dec. 18 at TD Banknorth Garden, when he tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee against Toronto. Sturm underwent surgery Jan. 13.
For Hunwick, it was the first ice action since Game 1 of the opening round of the playoffs April 16. During the game, Hunwick suffered a spleen injury. Two days later, he had his spleen removed.
"We're just going to monitor them as they go along," said coach Claude Julien. "There's no timetable as far as their return is concerned. It was just to give them a chance to skate."
While both Sturm and Hunwick traveled with the team to Raleigh, N.C., yesterday, neither will play in this second-round series against the Hurricanes. Even if the Bruins advance to the Stanley Cup finals, both are considered long shots - Hunwick would be closer than Sturm - to see playing time. But they will remain with the team throughout the run and continue their off-ice rehab.
"It's great," Julien said. "They're with the team. They're part of our team. We want them around us."
"When the confidence is there, you move the puck a lot quicker," Julien said. "There's times where you've got to hold onto it to open up some options. But there are other times where you've got to move it quicker.
"I think it's a little bit of both. I think our power play definitely has to pick it up. It's a big part of our success. Our PK has done a great job, obviously. Discipline has helped our PK do a good job because it's not being over-utilized, either.
"But our PP, where it was good early in the playoffs, has hit a bit of a bump. We need to get it going again. That's one of the areas we need to improve."
The Bruins haven't scored on the power play since Game 2 of the first-round sweep of the Canadiens.
Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com. 
