And when the Bruins are struggling, such as their most recent sluggish nine-game stretch (4-4-1) with losses against less-than-stellar competition, the 6-foot-4-inch, 197-pound bruiser still listens to those calming country tunes.

The point McQuaid seemed to be pushing was the same many of his teammates echoed after yesterday’s high-tempo practice at Ristuccia Arena: This is the same Bruins team that could hardly lose during a two-month stretch lose; they just have to work out the kinks.

“It’s not even so much about winning and losing,’’ McQuaid said. “But it’s how we’re capable of playing. It’s focusing on doing our job every night.’’

David Krejci preached patience.

“The season is long,’’ he said. “And we’re sitting in a pretty good position. So we just have to turn the page and be better next game.’’

After a 3-0 loss to last-place Carolina Thursday night, no one in the locker room is denying having work to do. The inconsistent forecheck and porous defense that allowed 2.85 goals per game in January (fourth worst in the Eastern Conference) is a concern.

But many of the players chalk that up to a lack of focus and effort, not talent.

“We seem to have a pretty good first period and then we let up a little bit,’’ said Brad Marchand. “We have to focus for 60 minutes and we’re having little brain [cramps] that are costing us goals and opportunities.

“But we were in the same situation last year and we played our best hockey down the stretch. We just have to make sure we turn it around.’’

Coach Claude Julien said practice had “a pretty good pace’’ as the Bruins worked on forechecking and breakouts. And while Julien acknowledged that his squad hasn’t been playing well, he said he had no plans to change his lines and deflected rumors that he believed specific players were lacking effort.

“If it was one or two players who weren’t pulling their load, it’d be one thing,’’ he said. “It’s a whole team thing. It’s mostly about bringing the tempo of our work ethic up.’’

Horton progressing

Nathan Horton, who has been out since Jan. 22 after suffering a concussion, is starting to feel better and may have started exercising on the stationary bike last night, according to Julien.

“Hopefully, if everything goes well, he’s going to start going through the stages of recovery, as far as working out,’’ Julien said.

Horton was not present for practice, while Rich Peverley remained alongside Krejci and Milan Lucic on the first line.

Angry response

Marchand acknowledged being “thrown off his game’’ Thursday after he thought the officiating crew missed a high-sticking call. Marchand argued that Eric Staal, whose lumber got mixed up with Zdeno Chara’s, caught Marchand in the face at least once. No penalty was called and Marchand stormed to the bench, slamming equipment.

“The first one Z got me in the face, the second one Staal got me in the face,’’ Marchand said. “But the ref said Z got me in the face both times. I got a little frustrated after. It should have been a penalty. The ref was looking right at it and I felt he missed the call. And it kind of threw me off my game a little bit.’’

Sore spot

After sitting out practice Wednesday with a lower-body injury and playing through the pain against Carolina, McQuaid said he’s still feeling pretty sore. “It’s taking a little time to heal,’’ he said. “It’s just difficult when you’re playing so frequently and you don’t have too much time.’’ . . . With the Patriots set to play in the Super Bowl tomorrow, some Bruins had memories of their championship run. “When you see all the hype and everything, there are definitely flashbacks from the Finals,’’ Marchand said.