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Claude Julien to Bruins: stay home

Print | Comments () Posted by Kevin Paul Dupont, Globe Staff March 2, 2011 10:46 AM

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By Kevin Paul Dupont, Globe Staff

No practice today for the Black-and-Gold road warriors.

Coach Claude Julien, the first Boston bench boss since Tom Johnson in '72 to direct a 6-0 road trip, granted his charges a day off for their perfect play through Ottawa (2x), Uniondale, Calgary, Vancouver, and Edmonton.

Back to work Thursday with the Bolts visiting Causeway Street.

Matt Cooke and the Cannibals (nee Penguins) visit two days later. If there's a Saturday night for fightin', this could be it, because the Bruins are full of strut and swashbuckle now and their No. 1 center, Marc Savard, is out of commission until at least September, in large part because of the hurt Cooke put on his head just one year ago.

The Bruins will leave the Eastern time zone only once (Nashville, March 17) over their remaining 19 games. They also have no more trips to Buffalo this season, which also means they won't leave the 21st Century.

Work to do: the Bruins went 0 for 8 on the power play over the last four stops of the trip. It looks a lot better, especially with the addition of Tomas Kaberle at the point, but Julien needs to explore changes up front. He needs to try quicker hands and faster feet.