Bruins Ready For Two Against Detroit
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Bruins do not get to see much of the Detroit Red Wings.
When they do, the B's makes sure they are ready.
"You like to gauge yourself with the Western conference elite, no matter what's happened to them lately," coach Claude Julien said after practice Friday. "They do have the skill level, the experience. Not just winning but winning Stanley Cups. They know what it takes when times are tough, and that's what we have to expect. A team that is definitely going to want to bounce back."
The Red Wings have scored just four goals in their last four games, but are in second place in the Western Conference behind the NHL-leading Vancouver Canucks.
Meanwhile, the Bruins exploded for eight goals Wednesday night against the Montreal Canadiens. Although the B's do not expect the same offensive outburst, they would like to keep the high-scoring rhythm going.
"We want to do whatever we can to build off that and keep it going," forward Milan Lucic said. "You can't expect to get a five-point game out of (Nathan) Horton every game but you expect him, expect myself, expect (David) Krejci to bring those assets that we brought last game that helped us get those points, create those chances. The big thing for us is to win battles and play hard to the puck."
Like Lucic, Horton is not expecting another goal and four assist game.
"No you probably can't, maybe out of him though," Horton joked. "Hopefully good things continue and we keep scoring and keep having fun."
Wednesday night's game also featured numerous fights, hard hits, and 46 penalties between the Bruins and Canadiens. Things should be a little calmer at the Garden Friday night, but if teams did not know what to expect from this Bruins squad before, they should now.
"Everyone talks about Montreal like it was the first time it happened. You saw it against Atlanta before Christmas, Dallas after that," enforcer Shawn Thornton said. "We have a lot of guys that know how to take care of themselves all the way down the line. You got to remember, we haven't even let the six-foot-nine monster out of the cage yet."
Thornton was referring to Captain Zdeno Chara, also calling him "the scariest guy I've ever seen."
The Bruins will conclude their home-and-home series with the Red Wings with a matinée in Detroit Sunday afternoon.
Friday night's Bruins-Red Wings game can be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30p.m.
