Posts tagged David krejci

Pregame in Ottawa: Krejci Back Skating

OTTAWA, ON - When the Bruins hit the ice in their white & black jerseys around 11:30 this morning for pregame skate at Scotiabank Place before facing the Senators tonight, there was a welcomed addition to the group: David Krejci.

The center skated for the first time since leaving late in the third period during Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh after getting hit by a puck in front. Following this morning’s skate, he said that he “felt good” out on the ice and that “we’ll decide, me and coach, we’re going to decide tonight if I’ll play tonight or not.”

Krejci had been biking and got in a workout yesterday (none of the B’s skated Wednesday, as they the day off in Ottawa, after playing four games in six days), but this morning was the first time he had hit the ice.

“The first two days felt awful,” Krejci said. “Then yesterday I woke up and it was so much better. Today was better again. So, it’s a game-time decision, we’ll see.”

The first line rushes of the morning saw Krejci centering Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton, after Ryan Spooner had been given the opportunity to assume that role Tuesday night in Winnipeg, with Krejci out day-to-day at the time.

On the defensive end, GM Peter Chiarelli announced Wednesday afternoon that Adam McQuaid had sustained a shoulder strain and returned to Boston for further evaluation, with the possibility of being out 3-4 weeks. McQuaid had left the game in Winnipeg early in the first period and did not return the rest of the night, before Chiarellli issued teh update Wednesday.

In his place, Aaron Johnson is expected to be in the lineup tonight against the Senators. Johnson has only played in five games this season, but has been the seventh defenseman the B’s have relied upon to easily step in the lineup when called upon.

“It’s a tough job to come in and not have played for a few weeks here and there,” said Seidenberg on Johnson stepping into the lineup. “But he’s been doing a great job keeping himself in shape and being game ready. I don’t think we expect anything else tonight.

“Every time somebody goes out of the lineup, you’ve got to pick up the slack. Quaider’s a physical presence and AJ’s the same player, play tough and keep the game simple. As a whole, we have to just keep playing solid, simple hockey and we’ll be fine.”

Here are the first line rushes from morning skate:
Lucic-Krejci-Horton
Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin
Pandolfo-Peverley-Caron
Paille-Campbell-Thornton

MacDermid and Spooner also cycled into rushes. During skate, Chara, Boychuk and Ference were rotating as defensive pairings at one end, with Seidenberg, Hamilton and Johnson at the other.

The B’s stayed out for a longer skate, having had yesterday off, so they all filed off together after Chara led the center-ice stretch, with Anton Khudobin stepping off the ice right in front of Tuukka Rask. As such, I’ll wait to see who leads the team out for warm ups and therefore, starting between the pipes opposite Robin Lehner for the Sens.

Stayed tuned to BostonBruins.com for the latest “Bruins Beat” video from morning skate, along with pregame feature stories, and you can follow lineup info heading into tonight on Twitter @NHLBruins…

-Caryn Switaj ^CS

Pregame in Winnipeg: Krejci “Doing Better,” Spooner Gets Call

WINNIPEG, MB - The Bruins hit the ice today around 11:30 local time at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg for pregame skate prior to tonight’s match-up against the Jets.

Though, they had to wait a few extra minutes before the Zamboni finished clearing, and some B’s took to hanging out with legs dangling over the bench, while Nathan Horton took aim at a spot on the boards across the blueline, Tyler Seguin stickhandled and Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara had an in-depth discussion on the bench.


Once the skate started - without David Krejci taking the ice - 13 forwards and seven defensemen, along with Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin, took line rushes.

Ryan Spooner, who was recalled on an emergency basis Monday, joined the team and took rushes centering Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton. A remarkable opportunity for the young centerman in Krejci’s absence, while the other lines stayed intact.

Lucic-Spooner-Horton
Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin
Pandolfo-Peverley-Caron
Paille-Campbell-Thornton
MacDermid

Chara-Boychuk
Seidenberg-Hamilton
Ference-McQuaid

Following the skate, Coach Julien gave an update on Krejci, saying that he was “doing better, and that’s a good sign.”

Coach also said Krejci had been biking, so “things are looking better,” but did say that the center will not play tonight. In his place, Ryan Spooner will get the biggest opportunity he’s had thus far in his career, with the second NHL call-up.

“This is something that we’re giving him the opportunity, being a real good centerman, to play with some good players,” said Coach Julien postskate. “He’s a great playmaker, so I think it’s a great opportunity for Spoons to take and see where he goes with that. If it doesn’t’ work out we can always make some changes, but we’ve seen him play enough that he can probably be a good fit there.”

“Again, he just has to go out there – we told him just to play his game. Like I said, I’ve see him play enough, they play a very similar system down there [in Providence], so it’s not like he’s going into uncharted waters.”

“He knows exactly what we expect of him, it’s his second call up, so just give him little tips there at the end on his faceoffs, everything else trying to help him out.”

-Caryn Switaj ^CS