Recchi

BOSTON — You’d expect the Boston Bruins players would be excited to greet a potential future Hall of Famer into their mix.

And Mark Recchi felt that love right away after he was acquired from Tampa Bay yesterday.

“Aaron (Ward) texted me right away yesterday. And Chuck (Kobasew) picked up Steve (Montador) and I up this morning. It’s good. Guys are always … that’s the good thing about hockey players. Guys reach out to you and they help you out anyway they can. So it’s no different here,” said Recchi after his first morning skate as a member of the Bruins today at TD Banknorth Garden.

A veteran of  almost 1,500 NHL  games and scorer of more than 500 goals, Recchi figures to help the Bruins in numerous ways. He can play both wings equally well and he’s the left-handed shot the Boston power play has lacked since Marco Sturm went out. When it comes time to join playmaking center Marc Savard and one other forward up front on the Boston power play, Recchi doesn’t anticipate a lengthy jelling period.

“It won’t take long at all. It’s just something where it’s a pretty traditional power play. It’s not like they’re doing anything really super different,” he explained. “I know Savvy’s a great passer, and I’ll find the areas for him and I’ll get to the front of the net when I’m not getting it. It’s really not going to be that difficult at all.”

Getting to the areas will be something Recchi will do 5-on-5 or with an man advantage — because that’s where the goals are.

“I used to be able to score a lot more from the outside. But I used to be a 40-goal scorer,” said Recchi, who once poured in 53 goals in one campaign. “But that’s where you get them. Being on the power play down low, I expect to get more of those opportunities. So hopefully I can get in some of those ugly rebounds. … You’ve got to pay the price and I’ll be willing to do it.”

Bruins head coach Claude Julien said he anticipates throwing Recchi right onto the team’s No. 1 power play tonight against Phoenix.