WILMINGTON, Mass. — With only five NHL fighting majors on his resume before he dropped the gloves with Boston Bruins forward and noted pugilist Milan Lucic last night at TD Banknorth Garden, Tampa Bay defenseman Josef Melichar might be forgiven for not having the fight scouting report fresh in his mind when threw an elbow at the Boston winger.

That might be why Melichar was completely unprepared for Lucic’s left hook and how much it would hurt. Here’s a look at the abridged fight.

Luckily for Melichar (whose career fight card, according to hockeyfights.com, includes an ’01 bout with Zdeno Chara), Lucic knows and adheres to “The Code.” So when Melichar put his head down, it was fight over. (more…)

When it comes to Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic, the sophomore jinx is obviously as fictious as Jason Voorhees of “Friday the 13th” fame.

One year after skating in 77 NHL games and posting 8-19-27 totals as a 19-year-old, all Lucic has done in the 2008-09 season is get better in every way. He’s put up 14-22-36 totals and a plus-12 rating (as opposed to minus-2 last season) in 63 games.

That’s not to say that Lucic hasn’t gone through some rough patches. With his goal against New Jersey Sunday, he snapped a 15-game goal-less drought that might’ve been a sign of a struggle. But with Lucic, the goals are the last thing you look at to determine whether he’s been producing. You watch him on the forecheck, you watch him in the corners and in front of the net. Is he making the opponent pay for getting in his way? Is he clearing room for his teammates to make plays? The answer almost all season has been a resounding yes. (more…)

Lucic

By the way, the Boston Bruins actually practiced today at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington while everyone’s eyes were glued to the trade deadline.

And there was some big news, as winger Milan Lucic, out since last Thursday with an upper-body injury, declared himself ready to return to action. Head coach Claude Julien was only willing to commit to the notion that Lucic is a possibility to play against Phoenix tomorrow night, but the day-to-day forward said he expects to play.

As for what set off Lucic and made him pummel Anaheim’s Mike Brown in a one-sided fight that’s widely believed to have been when Lucic suffered his injury, Lucic offered this take:

“I just drove the net and … as I recall and as I look at the replays and stuff, I did everything I could to try to get out of the goalie’s way. I didn’t even touch the goalie at all. Three of them came up to me and next thing I knew, Brown dropped his gloves. (more…)

Lucic

WILMINGTON, Mass. — Although usual defenseman Matt Hunwick was again skating as a forward during Boston Bruins practice today at Ristuccia Arena, that role might not last very long.

Head coach Claude Julien revealed after practice that winger Milan Lucic, who missed Saturday’s game against Washington with an upper-body injury, is “a possibility for tomorrow,” when the Bruins will host Philadelphia at TD Banknorth Garden.

Lucic skated with his teammates today in a red non-contact jersey. He was not made available to the media after the session.

The Bruins’ other red, no-contact player today was Petteri Nokelainen, who has been out since early last month with an eye injury.  He is scheduled to see a doctor Tuesday, according to Julien. That’s when Nokelainen will find out if he’s going to be cleared for contact drills.

Lucic

It was a rough week to be a member of the Boston Bruins. A team that was cruising along, even during the toughest portion of its schedule to date, Boston hit a bump in the road with an 0-2-1 week against San Jose, New Jersey and Nashville.

But I still have to pick a Bruin of the Week. And even though he tapered out in the shootout loss to Nashville Saturday with just one hit and no points, winger Milan Lucic had the best week of any individual wearing black and gold.

One of the few bright spots in the 5-2 loss to San Jose, Lucic potted both Boston goals and also threw five hits in what might’ve been his best game since returning from an upper-body injury late last month. Two nights later in New Jersey, he didn’t hit the scoreboard. But Lucic threw three more hits against a rugged Devils team.

Looking ahead, Lucic’s contributions will continue to be increased in importance as this week unfolds, with the Bruins playing three games all on the road — and probably continuing to do so down a top-nine forward or two.

Lucic

BOSTON — While wingers Chuck Kobasew (maintenance day) and Michael Ryder (cut above the eye), and defenseman Aaron Ward (under the weather) didn’t practice with the Boston Bruins today at TD Banknorth Garden, second-year winger Milan Lucic returned to the ice.

Lucic missed Thursday night’s game in Ottawa because his left foot had swollen up after it was hit by a Ward shot during the Bruins’ win at Philadelphia Wednesday. Today Lucic skated with a extra padding above the spot where he was hit (right on the laces) and said he should be good to play against the Flyers tomorrow in a Garden matinee.

“It’s made a lot of progress from yesterday morning to yesterday night. So it’s feeling pretty good right now,” he said as he undressed in the Bruins’ locker room. (more…)

Bergeron

BOSTON — It’s a play that could be called a one-in-a-million shot.

Well, maybe the odds aren’t that steep, but the play was still pretty high-stakes.

With the puck about to exit the Washington zone on a Boston Bruins power play, forward Patrice Bergeron dove forward and to his left to keep it in. Had he missed, the Capitals would’ve been off to the races on a shorthanded breakaway.

But Bergeron got it, got back to his feet and set up Marc Savard for the game-tying goal in the second period. Bergeron’s heroic play was just one of many contributions he and his fellow returnees made in the Bruins’ 3-2 win over the Capitals tonight at TD Banknorth Garden.

“You know, I went for it,” Bergeron said. “I knew it was kind of a risky play, but I mean, if you don’t try sometimes you don’t get any results, so it worked.” (more…)

Lucic

As reported by the Vancouver Sun over the weekend, Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic returned to Vancouver to be part of a pregame ceremony prior to the Vancouver Giants’ game again Kamloops Friday night.

The club honored Evander Kane for his role with the Canadian gold-medal winning team at the World Junior championship, Jon Blum for his part with the U.S. team that finished fifth there, and Brendan Gallagher for his role in Team Pacific’s silver medal at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Lucic and Brett Festerling of Anaheim, two key members of the Giants’ Memorial Cup-winning club in the spring of ’07, aided in handing out the awards.

“It was fun to go back. I haven’t been to a game there since we won the big one. So it’s nice to see all the fans back there,” Lucic said after the Bruins’ practice at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington today. “It was great. I got a real nice standing ‘O.’ And it was real special to go back and do something like that.”

Lucic got to see the Memorial Cup championship banner for the first time. Of course, he was the Memorial Cup MVP after the Giants’ triumphant run.

Lucic also worked out a bit, and today he declared himself ready to return to action and make a run for the league lead in hits — a spot he’s lost since exiting the line-up after the Bruins’ Jan. 6 loss to Minnesota.

Lucic

While it would’ve been great for Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic to come to Montreal and participate in the YoungStars Game against his rookie teammate Blake Wheeler, the second-year standout did something even better Friday night.

For the first time since leading the Vancouver Giants of the WHL to the Memorial Cup, Lucic returned to the Giants’ home rink, Pacific Coliseum. Not only did he surprise those in attendance, he even surprised his family, who thought he was going to the Bahamas for the All-Star break. Steve Bosch of the Vancouver Sun wrote all the details.

MK: That’s great that Lucic, out for a few weeks with injury, was able to take a negative like missing the YoungStars and turn it into a positive. This will probably give him a mental lift for the second half once he’s back in game action.

Lucic

WILMINGTON, Mass. — Although he’s feeling healthy enough to maybe return to the Boston Bruins’ line-up soon, winger Milan Lucic needs the entire four-day All-Star break to continue his recovery from an upper-body injury that’s forced him to miss the last six games.

So he won’t be squaring off with rookie teammate Blake Wheeler as a member of the sophomore squad at Saturday night’s YoungStars Game at All-Star weekend in Montreal.

“It’s just being safe and whatnot,” Lucic said after going through a full practice with the Bruins this morning at Ristuccia Arena. “Obviously it would’ve been great to be a part of it once again, especially with the 100-year anniversary of the Canadiens. It sucks that I have to miss it. But I got to experience the young guns game last year and now Wheeler can have fun at that game this year.” (more…)

Lucic

BOSTON — Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic did not take the warm-up with his teammates at TD Banknorth Garden 20 minutes before puck drop for the  game between the Bruins and Montreal.

In Lucic’s place during line drills, Martin St. Pierre, a call-up from Providence (AHL), skated on left wing alongside Marc Savard and Chuck Kobasew, who shifted back to his natural right wing position.

Lucic will now have missed three games with an undisclosed injury.

Lucic

BOSTON — Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien said that the club will decide today if winger Milan Lucic can return to the line-up for tonight’s game with the Montreal Canadiens.

Lucic, out the last two games with an undisclosed injury, skated before the team and then joined the full squad for its morning skate. He mixed in on Marc Savard’s line along with right winger Chuck Kobasew.

“Those decisions will be made today – his availability tonight as well as others,” said Julien.

The head coach also clarified some things on his other injured players. Goaltender Manny Fernandez, who skated before the team today, is battling “general soreness.” And winger Phil Kessel, placed on injured reserve yesterday with mono, is out indefinitely.

“With mono, it’s one of those situations where it’s pretty clear there’s no way he can play and we’ve got to wait for the doctors to clear him. So that’s the extent of it,” the coach said.

Lucic

BOSTON — Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien today had a brief update on both injured winger Milan Lucic and defenseman Andrew Ference, neither of whom practiced with the team today at TD Banknorth Garden.

Lucic, who missed last night’s game with  Ottawa and didn’t practice Wednesday either,  is out with an undisclosed injury. Julien said he’s improving and remains day-to-day.

Ference, out since Nov. 13 with a broken foot,  was once ahead of schedule. He’d joined the team for practices and morning skates last week but he left the ice early Jan. 5 and hasn’t skated since.

“He’s pretty close,” Julien said. “We had to pull him back a little bit here. So we’re back to the original  schedule.”

Initial doctors’ forecasts had Ference not returning until next week or the week after.

Lucic

BOSTON — Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien made it official this morning that winger Milan Lucic will not play tonight against Ottawa at TD Banknorth Garden due to an undisclosed injury.

Lucic, who did not practice yesterday, will miss his first game of this regular season.

If the lines stay the same from yesterday’s Lucic-less practice, Shawn Thornton will move up into Lucic’s spot in the line-up alongside Stephane Yelle and Chuck Kobasew. That line played together for five games in mid-November when Kobasew was working his way back from injury. (more…)

Lucic

BOSTON — Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien has stressed time and again that the line switches he made prior to Tuesday night’s game were not to single any one player out but to shake up all six skaters.

But a glance at the stats sheet easily revealed that the one third of the Bruins top line that wasn’t producing was left winger Milan Lucic. Lucic failed to fire a shot on net in Carolina and Atlanta, and including his switch to the line centered by Stephane Yelle and completed by Chuck Kobasew Tuesday, he entered tonight’s game with just one goal  in his last eight.

In a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh at TD Banknorth Garden tonight — the Bruins’ 10th straight win — Lucic potted the game-winner by burying a  loose puck that bounced off Yelle a little past the midway point of the second period. The goal was a result of that trio doing  what it does best, and that’s using its strength and grit. (more…)