BOSTON — While most of us have been watching with bated breath at the return of Marc Savard, now two games and counting, we may have missed a bigger and more important comeback.
The return of Milan Lucic.
The Bruins winger's return is a little different.
In body, Lucic's been around since he returned on Jan. 7 from finger surgery, a high ankle sprain and a banged up knee. In 50 games, he scored nine goals and added 11 assists.
Not really what we expected from "The Next Neely" and his healthy $12 million contract.
Last night, really the last week, Lucic has been back in spirit.
While his goal with 2:57 remaining in the game was "Classic Lucic," easily warding off a Flyers' defender with his swimmer's back, taking the puck from behind the net to about 15 feet in front of Flyers' goalie Brian Boucher, before turning and blasting a shot low to the left corner.
But Lucic's presence, particularly playing side-by-side with David Krejci and Miroslav Satan, may be the key to this physical series.
"When Milan is playing well, he's putting the fear of God into guys, especially along the boards," said Bruins defenseman Dennis Wideman. "He has a presence on the ice. They know where he is. It nice to know you can take the puck up ice, dump it and know he's probably going to get it."
Let's be honest. We have put way too much pressure on this kid, who is only 21. We compared him to Cam Neely because that's what we like to do around here. We love to relive the past, especially the happy times.
Lucic, though, despite his work in the corners, doesn't have Neely's anger on the ice, or his snap shot.
"He adds another dimension to our game when he is a force out there," said Bruins winger Mark Recchi. "He's just so big and strong. He's hard to move. And he has a knack for making plays when there isn't a lot of space. If he plays well, he makes us a better team."
The thing is that Lucic has been playing well since the Game 5 debacle in Buffalo (the B's lost, 4-1). If he wasn't handing the puck over for an easy goal, he was skating around in a clueless state.
But in Game 7 he had two assists and was on the ice for three of the Bruins four goals in the 5-3 win.
In Saturday's opener with the Flyers, he had a nice assist on David Krejci's goal, again fending off a defender before sliding it to Krejci in the slot. But, more important, he was credited with seven hits.
Last night was a continuation. He was steady throughout the game, getting in on three hits (leading the team) and making the biggest play of the game, scoring the game-winner on what appeared to be an innocent play.
"People talk about the goals and assists, but I honestly feel that my skating has gotten better, particularly lately," said Lucic. "My feet are moving. I think the biggest reason why I'm playing better is my skating."
If Lucic's skating really is the difference, Bruins fans might want to send a "thank you" card to North Andover resident John McLean, a part-time skating coach for the Bruins.
Lucic spent three solid weeks with McLean, who runs Dynamic Skating, in late October and early November after he had surgery on his index finger.
" John really helped me," said Lucic. "It was the first time I had ever worked (one on one) with a power skater. He got me feeling very comfortable. The problem was four games into my return I sprained my ankle and was out for about six weeks and sort of lost everything I worked for. But now I feel like my skating is finally back."
After doing some time on the fourth line, Lucic is back playing with the prime time players in Satan and Krejci, both of whom are on rolls of their own.
"Last year I was with Savvy (Savard) and (Phil) Kessel. We were nothing alike," recalled Lucic. "It's the same with Miroslav and Krech. We are nothing alike. But that's the good part. We all do different things. My job is to work hard in the corner and get them the puck."
The Bruins chances seem to get better and better with every day that passes by. And today the Bruins chances are better because Lucic looks a lot like the "old" Lucic.
"I'm happy to be contributing," said Lucic. "I enjoy this time of year a lot. I like the importance of these games. I just want to help my team win and hopefully the fans are happy."
Trust me, Milan. They are very, very happy.
Welcome back.
E-mail Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.
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