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BOSTON -- For the past two days, the Boston Bruins insisted their late-season funk was in the rearview mirror. There would be no more blown leads in the third period and no more lackluster starts. The skilled and physical Bruins would return.

Well, the Bruins kept their promises as they overcame an early Toronto Maple Leafs power-play goal and scored the next four goals, dominating the Leafs 4-1 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

David Krejci had a goal and two assists, Wade Redden had a goal and an assist and Nathan Horton and Johnny Boychuk both lit the lamp for the Bruins. Tuukka Rask looked solid between the pipes, making 19 saves, with James van Riemsdyk’s power-play goal in the opening period the only shot that beat him.

For the Leafs, James Reimer was under siege all night as the Bruins poured 40 shots on him.

Lucic-Krejci-Horton line clicks again: One of the big question marks heading into this series was whether Milan Lucic, Krejci and Horton could find their magic again. If Game 1 is any indication, the band is back together and the magic is there. In addition to Krejci’s three-point performance and Horton lighting the lamp, Lucic had two helpers and continued to look more like the Lucic who used a combination of grit, size and skating to earn two straight seasons of 20-plus goals. The chemistry was back as Horton and Lucic got to open spaces to benefit from Krejci’s playmaking skills, and Krejci looked a lot like the player who was a candidate for the 2011 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Bruins defense provides offensive boost: Prior to Game 1, coach Claude Julien lauded Redden for his recent play and puck-moving skills. Redden continued to impress with his goal and an assist, but the Bruins' entire defense did a great job of moving the puck and creating offense in Game 1. In addition to Boychuk's goal, Bruins defensemen helped in peppering Reimer and controlling neutral zone play.

Power play looks better: While the Bruins’ power play (1-for-5) can certainly still be better, it did convert once and moved the puck a lot better. The passes were crisp, and there was less hesitation. If that continues, the scoring production will increase.

Suspension coming for Ference? Andrew Ference could very well be sitting out a game or more after elbowing Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski in the head in the first period. No penalty was called, but the replay clearly shows an elbow to the head.

Bruins have two goals called back: Things could have been even worse for the Leafs if not for two Bruins goals being called back. The referees and replay officials got it right in calling back a Tyler Seguin shot that clearly rang off the post 1:10 into the second period. But Patrice Bergeron’s no-goal was a bit questionable as the referees claimed the whistle was blown before Bergeron pushed it into the net. But even if the refs were wrong, the rule states if they intended to blow it and didn’t do it in time, then it’s still not a goal.

Bad blood boils at end: In addition to Ference’s questionable hit to the head of Grabovski, there was plenty of hard hitting throughout the game. As time wound down in the third period and it was clear the Bruins would win, the Leafs decided to let the Bruins know they were still there, taking plenty of extra hits after the whistle and then stirring things up at the final buzzer. The result was a Chris Kelly-Leo Komarov fight. It should be a physical Game 2.

Hamilton and Peverley sit: Not surprisingly, Julien kept Dougie Hamilton in the press box as a healthy scratch. The defenseman struggled in his last few games of the regular season, and Julien seems to have opted to take the learning-from-up-top route he took with Seguin as a rookie to start the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. While Rich Peverley might have had an off season, one would think Julien would prefer playoff and Cup experience in the lineup instead of an inexperienced Kaspars Daugavins. But it was Daugavins playing with Kelly and Jaromir Jagr for Game 1.

Here’s what the rest of the lineup looked like:

Forwards
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Bergeron-Tyler Seguin
Daugavins-Kelly-Jagr
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton

Defensemen
Zdeno Chara-Dennis Seidenberg
Ference-Boychuk
Redden-Adam McQuaid

Goalies
Rask
Anton Khudobin

BOSTON -- Boston Bruins forward David Krejci grew up with a poster of Jaromir Jagr on his bedroom wall.

So when informed that the Dallas Stars now seem keen on trading the 41-year-old before Wednesday’s trade deadline, Krejci turned reflective about his boyhood idol.

“He was the best for a long time, and he’s still one of the best right now,” said Krejci, who was just 4 years old when Jagr made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990. “It’s good to see him still do well at his age. I had posters of him when I was a kid. He was obviously my hockey idol.”

The Bruins, a source told ESPN.com, covet Jagr, so you can bet general manager Peter Chiarelli will be on the phone with Dallas executives trying to strike a deal.

The Bruins know their dressing room is likely to change before Wednesday’s 3 p.m. deadline, but they’re trying to remain focused on what is immediately in front of them: a matchup against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night at TD Garden.

“You try not to think about it because we have a game tonight,” Krejci said. “The trade deadline is tomorrow and we’re not stupid, we know anything can happen. On the other hand, there are things you can’t control, so we’ll focus on the game tonight and whatever happens tomorrow afternoon happens.”

Bruins center David Krejci is back in the lineup Thursday night vs. the Senators.

Krejci had been termed a game-time decision after rejoining linemates Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton at Thursday morning's skate. The Bruins announced Krejci's return via Twitter shortly before the puck dropped in Ottawa.

Krejci missed Tuesday's loss to Winnipeg after a puck struck his right knee in the third period of Boston's 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Also, in a surprising move by head coach Claude Julien, Rich Peverley was a healthy scratch. That gave Ottawa native and rookie Ryan Spooner a chance to play his first NHL game in his hometown.

Boston Bruins center David Krejci took to the ice Thursday morning for the first time since he injured his knee Sunday, and is a game-time decision for Thursday night’s matchup against the Senators in Ottawa.

“We’ll see how he feels after warmups,” coach Claude Julien told reporters. “If he feels good, then he’s going to go.”

Krejci took his usual spot centering the first line with Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton at the morning skate at Scotiabank Place.

The 26-year-old hurt took a puck off his right knee in the third period of Sunday’s 2-1 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins and had to be helped off the ice. He sat out Monday’s practice and missed Tuesday’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

“The first two days felt awful,” Krejci told reporters Thursday. “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.”

Krejci is tied for the team lead with seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points.
To take his place, the Bruins had recalled forward Ryan Spooner from Providence on Monday afternoon. Spooner would likely be a healthy scratch if Krejci plays Thursday.

Bruins coach Claude Julien told reporters Monday that forward David Krejci suffered no broken bones when he was injured in Sunday's game, and is listed as day-to-day, according to the team's Twitter feed. The coach added that the team’s top-line centerman received treatment and hopefully he’ll be back soon, according to @NHLBruins.

Krejci was one of nine players who sat out practice on Monday afternoon in Winnipeg, according to the team.

Krejci needed to be helped off the ice late in the third period during Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center. He was hit in the right knee area by a slap shot off the stick of teammate Johnny Boychuk. Krejci was camped out in front of the Penguins’ net when he got hit.

Pittsburgh goalie Tomas Vokoun quickly signaled toward the Bruins’ bench for help. Trainer Don Del Negro tended to Krejci, who was then helped off the ice by teammates, favoring his right leg.

Krejci is tied for the team lead with seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points.

To fill Krejci's spot, the team recalled forward Ryan Spooner from Providence on Monday afternoon. It's the second recall of the season for the 21-year-old centerman, who leads the P-Bruins with 45 points and 33 assists in 50 games this season.

BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins' David Krejci appeared to have suffered some sort of upper-body injury during Saturday’s 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, but coach Claude Julien said the forward is fine and will be ready for the next game.

“It was just a little maintenance here and there,” Julien said. “He wasn’t ready for the start of the third, so he’s fine. He’ll be fine tomorrow and he’ll be fine the day after. It’s all good.”

In the middle of the second period, Krejci dropped his stick and quickly skated off the ice, looking to be in obvious pain. Team doctors and trainers tended to him down the runway behind the bench.

Teammate Gregory Campbell replaced Krejci for one shift before he was able to return. Krejci finished the period, but missed the first five minutes of the third period. He was able to finish the game.

David Krejci had 23 points in 25 games during the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup run and was a pivotal force in many of the Bruins’ 16 wins that earned them their first championship in 39 seasons. But last season, even though he equaled the 62 regular-season points he had in 2010-11, he had many stretches of futility and admittedly let frustration set in, specifically in the first-round playoff loss to the Capitals when he had just three points in seven games.

But the Krejci that has showed up through the first 11 games of this 48-game season is looking more and more like the Krejci that was a force in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. Krejci scored his fourth goal of the season in the 4-3 shootout loss to the Rangers on Tuesday night and now leads the team in points with 11. So far, it’s been consistent productivity and not futility for Krejci.

“I’m real happy with David’s play,” said coach Claude Julien, following a recent practice. “David Krejci has been so consistent for us since the beginning of the year. I think, if anything, he’s been as consistent as we’ve seen him. He’s been, not a good, but a great player for us. I think he’s a great player; he’s got good speed, good hands.”

One thing that Krejci has been doing more of is paying the price in front of the net and in the corners. It’s something that helped lead to that productive stretch during the Cup run, and now it has Krejci’s game running on all cylinders. That was on display with his goal Tuesday, as well as his game-winner in the team’s 2-1 win at Montreal on Feb. 6.

“The part that I like about David is that he’s playing and skating well,” Julien said. “When I say playing, he’s skating well. He’s making plays, and even the goal he scored the other night [against Montrea], he drove the net. There’s not a part of David Krejci’s game right now that he’s not doing well, and as long as you’ve got David in that frame of mind, you’ve got a really good player.”

Linemate Milan Lucic concurred with his coach, and said Krejci deserves more credit for his grit and physical play.

“I definitely have a lot of fun being his linemate,” Lucic said. “I’ve played with him for a long time now. It’s our sixth season together, and he has a lot of skill, but I think he’s definitely underrated a little bit when it comes to his feistiness. You don’t lead the playoffs in goals and points by accident like he did in 2011, so he’s a big-time player for our hockey club, and I definitely appreciate the fact that I get to play with him.”

WILMINGTON, Mass. -- Boston Bruins forwards Shawn Thornton (concussion) and Brad Marchand (upper body) are making progress and aren't expected to miss an extended amount of time due to their respective injuries, according to coach Claude Julien.

Thornton, who suffered the concussion during a first-period fight against the Buffalo Sabres’ John Scott last Thursday, was scheduled to miss seven to 10 days but he’s been symptom-free for the last couple of days.

“He’s doing really well,” said Julien. “There’s no issues there.”

Even though Thornton was able to ride the stationary bike on Sunday before taking a solo twirl on the ice Monday morning, the team will remain cautious.

“He’s feeling really good,” added Julien. “He’s been great. He’s been symptom-free for a few days now. Things are going well, but obviously there’s a protocol to follow and we’re certainly going to follow that to the letter.”

Marchand missed the third period of Saturday’s 1-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs after he appeared to have suffered a shoulder injury when he slammed into the end boards late in the second period. He did not practice on Monday.

“He’s also progressing very well,” Julien said.

Bruins forward Daniel Paille participated in the full practice Monday morning, but has not been cleared by the medical staff for game action. He’s hoping he’ll be back in the lineup Wednesday.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “A couple of days off, I want to get the legs going again and I don’t feel too bad after a couple days, so it’s good.”

Paille took a high stick to the face late in the game against the Sabres and needed stitches below his left eye. There are no broken bones and no problems with his vision, but the team wanted him to remain in Boston over the weekend and not travel to Toronto for precautionary reasons.

"Luckily it’s not serious and I’m able to come back right away,” he said.

Bruins forward David Krejci did not practice on Monday and was given another maintenance day, but he's expected to practice with the team on Tuesday before it leaves for Montreal to face the Canadiens on Wednesday night at Bell Centre.

Julien explained it’s been a combination of the medical staff, the coaching staff and the players as to when they’re given a day off to rest.

“If they can benefit from a day off, that’s part of the [plan] I’ve been using about being more cautious. If they can benefit from it, give it to them,” Julien said. “Could [Krejci have] been on the ice today? Absolutely. So that’s why I wouldn’t read too much into David missing two days of practice. It’s so we can get rid of what’s bugging him right now totally, and it’s minor.”

Julien said he's hoping Marchand, Paille and Krejci will be in the lineup against the Canadiens.

“Right now there’s nobody that’s a definite ‘no’ moving forward here for the next game,” Julien said. “We’ll obviously make those decisions tomorrow. Before we leave, we should know who can and who can’t play on Wednesday.”

WILMINGTON, Mass. -- After a much-needed day off on Super Bowl Sunday, the Boston Bruins are back on the ice this morning at Ristuccia Arena.

Missing from practice are center David Krejci and winger Brad Marchand. Krejci missed practice last Friday for a maintenance day and was in the lineup during Boston’s 1-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday at Air Canada Centre.

Marchand missed the third period after he appeared to have suffered a shoulder injury when he slammed into the end boards late in the second period.

Bruins forward Daniel Paille, who missed Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury after he took a high stick to the face last Thursday against Buffalo, is back on the ice this morning.

Here are the line combinations this morning:

White -- Milan Lucic-Jay Pandolfo-Nathan Horton
Gold -- Gregory Campbell-Patrice Bergeron-Tyler Seguin
Gray -- Chris Bourque-Chris Kelly-Rich Peverley
Red -- Daniel Paille-Jamie Tardif-Lane MacDermid

As part of our preview heading into the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, we've asked Joe McDonald and James Murphy to answer nine big questions (one per day) facing the Boston Bruins. Here's our Day 8 question:

What are your point predictions for the following: David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton, Dougie Hamilton?

Joe McDonald: Nathan Horton, David Krejci and Milan Lucic are all talented players with different, but complimentary skill sets.

It’s going to be interesting to watch the team’s top line produce in the lockout-shortened, 48-game season because it will be a sprint to the playoffs. First and foremost, in order for that line to produce, it will need to stay healthy. Krejci was the only one of the three to play overseas during the lockout, while Lucic and Horton remained in North America.

Krejci has the ability to dominate when it counts, so he should thrive in a shorter season. Look for him to notch 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points.

Horton hasn’t played in a NHL game since Jan. 22, 2012 after he suffered his second concussion in a seven-month span. He’s completely healthy now and in great shape. He hasn’t avoided contact during training camp and looks strong on the ice. He may get off to a slow start, but once he gets going he could easily score 19 goals, add 17 assists for 36 points.

Despite some early talk that Lucic is out of shape, the power forward is ready for the season. Since he did not play during the lockout, it will take him a bit more time to shake the rust off his game and that could hurt his offensive production from a statistical standpoint. He’ll finish the season with 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points.

Now let’s focus on rookie defenseman Dougie Hamilton. The 19-year-old blueliner will make the team and will be given every opportunity to succeed. During training camp, Bruins coach Claude Julien has the rookie paired with veteran Dennis Seidenberg. The pair is not set in stone, but Hamilton should get plenty of ice time once he gets used to the speed of the NHL game. He’s also been working on the second power-play unit which should give him a chance to produce on offense.

I actually picked Hamilton as my Calder Trophy winner as the league’s top rookie. While his goals (two), assists (15) and points (17) may not be eye-popping, I see an impressive plus-20 rating at the end of the season.

James Murphy: Here are my predictions for Krejci, Horton, Lucic and Hamilton:

Krejci: With his three-year contract that will pay him $5.2 million set to begin this season, and his name still a regular on the trade rumor circuit, one could say the pressure is on Krejci to produce. Since the 2008-09 season when he had 73 points, Krejci has had some inconsistent stretches and never become the 80-point player that many believe he can be. It obviously has to be noted that he was an absolute beast in the 2011 Stanley Cup run with 23 points in 25 games, but still, Krejci has yet to take that next step over the course of a full regular season. With a 48-game season upon us, we won't really be able to tell if that will happen, but expect Krejci to still put up some solid numbers this season. Maybe t pressure of the rumors, his contract and the short season, will be motivation for him to perform at the same level he did in the 2011 playoffs? Prediction: 15 goals, 31 assists -- 46 points

Horton: In 46 games last season -- albeit while still recovering from the concussion he suffered in the 2011 finals -- Horton had 17 goals and 32 points. Now, with a 48-game season, but a longer recovery period from the concussion he suffered last season in January, the belief here is that if healthy, Horton can be better than that. Horton is in top shape at camp and his timing appears to be there. The big test will be that first huge hit he takes in a real game and how the condensed schedule affects his durability. But if he passes those tests, Horton should be able to get back to being the power forward that helped the Bruins to the Stanley Cup in 2011. Prediction: 22 goals, 15 assists -- 37 points

Lucic: Lucic is another player that comes to camp armed with a new contract, though his begins next season. Still, the fact that the Bruins gave him $6 million per season for the three seasons after this one will put extra pressure on a player that has been inconsistent at times -- most notably in the playoffs the last two seasons. Factor in that there was plenty of buzz recently about Lucic not being in game-shape and the rugged winger could be in for a season full of scrutiny. But that being said, Lucic has delivered in both of the last two regular seasons with 30 and 26 goal seasons respectively so we know he can perform. I'd expect a slow start from Lucic based on the fact that he didn’t play at all during the locktout, but I think he'll get stronger as the season goes on, and hopefully for the Bruins he peaks in the playoffs. Prediction: 15 goals, 13 assists – 28 points

Hamilton: Hamilton enters his rookie season with plenty of hype and high expectations. The 2011 No. 9 overall pick has the potential to be a superstar defenseman with his 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame, and his puck-moving skills. But the question really is how will he handle the rigors of the NHL. Can he adjust to the speed of the NHL? Will a shortened 48-game season help or hurt him in that area? I believe if the Bruins approach his development the way they seem to be in camp and continue to pair him with a solid veteran like Dennis Seidenberg, Hamilton should handle the transition well and have a solid season. I also believe he will become an important part of the power play, an area the Bruins desperately need help in. Prediction: 4 goals, 14 assists -- 18 points

WILMINGTON, Mass. -- David Krejci was back on the ice Friday with his Bruins teammates for the first time since heading over to his native Czech Republic to play for HC Pardubice during the lockout, and the 26-year-old pivot said he was aware of the persistent rumors about a possible trade to Phoenix or Anaheim. But he made it clear, as he did last season when the rumors started, that he wants to remain a Bruin.

“I’ve seen it and I have time to go on the Internet, so I know what’s going on,” Krejci said. “I went through lots of things and saw my name there, but there’s nothing I can control. I am happy here, and I hope I haven’t given them any reasons to trade me. So I can’t control it, and I just want to go out there and play my best.”

Krejci scored a career-high 23 goals last season and equaled his 2010-11 total of 62 points (his career high in points came in 2008-09, when he had 73). But he also had long stretches of futility and then struggled with just three points in seven games in the Bruins’ first-round loss to Washington. It was a far cry from his 23 points in 25 games in the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup run, and with his struggles came numerous trade rumors. Given the team’s depth at center and Krejci’s cap-friendly contract (three years left at $5.2 million), media and fans pegged Krejci as expendable if the Bruins need to shed salary from their $68.8 million cap hit against the $70 million NHL salary cap this season, or even more when the cap goes down next season with the new CBA.

Krejci, however, is determined to quiet those rumors and move on from the frustration of last spring.

“Last year is behind me now. I’ve already played some games so I’ve forgotten about it,” Krejci said. “I just want to have a good start to the season just like the rest of the team.”

While frustration from last season faded over the summer and into the fall, Krejci felt the same frustration that all NHL players and fans felt as the lockout wore on. It reached the point that Krejci decided to just block out the lockout news from North America and his local media and focus on preparing for a possible season.

“In Czech [Republic], many times it seemed like we were close to a deal, and the Czech media a big deal about it but nothing happened,” Krejci said. “After a few times, I kind of let it go. I was playing hockey there so I just focused on my game.”

Now that a new CBA agreement has been reached, his sole focus is on the Bruins and helping them get back to the top. One thing Krejci is specifically focused on is rekindling the chemistry between him and his regular linemates, Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton, who is healthy again after recovering from a concussion suffered almost a year ago.

“[Lucic and Horton] looked pretty good today. I’m sure they kept themselves in good shape,” said Krejci. “They’re fast skaters and they play a tough, north-south game. I’m going to have to try keeping up with them. Nathan looks ready and I’m excited to see him back out there.”

With a shortened 48-game season, a good start for the Bruins will be imperative. Krejci believes the layoff has his team hungry to start playing and winning.

“Everybody is going to be hungry in the NHL. Every team is going to be hungry,” said Krejci. “We’re just going to have to be hungrier than they will be. From what I saw today, guys are hungry and excited, so hopefully we can get off to a good start and go from there.”

David Krejci is normally a soft-spoken guy who does his talking on the ice, most notably when he tallied 23 points in 25 playoff games to help the Bruins win the 2011 Stanley Cup. But on Monday Krejci was talking off the ice, and in an interview with Czech media outlet iSport.cz he wasn't holding back regarding NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and his views on how Bettman is handling the NHL lockout.

“We want to play. We’re the ones who are doing the show in the NHL, but Bettman thinks it makes him," Krejci said. "It is unfortunate that the NHL has such a guy. It’s a shame for the entire hockey world. Treats us like animals.”

Krejci currently is playing for Pardubice HC in the Czech Elite League in his native Czech Republic. He has four goals and three assists through seven games.

Bruins center David Krejci will sign with Pardubice in the Czech league on Thursday, his agent Larry Kelly confirmed to ESPN.com.

Krejci's plan to play in the Czech Republic during the NHL lockout was originally reported two weeks ago, but had not been made official.

Krejci is part of an ever-growing list of Bruins players lined up to play overseas during the work stoppage. They are Zdeno Chara (Prague), Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron (Switzerland), Dennis Seidenberg (Germany), Tuukka Rask and Andrew Ference (Czech Republic), Anton Khudobin (Russia) and Rich Peverley (Finland).

With the NHL lockout nearly a week old and with no end in sight, a few Boston Bruins players have made commitments to play hockey overseas to keep their skills sharp.

Forward Tyler Seguin, the ink barely dry on a 6-year extension with the Bruins, signed with EHC Biel of the Swiss League, his agent Ian Pulver confirmed to ESPN.com on Thursday.

Seguin will become the fourth Bruins player who has reportedly committed (or is close to committing) to play overseas.

Defenseman Andrew Ference announced Wednesday night that he will play for HC Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Republic, indicating on his Twitter account he will report Oct. 7 barring the new collective bargaining agreement being worked out before then. Bruins center David Krejci is close to a deal with Pardubice of the Czech league, according to a report in the Boston Herald, and backup goalie Anton Khudobin signed with HC Atlant Moscow Oblast of the KHL in Russia, according to the New England Hockey Journal.

The NHL announced Wednesday that all preseason games through Sept. 30 have been canceled.

It's the clearest indication to date that the lockout could jeopardize the start of the regular season, which is scheduled to begin Oct. 11. What is for certain is that the Bruins will miss four preseason games: Tuesday's Sept. 25 opener at the Washington Capitals; Sept. 26 at the Buffalo Sabres; Sept. 29 vs. the Winnipeg Jets; Sept. 30 vs. the Jets.

The Bruins have three games scheduled for the following week, but they too could be eliminated if the lockout drags on.

(Editor's note: The second in our end-of-season report card series on the 2011-2012 Bruins.)