BOSTON -- Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic thinks John Tavares proved he was ready for the NHL last winter when the teenager led Team Canada to its customary gold medal at the World Junior Championship.

"He was a big part of that team and taking them to a gold medal and he was able to handle that pressure in the capital city of Canada," Lucic said after Saturday's morning skate. Lucic and his teammates will face off against Tavares and the New York Islanders Saturday night at TD Garden.

Under a microscope from his early teens, Tavares, who turned 19 last month, for years has been billed as "The Next One," being held to a standard no athlete could realistically live up. Still, he was the No. 1 overall pick in last June's draft and is already in the NHL.

With a goal and two assists in his first two games, Tavares has gotten off to a fast start. While the scrutiny has decreased a bit, he has to be careful not to complacent.

"It's not easy, for sure," he said. "It takes a lot of hard work and commitment each and every day. It doesn't stop. Everybody comes to the rink and puts their hard hats on and gets down to business and tries to be at their best.

"Definitely there's been moments where this is a lot of fun and it's been great, but there's also times you've got to pinch yourself and make sure you're focused on what you have to do to make sure you compete and can be successful."

Lucic and Tavares will cross paths tonight for the first time since they were teammates in the summer of 2007, when Team Canada took on Russia in a series that pitted some of the world's best junior players against each other. Lucic was honing his craft in the Western Hockey League at the time, while Tavares was a star in the Ontario Hockey League. Lucic quickly learned Tavares was worthy of the hype.

"Just watching him play in practice, he's got a lot of great skill," Lucic said. "When he shoots the puck, you can just tell he's got that scoring touch. It just comes natural to him. He's one of those guys, when he shoots the puck it finds a way. He'll shoot a puck not even looking and it'll go post and in, something like that."

Tavares is prepared to be on the opposite side of the puck from Lucic this time around.

"You always remember how strong he was," Tavares said. "He was definitely an intimidating guy with his strength and just the power he brings to the ice, whether it's finishing checks or going to the front of the net or being strong down low.

"He's a guy that competes real hard and can get in your face, and you definitely have to keep your head up when you're out there with him."

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