WILMINGTON, Mass -- Despite some recent signs of life, the Bruins' power play is still sputtering along at a 15-percent success rate, including a 1-for-10 lull over the last four games.

If the lamp doesn't start to light a little more in the games ahead, it might be time to tweak the personnel. Along those lines, defenseman Matt Hunwick joined the Bruins' regular second power-play unit -- which features Dennis Wideman, Andrew Ference, David Krejci, Mark Recchi and Blake Wheeler -- for a quick tutorial before today's main practice at Ristuccia Arena.

Under the direction of assistant coach Geoff Ward, Hunwick rotated in on the blue line during some drills designed to work on breakouts, cycling and D-to-D passing. A puck-mover with a flair for providing offense from the back end, Hunwick contributed eight power-play assists last season while averaging 1:33 of man-advantage ice time in his 53 games played with Boston. Before he suffered a ruptured spleen in the playoffs, Hunwick was combining with Wideman to provide the Bruins with a potent pair of point men for one of the league's best power plays.

Hunwick's presence could be just what the Bruins need. And head coach Claude Julien and his staff are toying with adding to the second-year blueliner's workload.

"We've always liked Matt. He's got good speed and he can clear the puck well and everything else. He's just had a bit of a tougher start (to the season)," said Julien, who was serious enough about letting Hunwick work out the kinks in his game that Johnny Boychuk leapfrogged Hunwick onto the second power-play when Wideman was hurt. "When guys have those, especially when they're young guys, you pull them back a little bit and you let them find their game before you give them too much."

"The thing is, it's not like he's been in the league for 10 years and you say, 'Oh, he'll find his game.' With young guys, I guess, we like to pull them back a little bit and let them find their game the easy way and then start adding," Julien continued. "He's a guy that I think we can use on the power play as he finds his game and it's come along, I think, the last little while, he's starting to find it."

Wednesday was the first day Hunwick actually got some on-ice work with the power play. However, he said he's paid close attention during pregame meetings to "see what we like do and also see what other teams like to do as far as their penalty kill." Plus, this year's power play isn't that different than last season's.

As always, the astute 24-year-old is ready for anything.

"It's one of those things, I didn't even ask. My name hasn't been on the power play board, so it's not really up to me to decide if I'm going out there or not," he said. "Obviously, I'm working on my entire game. If they feel there's a need for me to play power play, I will. If not, I'm fine in the role that I'm playing right now."

The Bruins might be finer, though, with Hunwick boosting their man-advantage.

Keeping H1N1 out
Now that Colorado's Peter Budaj and Edmonton's Ladislav Smid have been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, it has been brought into focus in NHL dressing rooms. The Bruins are taking their usual precautions, as far as sending out the equipment to be cleaned and keeping the dressing room as germ-free as possible. Some players are being extra studious when it comes to using hand sanitizer.

Staying on his feet
Although a broken finger on this right hand has him out of action, forward Milan Lucic is staying in shape with some light skating and stationary bike riding under the watchful eye of the Bruins' training staff. What might be the most difficult part of being out? Lucic noted that he has to do a lot of things left-handed now, including eating.

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