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Kalman: All We Are Saying Is Give Lucic-Krejci-Eriksson A Chance

BOSTON (CBS) - The Bruins finally got to unveil their new scoring line of Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Loui Eriksson on Tuesday at TD Garden.

Lucic's recovery from offseason wrist surgery had limited him during training camp practices and he didn't make his debut in a preseason game until Saturday. Krejci and Eriksson played a couple games together after starting training camp with separate trios.

Coach Claude Julien put the line we've been waiting to see since Jarome Iginla left as a free agent for the Colorado Avalanche over the summer together for practice a couple days ago and let them skate in a preseason game Monday. What was obvious from that line's play in a 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders was that it's going to take several more days of practice, and at least one more preseason game, for them to resemble a NHL line, let alone a top line.

"I don't think that line as a whole had a great game, either of them," Julien said after the loss. "When I say a great game, they were just OK. I don't think they were a dominant line tonight and so it was probably hard to assess as far as will that line work or not. But definitely we need to see them play a little bit better and hopefully as camp progresses that's going to happen."

Julien has shown a willingness to be patient with his best players over the years, especially when he needs a line to jell. There are almost no alternatives to Eriksson filling that spot next to Lucic and Krejci unless the Bruins can import a right-shooting winger in the type of mega-trade general manager Peter Chiarelli seems reluctant to make. You'd be asking too much of rookie Matt Fraser to fill that role at this point of his career, Reilly Smith moving up would force a major juggling of the rest of the lineup and 2014 first-round pick David Pastrnak hasn't even been cleared to play in a game with just two remaining in the preseason.

It's imperative that Julien give Lucic-Krejci-Eriksson time to blossom.

Against the Islanders, Krejci's line had an inauspicious start. Eriksson failed to clear the puck when he had time and space the first two shifts and the Islanders were able to put on extra offensive pressure. As the night unfolded, they were hardly a threat. Eriksson recorded an assist on Brad Marchand's shorthanded goal. In the third period they enjoyed back-to-back strong shifts, with Eriksson firing a backhand shot wide from the slot to end one and then the Swede taking a goaltender interference penalty to end a second.

Krejci-Lucic
David Krejci celebrates one of his three goals against the Florida Panthers with teammate Milan Lucic. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

While frustrated, Eriksson wasn't ready to request a transfer to another line without giving his marriage to Lucic and Krejci a little more time.

"Hopefully we can get something together quick here," he said. "It's kind of a tough game with penalties, especially in the second [period] there. It was kind of tough to get a good feeling of it. So definitely we need some more games here maybe and get a connection on a goal and just work hard. We still have a little bit of time to improve and get better. So definitely we can work on some more stuff the next game."

Not every great line breaks out like gangbusters from Day One. Last season, Julien partnered Iginla with Krejci and Lucic from the very start of camp and didn't break them up until the games were meaningless (except for Lucic's flu absences) late in the season. Iginla scored 30 goals, but in his first 24 games through Nov. 25 he had four goals. Julien's patience paid off.

Lucic is still trying to find his touch and strength in his attempt to return from the wrist injury. Krejci is getting used to playing with a left-handed shot on his right and is typically a slow starter. Eriksson is trying to find his place on a line with two guys who have played together almost exclusively for four seasons.

All three of them should look on the bright side and take something from the few positive shifts they had in the third period against the Islanders

"We got some good chances, some cycles going," Eriksson said. "So that's maybe something we can build on and it's good that we have these games here before the season starts and try to figure out where everyone is on the ice and find that chemistry."

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