Milan Lucic Plays Crucial Role as Bruins Take on Penguins

Boston, MA

Left winger Milan Lucic played a key role in the Boston Bruins' five-game victory over the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Now, he will have to relive that role when the Bruins take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. The schedule for the best-of-seven series has yet to be released.

"His physicality, his strength when he brings pucks to the net, when he gets his skating going, he's a hard guy to stop," Bruins coach Claude Julien said.

"He brings a lot to the table. In order for teams to have success and have a chance at winning Cups, you need players like that to be at their best," he added.

Lucic did not score in Game 5 but made his presence felt with six hits and lots of intimidation on the forecheck.

He also instilled fear in the hearts of Rangers' defensemen when he delivered a hard check on defenseman Anton Stralman in Game 4 that separated the blueliner's shoulder.

Lucic has 3-7-10 totals in the postseason, far from his seven-goal regular season during which he often looked disengaged.

"He had some struggles there early, and, really, up until the last little bit. But, now he's sometimes a man among boys the way he's playing. He's rolling," said general manager Peter Chiarelli.

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Milan Lucic Plays Crucial Role as Bruins Take on Penguins