Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien, left, gives instructions as team captain Zdeno Chara of Slovakia, right, catches his breath.

During his pre-game media scrum, Bruins head coach Claude Julien sounded as if he clearly relished the opportunity to return to the ice this evening against the Chicago Blachawks.

"We have to remember, and just take a look around the league, that we are not the only team that has gone through a tough loss," said Julien. "It's part of the process and part of the game.

"The biggest thing is that we have to bounce back and get back to doing the things that gave us success."

Perhaps the biggest technical issue facing the bouncing B's right now is goal production.

"We talk about guys going to the net, shooting more," said Coach. "Paying the price in those tough areas.

"We've also worked on creating chances from deep in the other team's end. Cycling. Going to the net.

"Those are the kind of things that you have to keep working on throughout the whole year, but hopefully we'll see some of those things tonight," he said.

Following the loss to the Habs, practice this week, which could be brutal at times, was geared toward making those things happen. Several of the players had even professed that they had appreciated those practices, and those characteristics of the sessions, which in turn would help the club with Chicago.

"I think we always work our practices around what we need to improve on," said Julien, who then disputed his players' appreciation of his practice sessions.

"The guys that told you that they liked the practice, LIED to you," he said.

Chuckles from the press and the coach ensued.

"That's (them) giving you the answer that (they think) you want," said Coach. "I don't think they really enjoyed the type of practices that we've had.

"But they did realize that they needed that type of practice."

Dr. Julien had a couple more prescriptions for the Black & Gold, as well.

"We need to improve our work ethic," repeated Julien. "(Go) to the tough areas and compete harder."

"Working hard is one thing and competing hard is another.

"You can't be satisfied with coming in second," he said.

That's especially so, tonight, because if they come in second, they'll be watching two guys named Kane and Toews weave toward the goal unperturbed.