By JoeHaggerty
CSNNE.com BruinsInsiderFollow @hackswithhaggs
BOSTON -- Benoit Pouliot certainly would have liked to haveplayed for the Bruins on opening night, but he understands the team istaking the patient approach with him.
The formerWild and Habs forward admitted hes had to adjust from a completelydifferent system of attack than the one he played in Montreal over thelast two years. The dump-and-chase, forecheck system preferred by theBruins is diametrically opposed to Montreals philosophy of puttingeverything on the net, and old habits diehard.
Pouliot certainly isnt a guy we plan onputting in the stands as a game inactive. Hes a guy that Ive saidall along will get his opportunity, said coach Claude Julien. Butwe thought Jordan Caron had a really good camp and he deserved tostart over Pouliot. We thought Benoit was not totally comfortableright now, and hes said the same thing in discussions with us.
Its tough getting used to playing for one team togo to another. Some guys adapt quickly and some other guys are thinkersand it takes them a little bit longer. He agrees with us that hes alittle hesitant in some areas, but with repetitions in practice heshould get more comfortable.
So Pouliot was ahealthy scratch Thursday night, and never even made it into the pregameskate prior to the opener against the Philadelphia Flyers. Caron wasthe starting left wing on the third line, skating with Chris Kelly andTyler Seguin.
Pouliot said all the right thingsafter practice on Friday.
Its no problem," hesaid. "I just have to keep working and Ill get into the lineup any wayI can. I dont think its a big deal at all. Its a long year. I justneed to understand whats going on out on the ice system-wise. Ivegotten to know the guys better, which is good. But its a different wayof playing on the ice with the breakouts and all of the otherstuff.
Boston Bruins
Its different from what I was used to inMontreal. Ive just got to watch the games a little bit and then Ithink things will go good.
While Seguin had anexcellent first game and Kelly is probably kicking himself for missingon a point-blank chance in the first period, Julien indicated Caronneeded to find his game now that the regular season has begun.
"I thought Jordan, in his first real game of theseason probably didn't look as comfortable as he did in the preseason,said Julien.
The 20-year-old winger will get a fewmore chances to get into the regular season flow, of course, but itseems like only a matter of time before Pouliot gets his chance to showwhat he can do.
Joe Haggerty can be reached at jhaggerty@comcastsportsnet.com.Follow Joe on Twitter at http:twitter.comHackswithHaggs