In a 1-on-1 conversation with The Hockey News, Jakub Lauko said he is “ready to play” following close-call eye injury.
In a lineup that has faced its fair share of injury adversity early in the season, the Boston Bruins may see the return of Jakub Lauko on Saturday.
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said that Lauko, who hasn’t played since Oct. 24 against the Chicago Blackhawks, is an “option” for the team’s 7 p.m. game in Montreal. Lauko suffered facial fractures after a skate caught him up high and missed his eye by “millimeters,” he said.
“I just want to go out there and compete with them,” Lauko told The Hockey News on Friday following the Bruins’ morning practice. “If I’m going to be in the lineup tomorrow, I’ll just be happy and grateful. I think I’m ready to play, so we’ll see. But I’m excited to step in and play again.”
The 23-year-old winger skated for the first time Wednesday in a non-contact jersey, but shed it by Friday, joining the Bruins for regular rushes. Lauko is wearing a cage – and also wore a neck guard Wednesday which he then didn’t use on Thursday or Friday – and said he’s adjusted to the new equipment.
“I feel great, the eye cage doesn’t affect me, I feel comfortable on the ice,” Lauko said. “Always when you’re out for a little bit, you kind of get out of shape just a bit. It’s just about getting back in game shape just to get the cardio back.”
Lauko started the season on the fourth line with Milan Lucic and Johnny Beecher, but it's had a different look recently. With Lucic placed on LTIR with a lower-body injury on Oct. 28 and Lauko sidelined for two weeks, Danton Heinen, Oskar Steen and Patrick Brown have been filling the holes.
Heinen moved up to the third line with Matt Poitras and Jake DeBrusk on Thursday against the New York Islanders due to another team injury – Morgan Geekie is week-to-week (upper-body) – allowing Brown to slot in on the left wing.
Lauko said he’s already comfortable playing with Beecher from their reps earlier in the season, and has experience skating with Steen from their time in AHL Providence together during the 2022-23 campaign. Lauko spent 35 games in Providence last year while Steen played 64.
“I played with ‘Brownie’ a couple games, I think we played great,” Lauko said. “Every time I played with ‘Steener’ back in Providence, we played really good together – I think we’ve got chemistry, we’ve got a good relationship off the ice as well.”
Lauko is still searching for his first point of the season after going scoreless in his first six games, and will look to have an immediate impact if inserted into the lineup on Saturday as the Bruins take on the Montreal Canadiens on the road.
“I think if I’m gonna be in tomorrow I’ll be my best and contribute to the team,” Lauko said.