As the Bruins played on the Garden ice for the first time since Game 6, the stakes may have been drastically different, but there was one similarity between the June 13 roster and that of Friday night: Nathan Horton was not on the ice. 

That’s fine with Horton, who it seems is being brought along slowly as he readies for his second season in black and gold. Horton, whose postseason ended in Game 3 of the Cup finals due to a concussion he suffered on a hit from Aaron Rome, had also been playing through a separated shoulder. Now, with two preseason games in the books, Horton is one of two Bruins regulars (the other being veteran defenseman Joe Corvo, who had an issue with a tight groin during the week) to have not played in either of the Bruins’ first two preseason games. 

“Obviously I want to get back in here, I want to play, but it's definitely nice to ease my way back into it and get back into things, give me a chance to feel good and come in and hopefully feel better,” Horton said Friday. 

Through all the “hopefully feel better” talk, both Horton and the B’s are maintaining that there is no lingering injury sticking with the 26-year-old. Asked whether he was ready to play in game situations if called upon, Horton replied “I think so” and repeatedly said Friday that he hasn’t experienced any setbacks. 

For what it’s worth, Horton has not missed a practice since the beginning of training camp, and he was in attendance at most of the team’s veterans’ practices earlier this month. Aside from games, he’s participated in everything, so if the Bruins want to be careful with him, there’s no better time than now. Horton noted that it’s important that he get some preseason games in before the B’s begin defending their championship, but that he’s fine with it if that game action doesn’t come right away. 

“I mean, I'm fine right now. I'm just trying to get used to things,” he said. “We haven't had a lot of hitting and stuff. I'm definitely going to get back into action sooner or later, but we've still got [4 games after Friday].”

Said coach Claude Julien of Horton: “He looks fine. I think he's in good shape. Everything seems to be going well as far as his shoulder's concerned. He's been participating in full practices, so I anticipate to put him in the lineup shortly.”

LOOKING AHEAD

When the Bruins acquired Horton last June, the popular line of thinking was that he would be the next winger Marc Savard would turn into a goal-scoring machine, and that a 40-goal campaign was a possibility.

Horton ended up playing minimally with Savard, of course, as he wound up on the first line centered by David Krejci while Savard worked his way back from post-concussion syndrome and eventually was shut down once again with the same injury. 

As for the 40-goal mark, Horton didn’t come close, though those were lofty expectations. Instead, Horton finished his first season in Boston with a respectable 26 goals. That total ranks last among the four seasons in which he’s played in 70 or more games. His career-high came in 2006-07, when he played a full 82-game season and scored 31. Now with a year in Boston under his belt, Horton thinks he can return to being a 30-goal-scorer. 

“Definitely,” Horton said of whether he feels he can achieve a 30-goal-season. “You want to get better, and you want to keep getting better. It's definitely something that I want to do. As a line, we just want to keep getting better. When you're getting points and stuff that's great, but we want to play hard every night, and I think that stuff's going to come, because I've obviously got great line mates. As long as were playing hard and get a couple of lucky bounces here and there, things are going to work out.”

Assuming Horton can avoid a wretched drought like the one he went through from Dec. 15 to Jan. 26 of last season (one goal in 20 games), it would come as no surprise to see him potentially set a new career-high in goals should he remain healthy for the entire season. 

LESSONS LEARNED? 

New league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan hasn’t been afraid to hand out big punishments, as two players this preseason have already been suspended, including Philadelphia forward Jody Shelley for 10 total games.

As someone who was the victim of a dirty hit, Horton is glad to see the league is furthering its efforts to clean up the game.  Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome sat out the rest of the finals after his hit on Horton, and with the new regime ramping up the efforts to potentially make examples of players, Horton likes what he sees. 

“They're trying to do their best now. I think everyone's well aware of headshots with all of the concussions and this that have been going around,” Horton said. “I think every player knows by now what's a good hit and what's a bad hit. It's up to the player now.”

With Shanahan, who has released videos explaining suspensions, clearly meaning business, the players can either listen or potentially pay a lofty price – in both games and in money.  

“I think it definitely makes players think twice when that comes up,” Horton said. “Getting suspended and giving up some of your salary [should] definitely make a player think twice when they raise their elbows and try to hit someone in the head, I would think. … Maybe not some guys, but I don't know. Hopefully.”