Morris back, Lucic to travel

The Bruins received a couple of the gifts they were looking for on Christmas.

As the team returned to practice Saturday, defenseman Derek Morris was back skating after missing three games with an undisclosed injury.

“I feel good, it’s just a matter of getting the legs back, it wasn’t that long a rest. A couple of skates and I should be good,” said Morris who had ridden a stationary bike during the Christmas break.

Julien was non-committal as to whether Morris is set to be in the lineup when the Bruins take on the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Florida on Sunday.

The team is also optimistic that forward Milan Lucic could be set to return in a few days. Lucic skated on his own after the Bruins practice, moving well in the final stages of recovering from a high ankle sprain that has kept him out of the lineup since November.

“He’s obviously getting better, he’s going to make the trip with us and skate with us,” Julien said. “It’s a good sign.”

If Morris is set to go Julien will have to decide which defenseman drops out of the lineup. Rookie Adam McQuaid might be the logical choice, but he has settled in to play decent hockey in his first three NHL games.

“I am feeling more comfortable, there’s still a lot to learn obviously,” said McQuaid. “The guys have been really good, they make me feel real comfortable out there.”

While getting called up from Providence last week allowed McQuaid to make his NHL debut, it did cause the need for some impromptu Christmas plans.

“My family decided at the last minute to come down, so we went to my apartment in Providence,” said McQuaid. “It was the first time I hadn’t gone home for Christmas, but it was for a good reason.”