BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Bruins rebuilt faster than expected and the result was a 50-win season in 2017-18 Adam Henrique Jersey , the 10th in franchise history.But their playoff run ended in the second round, leaving room for improvement that owner Jeremy Jacobs hopes comes with the continued maturity of Boston’s young players around its core of veterans.Jacobs was asked about his expectations during the Bruins’ media day Monday at Warrior Ice Arena.“My expectations never lessen so far as this team is concerned. … They’re young, we’ve got that on our side, and we’ve got a good warehouse of talent,” said Jacobs, who’s entering his 44th season of ownership of the Bruins.“I expect them to improve on last year. Because we didn’t start as strongly, I guess it was more the finish, we didn’t (the start) have last year.”The Bruins started 6-7-4 last season Womens Andrew Cogliano Jersey , but their 50-20-12 record earned them second place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.After defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the first round — the Bruins’ first playoff series win since 2014 — they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in the second round.The Bruins open their regular season Wednesday on the road against the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, who will raise their championship banner during a pregame ceremony.As if the competition wasn’t enough of a challenge in Boston’s attempt to have a better start, they’ll have a greater challenge because defenseman Torey Krug will not be in the lineup.Krug had a left ankle injury in the Bruins’ preseason finale against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Krug is in a walking boot and will be evaluated in three weeks.Krug had 59 points (14 goals, 45 assists) in 76 games last season and was working his way back from a fractured ankle that ended his season after the fourth game against Tampa Bay in the playoffs.With Matt Grzelcyk, the replacement for an injured Krug both at 5-on-5 and on the power play, trying to return from a lower-body injury, the Bruins’ depth is being tested early.“Well given the fact that Torey is starting injured, I think that adding John Moore was a benefit to our group and deepening that Authentic David Pastrnak Jersey ,” said general manager Don Sweeney, who signed Moore as an unrestricted free agent from the New Jersey Devils on July 1.Rookie Urho Vaakanainen is also in line to pick up some of the slack depending on Grzelcyk’s status.The Bruins have at least gotten positive news on center Patrice Bergeron, whose return from offseason groin surgery was hampered by back spasms. He didn’t play in any preseason games, but practiced with the team for the second time on Monday and took contact in some drills. He anticipates being in the lineup on opening night.Like Jacobs, Bruins president Cam Neely desires a better start to the season. However, Neely’s more interested in how the Bruins finish.“I don’t want us to look at our point total and how many wins,” Neely said. “I want us to look at are we playing the way we want to play, are we playing the way the coach would like us to play Brandon Montour Jersey Kids , are we competing in a way that gives us chances to win every game and are we getting better as the season progresses as we get into the playoffs.” TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan had high praise for the Tampa Bay Lightning.Nikita Kucherov had two goals and an assist, Andrei Vasilevskiy made 33 saves and the Lightning beat the Oilers 5-2 on Tuesday night.“They’ve got a fun team to watch,” McLellan said. “We’re all chasing them right now, but I think we can get there.”Steven Stamkos had a goal and two assists, and Brayden Point and Yanni Gourde also scored for the Lightning, who have the best record in the NHL at 11-3-1.Edmonton got goals from Ryan Strome and Leon Draisaitl, and Mikko Koskinen stopped 30 shots. Connor McDavid was kept off the scoresheet for just the second time this season as his eight-game point streak ended (six goals http://www.officialducks.com/authentic-adidas-cam-fowler-jersey , five assists).Kucherov has eight goals and 14 points in nine games against Edmonton.Vasilevskiy made a diving stop on Ty Rattie, who got his scoring chance in the first period off a nifty pass from McDavid. Vasilevskiy also had an in-close save on McDavid shortly after Edmonton kept the puck in the offensive zone for all two minutes of a second-period power play.Vasilevskiy has allowed two or fewer goals in eight of 11 games.“He’s undoubtedly the reason why we win a lot of hockey games,” Stamkos said. “He was outstanding again tonight.”Stamkos opened the scoring 4:40 into the game before Point got his ninth goal on a rebound to make it 2-0 with 25.1 seconds left in the period.After Strome got his first goal in 24 games at 12:32 of the second, the Lightning went back up 3-1 just 47 seconds later on Gourde’s redirection.“Get that out of the way,” Strome said. “Get on a roll.”Kucherov put Tampa Bay ahead 4-1 off a pass through the slot by Stamkos with 1:01 to go in the second.“We look for each other, we get open for each other,” Kucherov said. “That’s the point of this game and that’s what we’re doing.”Draisaitl scored a power-play goal 40 seconds into the third off a nifty backhand pass by Rattie.Kucherov had a power-play goal midway through the third.Edmonton’s Milan Lucic got minor penalties for interference and roughing, and a 10-minute misconduct following a hit on Mathieu Joseph at 9:31 of the third.“He felt that a player took a liberty with (defenseman) Kris Russell Womens Corey Perry Jersey , and I agree with the liberty part of it,” McLellan said. “Part of the reason we have Luc here is to take care of teammates and he did that.”NOTES: The Lightning have won seven in a row at home against Edmonton. … Former Tampa Bay forward John Cullen dropped a ceremonial first puck on Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Cullen was able to play again after missing the 1997-98 season for treatment of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. … Lightning D Victor Hedman (shoulder) and LW Ondrej Palat (foot) both missed a sixth consecutive game. Neither is skating with the team in practice. … Rattie (upper body) returned after missing eight games. . Russell was a minus-4.UP NEXTOilers: Complete a four-game trip Thursday night at Florida.Lightning: Host the New York Islanders on Thursday night.