Bruins' Eriksson scores in return to Dallas; 'I feel more like myself this year'

Loui Eriksson's performance in Dallas on Tuesday proved that he's finally starting to fit in with his new teammates in Boston.

The 29-year-old winger was a central part of the package sent by the Stars to Boston in exchange for Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley. Eriksson scored the Bruins' opening goal in Tuesday's 3-1 win, benefiting from a beautiful behind-the-back pass from regular linemate Carl Soderberg, with whom he's developed quite the chemistry.

Eriksson, who's scored 11 goals and added 18 assists in his second year with the Bruins, said he's finally starting to feel comfortable with his game following a pair of concussions suffered last year.

"I feel more like myself this year, definitely much better," Eriksson told Mike Heika of the Dallas News. "Obviously, the concussions last year were tough to get, but that was last season. I don't really like to think about it, and this year it's been going better."

Head coach Claude Julien notices a difference in Eriksson this season, and added that inevitable comparisons to Seguin are off base.

"It's unfortunate that he's stuck in that comparison, because he’s not going to score the goals that Tyler is," Julien said. "But he's certainly going to bring some other elements to our hockey club that we needed. He's been scoring goals. He's a good two-way player. We use him on the power play and the penalty kill. He's a real smart, smart player."

Eriksson is riding a three-game point streak heading into Wednesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche, and ranks third on the Bruins in scoring behind Patrice Bergeron and Soderberg.