The Bruins didn’t lure David Krejci out of Czechia for just the regular season.

A veteran of 12 postseason runs throughout his Boston run, Krejci ranks sixth on the team’s all-time playoff goals list (42) and his 124 playoff points trail only Patrice Bergeron and Ray Bourque for the most in team history. Krejci has also twice led the postseason in scoring, back in 2011 and again in 2013.

That’s exactly why the Bruins are being what can be best described as ‘ultra cautious’ when it comes to Krejci.

• Out of action for the last four games with a lower-body injury, Krejci was ruled out for both Tuesday’s home showdown with the Capitals and Thursday’s regular-season finale against the Canadiens in Montreal.

  It will be absence No. 5 and No. 6 in a row for the 36-year-old center, but with the Bruins focusing on getting Krejci completely ready to go when the games matter beginning next week.

  “Today was [Krejci’s] best day, so that that has us optimistic,” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said Tuesday.

  The good news within that is that Krejci did return to the practice sheet last week for a skate with his teammates, but left the ice early due to some discomfort. That was not the case on Tuesday.

  And asked if this was a case of the Bruins simply managing the ailment so that Krejci is fully, completely and 100 percent healthy for the start of the postseason, Montgomery said that was “correct.”

• 

  Mar 9, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46) looks to pass against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period at the TD Garden. (Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY Sports)

• With Krejci out, the Bruins have rolled with a second line that’s featured Pavel Zacha between Tyler Bertuzzi and David Pastrnak. The line had a fantastic outing against the Flyers in the Black and Gold’s record-setting victory, too, as Pastrnak had a four-point night, while Bertuzzi finished with three assists and Zacha had a goal and an assist.

  Overall, the line has played 53 minutes-plus of five-on-five hockey, with the Bruins holding an on-ice edge in shots (34-28), scoring chances (30-27), and goals (6-3).

  Krejci, meanwhile, has put up 16 goals and 56 points in 70 games this season. It’s his highest goal and point total since he scored 20 goals and tallied 73 points during the 2018-19 season.

• 

  Mar 9, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46) and Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) during a faceoff in the second period at the TD Garden. (Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY Sports)

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