An 82-game regular season schedule that lasts up to seven months can hold its share of forgettable games and road trips. But a trip that every player seems to look forward to is the one that many teams have been doing over the past decade or so, the family-based road trip.

Sometimes it’s the mothers of players who tag along, other times it’s the siblings. When the B’s boarded their flight Sunday for their two-city Florida trip to Tampa and Sunrise, the players had their Dads in tow.

Not only were there smiles all around after practice at Warrior Ice Arena on Monday, the players usually get an extra boost once the games begin.

“I think the motivation is they want to play well in front of their parents, but they also want to give kind of a thank you of a performance, a thank you to the Bruins for being able to do something like this,” said coach Jim Montgomery. “Because it really is special to spend time with your Mom or your Dad. Last year it was the siblings. Your parents are the ones who make you who you are, because that’s the environment you were brought up in and we start off the trip by thanking them. For us as coaches, we get to work with a team that wants to get better and wants to learn and wants to grow. And that kind of ability to want to be coached and be pushed, it’s because you’re pushed well and raised well at home.”

With the early morning wakeup calls for trips to rinks that are sometimes hours away in the minivan, parents are as vital in hockey for a young player perhaps more than in any other sport. Montgomery credited his own father with helping him be the player he became, an undersized offensive dynamo who became a great collegiate player at Maine and one who played 122 NHL games with five different teams.

“He was hard on me, but good hard. Fair. If I worked, he told me I worked and if I didn’t work, I heard about it. And I appreciate that, because it’s allowed me to handle a lot of tough times on and off the ice. I think when your parents are honest and real with you, it helps you develop,” said Montgomery.

Hampus Lindholm agreed that having the fathers along adds a little something.

“They’re the ones driving us to practices and all that. I think any hockey player knows how much they sacrifice for you and with Dads and sons, I think there’s always a special bond, especially when it comes to sport,” said Lindholm. “It’s always special. All the guys out there had a little extra juice in their legs today.”

The special trips also provide some indelible memories, said Charlie McAvoy.

“It’s awesome. I can’t remember if it was my first or second year the last time we had the Dads here. But my Dad still talks about that trip and how much fun he had,” said McAvoy. “So to be back, there are a lot of still familiar faces and even cooler there are a lot of new ones, too, so it’s a chance to make some new friends and get to support and cheer us on.”…

Arrow up on Lindholm

Lindholm has gotten off to a slow start offensively, especially in comparison to last season when the team was without McAvoy for the first two months of the season. But he has points in his last two games (his first goal of the season in Buffalo and an assist against Montreal) and has landed eight shots in the last two games. Montgomery sees him finding his groove all over the ice.

“I think he’s more calm,” said Montgomery. “There’s different things we track. For instance, turnovers have gone down like 40 percent for him. That means he’s just taking what’s in front of him. He’s simplifying his game offensively and he’s getting rewarded with more offense for it.”

Said Lindholm: “The points weren’t coming early on, but I’m feeling pretty good. Of course, you get a little extra confidence when the points start to come. Also, I’m finding my way a little in a different role from the start of the year last year. I’m just finding how to help the team in the best possible way and finding the production in the new role that I’m playing.”….

Poitras slows down

Rookie Matt Poitras has one assist in his last five games, but Montgomery isn’t overly concerned. Bumps can be expected for a 19-year-old playing in the NHL.

“He’s playing in the hardest league in the world and he’s doing a really good job,” said Montgomery. “He’s helping us win. You can see him getting better in how we want to play defensively. He’s not getting as much offense or creating as many chances, but there’s going to be moments where you have to learn how to manage the travel, the grind is starting to set in and we’re trying to help him manage his work load.”…

Monty pays up

After Boston University swept Maine over the weekend, it was clear that someone lost a bet. Montgomery, a Black Bear through and through, came out for practice wearing a BU baseball cap and then met reporters wearing the hat and a Terrier pullover.

“We’ll see what happens when we go to Alfond (Arena). Man’s country,” joked Montgomery….

Loose pucks

David Pastrnak did not practice on Sunday but Montgomery said it was just maintenance…

Milan Lucic will reportedly be arraigned on Monday morning for an alleged domestic incident that occurred early Saturday morning.

Lucic is on indefinite leave of absence from the Bruins.

“Right now, it’s all about support for Britt (Lucic’s wife) and the kids and Milan himself,”said McAvoy.