After his first practice in 12 days, Zdeno Chara wanted no part of questions about whether he’ll play in the Bruins’ season opener against Winnipeg tomorrow night at the Garden.

The B’s captain is taking the day-to-day thing seriously and hopes he’ll be able to practice today.

“Good, I feel good,” Chara said. “It was nice to be out there with the guys. That’s obviously a step forward. I’m not looking at (the game), I’m looking at (today). It’s day-to-day; I’m looking forward to practice. My goal is to be better than I was (yesterday).”

The defenseman engaged in only minimal contact and seemed somewhat limited in shooting. He could be reduced, too, in his game readiness.

”I haven’t been practicing with the team for a week,” he said. “I’ve got to get used again to the puck, the drills and movement. So it’s more than just how I’m feeling.”

It was learned the Bruins placed Chara on the injured reserve list after he was banged up Sept. 24. That’s significant only for roster reasons; he was eligible to be activated seven days after the injury, so that has no bearing on the opener, assuming he’s back from what some are speculating is a rib injury.

Chara doesn’t feel pressure to return because of the relative inexperience on the blue line.

“We need everybody; it’s not just one guy,” he said. “Obviously I’m going to do whatever I can to be out there playing, but right now, when we have so many guys available, it’s a big plus that we do have so many varieties and options that we can use.”

Talbot back in mix

Winger Max Talbot was on the ice. In a slight surprise, Talbot was placed on waivers Monday. He passed through unclaimed, also a slight surprise. It is unclear whether Talbot will remain with the B’s or be sent to Providence.

“It’s part of the game, part of the business, part of the job,” Talbot said. “I’m not sure what’s going to happen to me, whether they’re going to be sending me down or keeping me here. I’m going to keep a good attitude and do whatever they ask me to do. I’m just waiting now to see what’s up.

“It’s not something positive, getting waived. But at the same time, as people know (about) me, I’ve always got a glass-half-full mentality. That’s not something that’s going to change today. I’ve still got a beautiful wife and a healthy kid at home, and expecting a second one.

“I play hockey. I’ve got a lot going for me.”

Did he foresee he might not make the team?

“You don’t come into camp thinking about that,” he said. “But as camp got going and you see a lot of guys playing well, you’re no fool. You look around and you know what the situation is. It’s not something I was planning on, but it’s the situation I’m in right now. I come here and do what I have to do, work hard, and I believe in myself that I can help this team.”

It’s doubtful we’ve seen the last of Talbot. Coach Claude Julien said the B’s like Talbot greatly as a player and a person and hoped he would clear waivers. He might well remain part of the team.

Randell makes it

Rugged winger Tyler Randell was as big an under-the-radar long shot to make the Opening Night roster as there’s been here in years.

“It feels great,” said the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Randell, who had 14 AHL fights last season and three for the Bruins this preseason. “A lot of hard training this summer definitely paid off. I’m just going out there and doing everything I can every time I’m on the ice, trying to do the job to the best of my ability.”

Did the 2009 sixth-round pick, coming to his seventh camp, believe he had a real chance to make the team?

“I just tried to not look at the numbers (of other fourth-line candidates),” he said. “Just control what I could control, play the way I’ve been playing and keep going, keep improving every day.”

Backup goalie Jonas Gustavsson took a similar tone.

“I’m excited to be here and looking forward to the season. (The backup battle was) very competitive,” Gustavsson said. “But it’s not like it’s over now. Now you’ve got to keep pushing yourself and prove that you’re supposed to be here. I’m happy to get the (one-year) contract done, but it’s another day. You take the next step and try to help yourself and help the team win some games. I’ve got to prove to myself and everyone else that I can play.”

Jeremy Smith, who lost his bid to be Rask’s No. 2, was assigned by the Bruins to the Iowa Wild, Minnesota’s AHL affiliate.

Say no to drugs

A busy topic of the day was cocaine, the day after TSN reported the league and NHLPA have concerns that use of the drug in the league is increasing.

“In my whole career, I’ve never been around it,” Bruins forward Chris Kelly said. “I can honestly say that it’s never been an issue. Maybe players have had issues that I haven’t known about, but (the news is) surprising: On this team it is a non-issue. That’s a problem no one wants. This game is stressful enough, I don’t think you need to add problems like that to your life.”

Said Julien: “I haven’t seen any signs of any issues here. (That) doesn’t mean I’m 100 percent right, but at some point, you know you probably would notice certain things. And right now I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we continue to be a team that’s pretty clean. We get drug tested all the time. Our guys so far, knock on wood, we haven’t had any issues.”