Line not yet straight

MONTREAL -- Bruins forward Mike Knuble enjoyed playing with Joe Thornton and Glen Murray last season. The line was one of the toughest in the league to defend and it led to all three players reaching career bests -- Knuble in goals (30) and assists (29), Murray in goals (44) and assists (48), and Thornton in assists (65) and points (101).

This season, they've been together off and on, lately more off than on. Since returning from a knee sprain, Sergei Samsonov has been with Thornton and Murray, with Knuble trying to find his niche.

He's been playing with 18-year-old rookie center Patrice Bergeron and Marty Lapointe, which is still a work in progress. Heading into this afternoon's game against the Canadiens, Knuble has just one goal in his last 10 games. The same goes for Lapointe.

Knuble admits it has been a bit of a challenge compared to his time with Thornton and Murray.

"Joe has the ability to make something out of nothing and Glen shoots the puck as well as anybody in the league," said Knuble. "Glen has been around a long time and Joe is a premier player. When you play with those two, you can imagine the play developing. You can see it in your mind, and then it does. For the rest of us, it doesn't always happen like that. They're able to do that and the rest of us aren't sometimes."

Knuble said he was starting to get comfortable with center Travis Green before Green, who may return to the lineup today, suffered a rib injury Jan. 12 against Buffalo. That forced Bergeron, who had been playing wing, back to center.

"I think Patrice is a great player and Marty is a hard-working guy," said Knuble. "For us to generate chances, I think it's going to take a lot more bounces going our way and a bit more of luck than playing with [Thornton and Murray], where they just seem to make it look so easy. For the rest of us, it's a bit harder. If we can be a positive line every night and play good defensively and have [coach Mike Sullivan's] trust that he can throw us out in the last minute whether we're up a goal or down a goal, I think is still a good situation to be in."

From the outside, it may appear many of the Bruins' parts are interchangeable, but line chemistry is important.

"I don't think you can force it," said Knuble. "These days it seems to be two guys who can really feed off each other and then there's a third guy in there who can complement them. You just need to find a niche. Whether you're one of the pair who really works well together -- like Brian Rolston and P.J. Axelsson or Joe and Glen -- or be the third guy, you just need to be on the same page, and that's not easy to find sometimes."

Knuble said he and his new linemates are still looking to connect.

"Marty and I kind of laugh about it," Knuble said. "We almost bump into each other. When I had success with Joe and Glen, I was around the net a lot more. Pucks just seemed to come there all the time. Over time, it became more comfortable.

"It seems like sometimes Marty and I run into each other trying to get to the net. Bergie might have the puck and he's looking to pass and Marty and I are standing right next to the net running into each other. I think that comes with time."

The problems are further complicated by the fact two veterans are playing with a talented youngster who is still learning the NHL game, but Knuble said Bergeron's talent is evident to everyone who watches him.

"Bergie can play any kind of game," said Knuble. "He can grind it out in the corners or he can score off the rush. Marty and I are more grinder-type guys. Obviously, we want Bergeron to try to make plays, and the trick is for Marty and I not to be running into each other. We need one of us to pull up and be in a shooting position.

"Joe and Glen and Sergei seem to be a fixture. They've been blessed with great health for the most part. It seems like everyone else has to do the adjusting, but that's part of it. We'll find it. The more we play together, the more we'll get comfortable."