No takers for Zamuner

"There will be really pretty Christmas photos this year," joked Zamuner.

At the time of the collision, it didn't look like a laughing matter.

"I didn't see him," said Zamuner. "I don't think he saw me, either. I just turned and I hit the ice. I had to hit the biggest guy, eh?"

He said he didn't consider not returning. It was a matter of just getting his nose set and stopping the torrent of blood.

"I was fine," he said. "I just had to put it back and stop the bleeding. I was a little wobbly. When you get hit in the nose, your eyes water and you kind of get a little disoriented."

Zamuner is a little disoriented career-wise, too. He said he knew about the waiver situation but has no idea as to his future.

"It's not fun but there's nothing I can do about it, so . . . I haven't really talked to [general manager Mike O'Connell] at all. It was game day so the way I took it as I'd go out and play today. There's not much else I can do."

O'Connell last week made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the way his team was playing, saying it lacked passion and work ethic. He said if it continued, there would be changes. Zamuner was the first to fall. He could be demoted to the minors, have his $2 million contract bought out, or be loaned to another team if no trade could be worked out.

When asked if Providence was the likely destination for Zamuner, O'Connell said, "I don't know yet. It's a possibility."

O'Connell declined to discuss the specifics of what led him to single out Zamuner for waivers, saying the team doesn't normally discuss players on waivers. There are many instances where players go through waivers and clear without them even finding out. In Zamuner's case, it could have something to do with his contract, which is a pretty solid payday for a player who averages 10:35 of ice time and has one goal and three assists in 21 contests.

Special significance

One of the areas the Bruins worked on during their instructional practice Monday at the Ristuccia Center was special teams. Their penalty killing has struggled all season and one specific problem has been their inability to clear the puck once the opponent has set up. "Teams are so quick and aggressive and when they put it in the right place, you feel like you have time but they close it real quick," said defenseman Hal Gill. "On the other side of the coin, we have to do a better job of getting the puck and when we get it, we have to find a way out and get it out." Last night, the Bruins denied the Canadiens on seven power-play attempts . . . In his first career start against the Canadiens, goaltender Andrew Raycroft had 29 saves . . . The Bruins concluded their four-game road trip last night and begin a two-game homestand at the FleetCenter tomorrow night against Calgary and ending with Carolina Saturday.