An 'excited' Scatchard set to debut

SUNRISE, Fla. -- With Joe Thornton back in Boston getting treatment for back spasms, it came as a relief to the Bruins that center Dave Scatchard will be ready to suit up tonight against the Florida Panthers.

Scatchard missed the exhibition season and the first four games of the regular season because of a groin injury. He said he's more than a little enthusiastic to finally make his Bruins debut.

''Everything is getting stronger every day and I feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things," said Scatchard. ''It's been a frustrating three weeks for me. You have a new team, new coaches, and players that you want get to work with and see what works and what doesn't, and I haven't had the chance to do that yet."

Coupled with the yearlong lockout, Scatchard said having to go through rehabilitation while the team played without him made him appreciate the game more than ever.

''This is the most excited I've ever been to play hockey," he said. ''It's almost like the trainers are trying to keep me grounded because I'm so excited to get back in and play. They don't want me rushing anything.

''I feel like it's the right time and my legs are strong enough to do the job, and I'm just excited to get back and play in the NHL again. I really think the year off made me sit back and made me realize how much I love playing and how much I love being part of a team and how much I love competing."

Despite Thornton being out, Scatchard said the Bruins' depth at center -- Patrice Bergeron, Brad Boyes, Travis Green -- will make his reentry that much easier. He'll start on the fourth line and take it from there.

''In a way, it takes a little bit of pressure off me coming back because I know I'm not going to have to log 20 minutes because other guys are playing so great that the coach can count on them until my legs are under me," he said. ''I'm just hoping everything feels as good as it has so far during my skates. I feel like it's coming back really quick and it's encouraging."

Mix and match
Coach Mike Sullivan had to shuffle his lines because of Thornton's absence. He put Bergeron between left wing Sergei Samsonov and right wing Glen Murray. Other lines were (left to right): Brad Isbister-Boyes-Shawn McEachern; P.J. Axelsson-Green-Tom Fitzgerald; and Pat Leahy-Scatchard-Colton Orr . . . Bergeron, a close friend of Penguins phenom Sidney Crosby, said he hadn't heard the latest saga of another Crosby game sweater gone missing. Crosby's sweater from his first NHL game was taken from his father's checked luggage during a US Airways flight from Pittsburgh to Buffalo. It was recovered in a stairwell at Pittsburgh Airport. Bergeron was well aware of when Crosby's sweater, worn during the gold medal game at the World Junior Championships, was swiped by an Air Canada baggage handler and was ultimately recovered. ''I felt bad for him because he was sad," said Bergeron, referring to the first missing sweater. ''He had just won the gold medal and obviously, you don't want to lose that, especially if somebody stole that. It's not about money, it's the [sentimental] feeling that you have for the jersey. I don't think anyone will steal my jersey; I can understand with Crosby because there are so many people [looking for mementos]." . . . Former Bruin Bill Lesuk was named an amateur scout by the team. Lesuk, who spent the last five years as director of amateur scouting for the Chicago Blackhawks, will scout prospects eligible for the NHL Draft.