He's more than nicked

WILMINGTON -- The ongoing locomotive crash that is the Bruins' 2005-06 season -- a.k.a. the Carnage Cannonball Express -- continued to pile up yesterday with word that defenseman Nick Boynton will undergo shoulder surgery for a torn labrum and be sidelined for the final eight games of the season.

According to coach Mike Sullivan, Boynton was injured some time ago, and it finally reached the point, noted Sullivan, that the 27-year-old blue liner was physically unable to be an effective on-ice contributor.

''He's been battling it for some time now," said a stoic Sullivan, following his squad's hourlong practice at the Ristuccia Center. ''He's at the point where he's not where he's expected to be [in terms of strength and ability]."

Boynton, who exited the workout in street clothes approximately a half-hour prior to Sullivan's announcement, could not be reached for comment. He was not among the six defensemen who practiced.

According to interim general manager Jeff Gorton, Dr. Thomas Gill will perform the surgery, likely on Tuesday at Massachusetts General Hospital. Gorton added that Boynton apparently injured his right shoulder before the Olympic break in early February and possibly suffered added damage to his rotator cuff.

''They won't know for sure as to the extent of it until they get in there," said Gorton. By and large, 2005-06 will go down as a frustrating season for Boynton, who has played four seasons in Boston. He missed the first two weeks of the season in a contract holdout, and soon saw captain Joe Thornton, his best pal in Black and Gold, summarily shipped to San Jose at the end of November. Days later, Boynton fractured his kneecap, knocking him out the lineup for more than a month.

A torn labrum is a tear in shoulder cartilage. The labrum's chief function is to add stability to the shoulder joint.

''I'm not sure how far back it goes, to be honest," said Sullivan, when asked when Boynton suffered the injury. ''He's been working with the medical staff for a bit of time."

With Brian Leetch (head injury) also expected out of the lineup tonight, the Bruins are down to six blue liners -- Hal Gill, Milan Jurcina, Brad Stuart, Mark Stuart, Andrew Alberts, and David Tanabe -- to face the Habs in Montreal.

Asked who might get more ice time because of the shortfall on blue liners, Sullivan said, ''The players who play well will end up with more ice time. As one of my former coaches [read: Jack Parker at Boston University] was fond of saying, 'Solid performance will be rewarded by further play.' "

Leetch, the victim of Daniel Briere's wild high stick Wednesday night in Buffalo, was unable to suit up for practice, and reported his head was still hurting.

''I don't feel right -- a little headachy, not groggy -- just not right," said the 38-year-old Leetch.

After Leetch slashed Briere midway through the second period, he was struck by the darting Sabres forward, Briere nailing him with a one-handed chop near the right temple, where Leetch's visor meets the side of his helmet. Stunned by the blow, Leetch all but crawled off the ice. The officiating crew penalized Leetch but failed to whistle an infraction against Briere. The following day, the NHL slapped the Briere with a two-game suspension.

''It's the way he plays," said Leetch. ''I respect him as a good player, but he's one of those guys who's not careful with his stick, and that's not the way I think the game should be played."

Leetch sounded all but certain he would not play tonight -- an opinion shared by Sullivan -- but was hopeful he could suit up for the rematch in Montreal Tuesday.

If Leetch's symptoms linger through the weekend, he said, he might consider a visit to Dr. Karen Johnston, the Montreal General Hospital neurologist and widely acclaimed concussion expert, known for her work with NHL players.

According to Leetch, Briere hammered him with the stick after Leetch retaliated for an earlier hit with a jab to Briere's legs.

''I'm not sure he intended to crack me like that, but that's what can happen when you use your stick that way," said Leetch.

Shawn McEachern, back in the Bruins locker room but uncharacteristically curt with his answers, said little more than he was happy to be back, after being banished to Providence (AHL) for most of this season.

''Just great to come up," said the 37-year-old winger, who cleared waivers Wednesday, some four months after being waived. ''My experience [in Providence] was good -- I'm here now, and I'm kind of concentrating on that."

At the time of his demotion, McEachern had a bad back, and had only two goals and six points in 20 games. He needed some time to overcome the aching back once in Providence, and when he was ready to play, he was rarely asked to suit up by coach Scott Gordon. In 10 games with the WannaB's, McEachern also collected two goals and six points -- numbers that didn't entice any NHL clubs to claim him.

McEachern, who again will wear No. 17, practiced on a No. 2 power-play unit with Marty Reasoner and Glen Murray. Sullivan said he planned to use McEachern on the man-advantage tonight.

On the books for $1 million next season, McEachern likely will be bought out during the two-week buyout period leading up to July 1 free agency. If so, he'll be given 66.7 percent of his salary -- payable over two years -- but the Bruins must take the full $1 million hit on the salary cap.

If the Bruins lose in regulation tonight, the math would be finalized, eliminating them from playoff contention. They would be left with 69 points, at least 14 fewer than Tampa Bay, New Jersey, and Montreal (all with 83 entering tonight's games), with only seven games to play. They could still finish with 83 points, but only 35 wins (victories are the first tiebreaker). The Bolts, Devils, and Habs all have more than 35 wins . . . According to Sullivan, P.J. Axelsson (knee injury) has an outside shot at playing Tuesday. He did not make the flight north.