Tanabe maintains strong work ethic

MONTREAL -- Bruins defenseman David Tanabe doesn't know what his future holds. He's a restricted free agent this summer and hasn't an inkling whether he's in the team's plans. There has been a great deal of upheaval with the Bruins this season, starting with the trade last Nov. 18 that brought Tanabe to Boston for center Dave Scatchard.

Tanabe, 25, said whatever happens in the offseason, he'll deal with it then.

''We have young guys here and they're important to the organization," said Tanabe. ''For me right now, I'm just trying to continue to work on my game and get better, but help these guys out. The more these young guys come along, the better it is for our team. Even though we are out of the playoffs, it's still valuable time."

There is little hockey left, but Tanabe said he's using the time to improve.

''Personally, I'm just trying to work on a lot of skill things," he said. ''Every day I'm on the ice is an opportunity to get better. For this group, there are young guys who are here and who are going to be on the team next year. It's important to develop relationships and get them comfortable playing at this level.

''For me right now, there's so much stuff going on that is out of my control. If they don't [make a qualifying offer], then I'm [an unrestricted] free agent. I'm just playing as hard as I can and I'll let things sort themselves out."

Tanabe is in his sixth NHL season.

''I feel like I would like to get my offensive production higher, but otherwise I think I've played decent," he said. ''It's something for me after coming off a knee injury, this is a year that I want to finish out strong and it's a year I want to build on."

Chris Higgins and Aaron Downey scored 59 seconds apart late in the third period to lift the Canadiens over the Bruins, 5-3, at the Bell Centre last night. For Boston, center Patrice Bergeron had a pair of power-play goals and an assist. The clubs each scored a pair of goals in the second, all on the man advantage. Bergeron accounted for Boston's tallies, while Jan Bulis and Michael Ryder connected for the Habs. At the 34-second mark of the third, Bergeron set up Marco Sturm's goal at even strength, but Canadiens captain Saku Koivu made it 3-3 at 3:48 during a two-man advantage. Bruins goalie Tim Thomas was otherworldly, making 42 saves. But he couldn't keep the Habs at bay. Montreal decided the contest on shots No. 45 (Higgins at 14:31) and No. 46 (Downey at 15:30). The Bruins dropped to 1-6 against Montreal this season with one meeting left.

Defenseman Nick Boynton had hoped to have surgery on his right shoulder yesterday, but it was put off because of a scheduling conflict with Dr. Thomas Gill, who will perform the operation at Massachusetts General Hospital. Interim general manager Jeff Gorton said Boynton is expected to have surgery next Tuesday . . . Defenseman Brian Leetch and right wing Glen Murray returned to action after missing Saturday's game. Leetch said he was recovered from a blow to the head during last Wednesday's game in Buffalo, and Murray was significantly better after being laid up by the flu.