Simply put, call-up Allen solid again

Bobby Allen, who played his first game for the Bruins Wednesday night, was one of only four defensemen coach Dave Lewis deemed serviceable for the full 65 minutes in last night's 5-4 shootout win over Pittsburgh at the Garden.

Ditched to Providence (AHL) in September, and categorized as a spare part, the 28-year-old Allen suddenly has emerged as a go-to guy in the Hub of Hockey. The former Boston College Eagle, chosen 52d overall by Boston in the 1998 draft, played 24 shifts, all at even strength, and logged 19 minutes 4 seconds of ice time.

"Surreal," said Allen, who was traded to Edmonton in 2002, swapped for Sean Brown. "I take all this to heart, I really do. To play for Boston, and to wear that spoked-B . . . it's something really special for me."

Lewis sounded as if he'll keep rolling out his new stalwart.

"He played a tremendous hockey game," said Lewis, a former defenseman. "He competes hard. His positioning is sound and safe. He knows what to do out there, with or without the puck. It's nice to see. We didn't ever see this performance coming from him . . . I'd be lying to you if I said we did . . . no, not at all."

The expansive 6-foot-9-inch Zdeno Chara, defenseman by trade, soon may see his job description expand.

With Wayne Primeau (separated shoulder) sidelined indefinitely -- at least through next week's All-Star break -- Lewis said he is considering moving "Big Z" up front to take faceoffs when the Bruins are shorthanded.

Why?

"Right now, without Preems, we don't have a lefthanded center for the PK," said Lewis following his club's optional morning skate. "And we have some penalty-killing [units] without any center -- two wingers. He's big. He's strong. It would be a new look for the opposing center."

Chara did not move to the pivot last night. The Penguins went 2 for 5 on the power play, and held a healthy edge on the draw, 41-33.

Primeau hurt his shoulder in Monday's matinee win over the Sabres, and he left the building with his left arm in a sling.

Lewis was not forthcoming about the severity of the injury, or a definitive timeline for Primeau's return, but with the All-Star break next week, he would not suit up again until Jan. 27, at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Patrice Bergeron confirmed he has joined the ranks of the walking wounded.

"I'm not going to say what it is -- but it's upper body," said Bergeron. "Injuries are part of the business, and everyone has to deal with them."

Bergeron, without a point and with a minus-2 rating Wednesday night in Buffalo, has been in an offensive lull this month. In 10 games, he has only two goals and 5 points and is a somewhat alarming minus-8. Overall, a far cry from his first 35 games this season, in which he collected 42 points.

In a move aimed at getting Bergeron's game going, Lewis bumped Shean Donovan off Bergeron's right wing in favor of rookie Phil Kessel. Marco Sturm remained on the left side. Bergeron played with much better jump and picked up his 32d assist of the season.

Kessel, who scored twice in the 6-3 loss to the Sabres, spoke briefly prior to exiting the morning workout. "I'm getting better -- everything is getting back to normal," said the 19-year-old rookie, getting back his stamina after recent surgery for testicular cancer. "My legs are feeling better." It was the first two-goal performance of Kessel's career and last night he scored the winning goal in a thrilling shootout . . . Lewis planned to have Chara on the ice "as much as possible" when the Penguins had Sidney Crosby, the league's top scorer, with Ryan Malone and Mark Recchi. Big Z finished with 28:29 in ice time, about his season's average, and was second to Brad Stuart's 29:18.

Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at dupont@globe.com.