Kobasew now has some elbow room

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - In the 10 games Chuck Kobasew muddled through with the Bruins last season after arriving from Calgary with Andrew Ference, the onetime Boston College star did precious little with his opportunity.

Kobasew was dealt to Boston Feb. 10 but didn't appear in a game until March 6 while recovering from a fractured right elbow. When he returned to action, Kobasew registered 2 points and a minus-6 rating before he was blasted by Pittsburgh star Evgeni Malkin March 25, which prompted the Bruins to shut him down for the rest of the season because of post-concussion syndrome.

But there's a reason Kobasew didn't perform upon his arrival in Boston.

"It wasn't good until the middle of the summer," Kobasew said of his elbow. "It wasn't strong at all. I couldn't do any exercises with it for three or four months."

Like most of the Bruins, Kobasew had a season to forget in 2006-07. On Jan. 4, he suffered a concussion that knocked him out for eight games. Then he cracked his elbow Jan. 26. Finally, Kobasew (5-14 -19 in 50 total games with Calgary and Boston) missed the final seven games.

"I'm not even thinking about it," the 25-year-old said. "Just focusing on this year."

In the first two games of 2007-08, a healthy Kobasew has shown why the Flames signed him for $1.2 million per season. The former first-round pick (No. 14 overall in 2001) started the opener against Dallas alongside Marco Sturm and Patrice Bergeron. Kobasew then switched places with Glen Murray for Saturday's 3-1 win over Phoenix, skating with Peter Schaefer and Marc Savard during even-strength play to give the line more speed.

So far, Kobasew has played his game, a caffeinated style of nonstop skating and hitting. It was a brand of high-paced hockey he couldn't show last season because of his elbow limitations.

He's been paired with P.J. Axelsson on the penalty kill, a combination that clicked against the Coyotes when Kobasew netted a shorthanded strike that turned out to be the winner.

"He's been good from the start of training camp," general manager Peter Chiarelli said. "That's how he plays. He has energy, he can forecheck, he can create chances with his speed. He's been very good."

Savard doubtful

Savard (groin strain) didn't practice for the second straight day, indicating that he most likely will not play against Anaheim tonight.

"He didn't skate today because he's not ready," coach Claude Julien said. "He remains day to day but hasn't skated for two days. He's probably doubtful for tomorrow. I'm not going to say he's definitely out because you never know."

If Savard doesn't play, it will be the first NHL game he's missed since the 2003-04 season, when he sat out 37 games (knee, concussion, ankle, suspension).

Glen Metropolit practiced in Savard's spot in even-strength and power-play situations.

Savard's absence would leave the Bruins with three righthanded centers in Bergeron, Metropolit, and David Krejci (four including Phil Kessel, who's played right wing the first two games), limiting their options on faceoffs, especially in the defensive zone.

Angry Anaheim

Tonight the Ducks will raise their championship banner to the Honda Center rafters.

But that's probably the only thing they'll be pleased about when they face off against the Bruins.

"They're not very happy with their road trip," said ex-Duck Shawn Thornton of his former club's 1-3-1 start, which kicked off with a pair of games in London against the Kings. "That was a long road trip for them. They're looking forward to getting home."

The Ducks have undergone significant changes since they pasted the Senators in the Stanley Cup finals in June. Stars Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne are both out and considering retirement. Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and checking-line center Samuel Pahlsson have yet to play following offseason hernia surgery, although there is a possibility both will play tonight.

They also lost Dustin Penner, who signed an offer sheet from Edmonton.

"It doesn't matter," Julien said. "This is a team sport. It's not an individual sport. They lost some key players and some great hockey players, but that doesn't make them a bad team. They are the Stanley Cup champions, and you have to respect them for that. I don't think we're in any position to start disrespecting our opponents."

Shootout duty

Seven Bruins lined up for shootout work on Manny Fernandez and Tim Thomas in practice: Bergeron, Schaefer, Sturm, Krejci, Kessel, Zdeno Chara, and Dennis Wideman. Last season, five of those shooters (neither Schaefer nor Krejci took a shootout attempt) combined for 15 goals on 32 attempts, led by Bergeron's six scores. Julien instructed the shooters to try different moves each time they took an attempt. Chara steamed a half-slapper off Thomas's leg, giving the goalie a short-lived stinger. "I wanted another shot so I could kick a rebound back at him," joked Thomas . . . Fernandez left practice approximately 20 minutes early after taking a shot off the inside of his hand. Julien said the injury wasn't serious.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com.