Trying to win them over

WILMINGTON - Showtime. Tougher at the edges and better on defense than most everyone predicted, the Bruins tonight open their 2007-08 home schedule, facing the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Bruins' fan base, especially beaten up the last three seasons - a lockout and a pair of postseason DNQs make for a devilish hangover - will be looking for reasons to be entertained.

"If we win, I think that's the best thing we can do to sell the product," said new coach Claude Julien, when asked if he felt a need for his team to be entertaining as well as successful. "Basically, they want to see us win hockey games."

His club off to a 3-2 start, Julien is in charge of a squad that yesterday included the stingiest goalie in the league (Tim Thomas with a 1.34 goals-against mark) and the best power play (28.6 percent proficiency). There are no guarantees for success in the NHL, but a hot goalie and a potent power play are two of the best bets for securing a playoff berth.

Thomas, doubted by the coaching and front-office staffs in the early going last season, is almost sure to start tonight. He is a more confident, stronger version of himself this season, but he also is working behind a tighter, more structured defense than he had last season. Most goalies, amateur or pro, do a better job when they can see the puck.

"The team is playing really well in front of me," noted Thomas. "This is a defensive system that everyone knows where they're supposed to be, and that helps everyone - the goaltender, the defensemen, and the forwards."

It is all about structure, defensive integrity.

"Instead of what, at times, was random chaos out there," said Thomas, reflecting on a frustrating 2006-07 season.

General manager Peter Chiarelli, who felt it necessary to shore up the goaltending with the acquisition of Manny Fernandez, credits Thomas for improved conditioning and playing a tighter, more efficient style. "More within himself," the GM described it.

"And we are trying to force more shots from the point," added Chiarelli. "Our style gets more pucks pushed to the outside, and I think it's easier for Tim to follow them when they do get to the point. That's probably helping him to conserve some energy, too."

Meanwhile, Fernandez has to find a foothold. In two starts, he has gone 1-1, the victory a crazy 8-6 affair in Los Angeles. He has a portly 5.00 GAA and a meager .796 save percentage.

But not to worry, said Julien, Fernandez will work his way out of the funk and the Bruins will have a strong tandem.

"Anyone who follows this league," said Julien, "knows that this goaltender is a great goaltender."

Julien also noted that his goalie last season, sure-shot Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur of the Devils, yesterday stood 1-3 with a .879 save percentage.

"Anyone going to tell me [Brodeur] isn't a good goaltender?" said Julien.

First unit

Among those to pull on a Black and Gold sweater tonight for the first time on Causeway Street:

Milan Lucic - The chisel-chinned rookie left winger stands to be an instant fan favorite if he keeps going after opponents with his Terry O'Reilly-like tenacity. "Obviously, it's fun to the play in the NHL," said the earnest Lucic, "and it's even funner if you get to play at home."

Peter Schaefer - Considered expendable by Ottawa, the left wing is playing on the top line with Marc Savard and Chuck Kobasew. Schaefer is 0-3 -3 in five games. "We've talked to him about working harder to bury his chances," said Julien.

Glen Metropolit - Journeyman fills out depth at center, but he has the skills to fill in more than adequately on Lines 1 and 2.

Shawn Thornton - Brought in from Anaheim to supply true grit at the wing. He had an opening-night bout in Dallas against Todd Fedoruk, but has been saving up a few punches over the past four games. "We just have to play the same game," Thornton said. "Let's not change anything now just because we're wearing the black jersey."

Fernandez - In all likelihood, he will serve as Thomas's backup, and could remain seated until Thomas loses.

Bo knows weight loss

Neither Brandon Bochenski nor Jeremy Reich has played yet.

"I've talked to those guys," said Julien. "I've told them to stay ready."

During yesterday's workout at Ristuccia Arena, Bochenski and Reich worked as extras on a line comprised of P.J. Axelsson, Thornton, and Metropolit.

Bochenski, who added some 17 pounds over the summer in an attempt to build muscle and stamina, has whittled back by 10 pounds in hopes of picking up some speed that will get him back in the lineup.

"Yeah, I am trying to lean up a little bit," said Bochenski, who is now about 195 pounds. "I'd never tried something like this before, and it wasn't like I did this through a lack of trying - I worked my butt off putting on that weight and muscle. But it was too much for my body. I probably would have been better to put that much on in 3-4 years rather than 3-4 months. Right now, I'm feeling energetic, with a lot of pop - I've just got to wait for my chance."

'Mini' revival

The memories may be as snowy and blurry as the old telecasts on Channel 38, but those old times will be returning in high-definition on NESN Nov. 15. Mini One-on-One is coming back.

"We're excited," said Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey, who was contacted by TD Banknorth Garden officials this summer about rounding up local youths. "To see the smiles on the kids' faces, that's the key thing. We've done this for so many years. The first show was the '73 season. There were a lot of people who played beyond youth hockey on those programs."

Program directors rounded up players expressing interest, creating four groups: boys 10 and under, girls 10 and under, boys 8 and under, and girls 8 and under. NESN shot the competition, which included players from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, at the Garden Sept. 29. The format used was the shootout, with skaters going one-on-one against goalies.

Still available

Jay Grossman, agent for free agent Danny Markov, reported that his client remains unsigned. Chiarelli, when asked if he had interest in the veteran Russian defenseman, only said that he has spoken "on and off with Jay the last couple of months." . . . Martin St. Louis, the star Lightning winger who was Thomas's teammate at the University of Vermont, as of yesterday led NHL forwards in average ice time (24 minutes 46 seconds). Second among league forwards: the Bolts' Brad Richards (24:09). Patrice Bergeron leads Bruins forwards in average ice time (19:03) . . . The Rangers are in town Saturday. Ex-Bruin blue liner Paul Mara, flipped to the Blueshirts for Aaron Ward, has played in only three games and has yet to post a point. Rumors persist that the Rangers will deal him rather than keep him on the roster at $3 million this season . . . Chiarelli said the Bruins will stick with their 7 p.m. start Saturday, even if the Red Sox are playing at roughly the same hour at Fenway Park in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

Fluto Shinzawa of the Globe staff contributed to this report; Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at dupont@globe.com.