Patrice Bergeron crumples to the ice after being hit into the boards by Philadelphia's Randy Jones during an Oct. 27 game.
(Elsa/Getty Images)
Bruins Notebook
Before Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Islanders, Bruins coach Claude Julien was asked whether rugged left wing Milan Lucic, who missed the game because of a head injury sustained the day before, would be available for tonight's game against Philadelphia.
"Don't know," answered Julien. "And I know what you're getting to." Even though it was never asked directly, Julien grasped the query that is on the minds of his team's followers: Will there be fireworks tonight?
It will be the Bruins' first game against the Flyers since defenseman Randy Jones slammed Patrice Bergeron into the TD Banknorth Garden end boards, putting the alternate captain's career at risk with a Grade 3 concussion and a broken nose.
"There's going to be a big buildup, like it or not. And it's probably going to come more from you guys than us," Julien told reporters after Saturday's setback. "So we'll deal with it."
The Bruins, shell-shocked by Bergeron's exit from the Garden on a stretcher, didn't seek retaliation that day outside of a roughing call on Chuck Kobasew when he tussled with Jones after the hit. There were two fights before the Bergeron incident, which occurred at 16:07 of the first period. Shawn Thornton traded a flurry of punches with forward Riley Cote at 9:02 of the first. Fifteen seconds later, Lucic squared off with forward Ben Eager.
There are several reasons both teams might play a clean game tonight. The referees will be on the lookout for flammable situations. And the Bruins need a win more than they need revenge. The Flyers are coming off a 4-3 road win over Ottawa, the Eastern Conference leader.
But considering the severity of Bergeron's injury and Philadelphia's track record of rough stuff - forward Steve Downie pasted Ottawa forward Dean McAmmond Sept. 25 and defenseman Jesse Boulerice cross-checked Vancouver forward Ryan Kesler in the face Oct. 10 - emotions might bubble over tonight at the
The NHL's unwritten code would dictate that if Jones answers the bell if a Bruin comes calling tonight then things won't get out of hand. But if Jones doesn't drop the gloves, there might be some flareups. Cote and Eager should be in the lineup for the Flyers, who lead the league in fighting majors (22) this season.
However, all signs point toward the Bruins being without both of their heavyweights. Thornton (four fights) is out because of a broken left foot. Lucic (seven fights) didn't practice yesterday at the Wachovia Center, indicating that he most likely won't be available. Vladimir Sobotka, who made his NHL debut Saturday, should see action in his second game tonight in place of Lucic.
Jeremy Reich will be the lone designated tough guy tonight. And if things get ugly, other Bruins - Zdeno Chara, Mark Stuart, and Andrew Alberts have logged at least one fight this season - might have to throw down.
"The win's the most important thing," Julien said.
Status quo
Last Monday, during the Bruins' meeting with NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly, the subject of diminished goal-scoring - and the proposed fixes of increasing net size and shrinking goalie equipment - came up.
If safety isn't compromised, Tim Thomas isn't against the latter cure. But Thomas, like every one of his teammates, nixed the notion of extending the net beyond 24 square feet.
"I've been learning how to play the angles off the posts since age 5," Thomas said. "It would be difficult to change. And you'd be totally changing the history of the game."
The NHL tweaked goalie equipment size in 2005-06. Pads cannot measure more than 38 inches in length and 11 inches in width. Thomas recalled that it was a significant transition adjusting to the skinnier pads.
Thomas believes masks and skates shouldn't be altered because of safety concerns. The goalie, who plays an especially athletic and acrobatic style, said current equipment protects netminders from pucks - they're traveling even faster now because of the composite sticks shooters use - but also keeps them from wear and tear.
Break in road
After tonight, the Bruins have four more road games before returning to the Garden Dec. 6 to host Montreal. But the Bruins will fly to Hanscom Field after tonight's game. They will stay two days in Boston before traveling to south Florida Wednesday afternoon for their Thursday match against the Panthers at BankAtlantic Center . . . Nine of the Bruins' 21 games have ended in a 2-1 score (three wins, five losses, one shootout loss) . . . Sobotka recorded one hit in his first NHL game. That's just one less than Phil Kessel, who has been credited with two hits in 21 games.
Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com.
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