TAMPA - For the last 12 games, Jeremy Reich has brought his grinding style to the Boston lineup, fighting four times while plugging away on the fourth line.
But 2007-08 didn't start out that way.
In a season of symmetry, Reich spent the first 12 of 24 games in the press box, as Milan Lucic and Shawn Thornton manned fourth-line duties.
The team signed Reich to a one-way, two-year contract July 9, planning on the tough guy being a bookend to Thornton on the energy line - ready to throw hits, be responsible in his zone, and drop the gloves when required.
But Lucic, expected to be captain of his junior team this season, was the surprise of training camp, making the big club as a 19-year-old and putting Reich in suit and tie early on.
Reich finally got his opportunity when coach Claude Julien made Lucic a healthy scratch Nov. 4 against Ottawa. In that game, Thornton broke his left foot while blocking a shot, and Reich has played every game since.
The 28-year-old, originally signed by the Bruins as a free agent Aug. 30, 2005, received the most ice time he's had this season in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Lightning. Reich had 15 shifts for 11:54 of ice time, recording two shots and two hits while skating mostly with youngsters Vladimir Sobotka and Petteri Nokelainen.
"We can look at the effort they gave us [Saturday night]," Julien said of Reich and his fourth-line mates. "I thought they were one of our better lines."
Lucic, who's missed the last four games, has been practicing and should be ready to play this week. Thornton has not been on the road trip, and he originally was projected to miss 4-6 weeks.
But even when the Bruins hit full strength up front, Reich might make it difficult for Julien to take him out of the lineup. He has played consistently in his zone, played with jam in the danger areas, and scored decisions in all four fights, including in a dustup last Monday with Philadelphia tough guy Ben Eager.
"He plays every game like he wants to stay in the lineup," said Julien, who could be targeting the goal-less Brandon Bochenski, a healthy scratch for the first seven games, as a candidate for press box duty. "Certain other guys should learn from that.
"The best players are going to play."
Woes on the Island
The Bruins return to Nassau Coliseum tonight, nine days after absorbing a 2-1 loss to the Islanders on Long Island.
It's been an inhospitable rink for the Bruins, who have gone winless in their last 10 matches at the Coliseum. Their last road win against New York came Dec. 22, 2001.
For some perspective, Lucic was 13 at the time of Boston's 4-2 win that season.
Big three
Lucic, Matt Hunwick, and Tuukka Rask were the only Bruins to practice yesterday morning at St. Pete Times Forum before the club departed for its afternoon flight to Long Island . . . Julien said the team's best players didn't play that way Saturday. "It's not OK," said the coach of the underwhelming performances from his stars. "That's what we've tried to do with this hockey club - make sure we make ourselves accountable. We shouldn't accept mediocrity. I'm sure there are some guys in there who are disappointed with their game. Hopefully they show us that they really care by coming out with a strong performance next game." . . . Marc Savard, who enters tonight with a nine-game scoring streak, leads the NHL in assists (25) . . . Aaron Ward will be unavailable. He injured his right ankle during the second period Saturday and flew back to Boston yesterday. His status for Wednesday's game at New Jersey is unknown . . . Beginning Oct. 27, Marco Sturm had at least one point in 10 of 11 games. But he has cooled off, getting just one point in his last four.
Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at FShinzawa@globe.com.
