WASHINGTON - He's been claimed off waivers three times. He's played in Finland and Switzerland. He was part of a blockbuster trade last season when he was sent to St. Louis from Atlanta in a deal that made Medford native Keith Tkachuk a short-term Thrasher. He made the Bruins on a tryout.
To put it simply, Glen Metropolit never has enjoyed job security, which makes the 33-year-old center consider what comes next that much more.
"I think about it all the time," said Metropolit, before last night's humiliating 10-2 loss to Washington. "But that's the way it's always been. Why change now, right?"
Metropolit, currently on a one-year, $500,000 deal, has been one of general manager Peter Chiarelli's shrewdest signings, a transaction that became even more significant once Patrice Bergeron went down Oct. 27. Metropolit, the fourth-line center to start the season, has solidified his role as a No. 2 center, dependable faceoff man, and second-best penalty-killing forward behind P.J. Axelsson - the latter a duty he never had to fill before.
In his previous NHL stops (St. Louis, Atlanta, Washington, and Tampa Bay), Metropolit was considered a power-play guy who thought offense first. However, he trails only Axelsson in shorthanded ice time per game, averaging 2:52.
Julien, an assistant coach for Team Canada's 2006 World Championship entry, recalled deploying Metropolit on the penalty kill during that tournament.
"When you had [Sidney] Crosby and those kinds of guys, it was like, 'Sorry, you're not going to be playing the PP for us,' " said Julien with a smile. "We had to find a role for him. We got him on the PK.
"That's what I like about Metro. You give him a challenge? He loves it. 'Yeah, I'll do whatever you want me to do.' He takes pride in it. The effort is there. That's where Metro is extremely good and that's why he's being rewarded with that attitude."
During the six-game winning streak that ended last night, Metropolit, while paired mostly with Axelsson, was on the ice for the only power-play goal the Bruins allowed. Boston killed off 23 of 24 power plays (95.8 percent).
"You play safer," said Metropolit. "Simple plays, get it deep."
Metropolit also has been strong on the draw. In the last four games, he has won 42 of 62 faceoffs (67.7 percent).
Because of his 2007-08 performance (11-19 -30 in 65 games, one of four Bruins to appear in every match), Metropolit has put himself in play for an extension - and a raise. Metropolit said the Bruins have chatted with agent Larry Kelly about coming back next year, but nothing serious has been discussed. Metropolit said he's heard that other teams are interested if he doesn't re-sign.
"Keeps me working hard," Metropolit said. "Nothing will change that."
Sticking to it
Since a 4-1 win over Ottawa Jan. 31, Zdeno Chara has used an Easton stick instead of his Warrior, his former weapon of choice. During the 15-game stretch, Chara has scored eight goals, or 0.53 per match. Before the switch, Chara netted seven goals in 50 games (0.14 per outing), indicating that he'll be sticking with his Easton for some time. "Different feel," said Chara of the Easton, which he also used during his time in Ottawa.Still streaking
Two positives from last night's stinker: Marc Savard (assist) and Marco Sturm (goal) stretching their scoring streaks to eight games. Savard has 11 assists during the streak, while Sturm has four goals and seven assists . . . Julien flip-flopped Chuck Kobasew and Phil Kessel. Kessel, skating with Metropolit and Sturm, responded with a team-high five shots . . . Before the game, Tim Thomas was named the NHL's No. 2 Star of the Week for his 3-0-0, 0.97 goals-against average, and .962 save percentage in three home wins . . . Washington goalie Cristobal Huet improved his record to 4-0-0 against the Bruins this season, with three of those wins coming in a Montreal jersey. Huet (20 saves) was replaced by Olie Kolzig to start the third period because of back spasms, but they aren't considered serious.Split decision
Shawn Thornton took some lumps in the second period when he squared off with heavyweight Donald Brashear. Thornton landed several shots and scored the takedown, although Brashear connected with a flurry of lefts . . . Sturm, Chara, and Kessel were the only Bruins not to record a minus rating. On the flip side, every Capital except Sergei Fedorov, Boyd Gordon, and ex-Bruin Milan Jurcina recorded a point . . . Julien termed Andrew Alberts as "middle of the road" in his recovery from a neck injury. Alberts, who didn't travel to Washington, is still working out on his own under the watch of strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides . . . Peter Schaefer, Petteri Nokelainen, and Bobby Allen were the healthy scratches last night.Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com
