Farm work for Sobotka

Forward packed off to Providence

WILMINGTON - After practice yesterday at Ristuccia Arena, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli entered the dressing room, spotted forward Vladimir Sobotka, and motioned him over.

As he followed the GM, the second-year pro, a healthy scratch for the last five games, had a good idea what was coming: an assignment to Providence, bundled with the possibility of a quick return back to Boston.

"I didn't play here for the last five games, so I'm going to go down to Providence, and they're probably going to call me back up after Sunday," Sobotka said.

Sobotka was the club's final cut prior to the regular season. But after only two games with Providence, including a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight) in his second game, Sobotka was recalled Oct. 14 after Chuck Kobasew (fractured ankle) was shelved.

But Sobotka (0-0 -0 in five NHL games) was destined for the press box once Petteri Nokelainen, slowed by a groin pull during the preseason, found his game and became a fixture on the fourth line alongside Stephane Yelle and Shawn Thornton. Nokelainen is scoreless through nine games, but has landed 10 hits, third-most among Boston forwards.

"[Nokelainen's] a big, strong player," coach Claude Julien said. "What happened to him, probably, was that he suffered a minor injury during training camp that set him back a little bit. He started playing in a groove again. He's a good, strong power forward and capable of scoring some goals. He's very good around the net with tipping pucks in. He showed that last year. Hopefully that part of his game is going to come as well."

Nokelainen's performance, combined with the impending return of Kobasew - the right wing was the fourth forward yesterday on a line with P.J. Axelsson, Patrice Bergeron, and Michael Ryder - made Sobotka the 14th forward for a coach and GM who prefer to carry only 13 on the NHL roster.

In Providence, Sobotka and his AHL teammates will play three straight games this weekend: at home against Chicago Friday, at Albany Saturday, and back at the Dunkin' Donuts Center against Philadelphia Sunday. Sobotka will serve as a top-two center, with ice time expected on the power play and penalty kill. Sobotka had been averaging only 9:13 of action per game in Boston.

"We're fortunate to have our farm team so close, as it's just a short drive away," Julien said. "We're able to send those guys there, play a few games, then bring them back. At least they get a few games under their belt.

"Right now, we've talked about how our lineup is and how well a lot of players have played, but also the fact that we're healthy right now. We know that will change as we move on here. It's impossible not to get into some type of injuries.

"He'll get a chance to play, but we've got to get him an opportunity to step in there and be comfortable and have played some games at some point. I think going to Providence is certainly going to be a positive for him."

Leaf peeping

They are without Mats Sundin, their longtime captain. Defenseman Bryan McCabe was traded to Florida. Grinding forward Darcy Tucker signed with Colorado. Coach Paul Maurice was fired and replaced by Ron Wilson.

Despite all the turnover, the feisty Maple Leafs trail the Bruins by only 2 points in the Eastern Conference and will look to gain their second win over their Northeast Division opponents tomorrow at TD Banknorth Garden. On Oct. 23, Toronto scored a 4-2 win over Boston at the Garden in one of the Bruins' worst efforts of the season.

"It doesn't matter what you have on paper," Julien said. "When you go out and compete as hard as they do, you give yourself a chance to win. I think that was probably our team last year.

"Everybody saw this team as a last-place team and we weren't going to be in the playoffs. We went out there every night and competed hard, gave ourselves a chance, and we were fortunate enough to make the playoffs.

"Right now, it's something we have to understand - that there's another team out there that's coming back again that gave us a lesson last time that we gave other teams last year."

Off-ice session

After practice, Bergeron addressed students from French classes from the Marblehead Veterans Middle School that attended the session. Students asked Bergeron questions in French, which the center answered in his first language, then repeated in English . . . Julien said the team would make a final decision tomorrow on whether Kobasew can dress against Toronto . . . Three Bruins are on the 103-player All-Star ballot released yesterday by the NHL: Bergeron, Marc Savard, and Zdeno Chara. Tim Thomas, an All-Star last year for the first time, is not on the ballot.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com