Fernandez's ritual: winning

Goalie belatedly proves he belongs

M. FERNANDEZVirtually healed

WILMINGTON - As a player, Claude Julien lived and breathed rituals.

"I was one of those birds that always dressed the same way - right pad, left pad, right skate, you know, everything; if I screwed up, I'd be mad at myself because I felt I wasn't mentally prepared," said the Bruins coach of his 1980s playing days.

Whether it be a certain meal or a preferred taping of a stick, such procedures are common among players.

Manny Fernandez used to employ such tactics. "It got out of hand, where every minute of my day was planned," he said.

Playing isn't necessarily a ritual for Fernandez. But that's fine. The Bruins can count on a stellar effort no matter who starts in net.

While Tim Thomas (6-2-2, 1.75 goals-against average) has played like an All-Star, Fernandez sports a 4-1-1 record and 2.31 GAA in six games, including Thursday's 6-1 thumping of the Canadiens. He and Thomas own an NHL-best combined 93.6 save percentage.

"Both guys are unbelievable right now," said Julien. "You put one in there, you put the other, they both do the same job."

At this time last year, Fernandez was $4.33 million of damaged goods. He sprained and tweaked his left knee, leaving him on the shelf for all but four games. He didn't know if his teammates believed he could do the job. "I come in, I'm half a goalie . . . " he said, his voice trailing. "If they did [doubt me], they did it in silence. I didn't want to know."

Fernandez platooned with Thomas the first eight games this season, then sat for five as Thomas posted two shutouts and four wins. But the 34-year-old Fernandez has played two of the last three, earning wins in both with steady 30- and 27-save efforts.

More important, his knee is minuscule increments away from being fully healed. "The amount that affects me is so small, I don't even notice it," he said.

Meaning he and Thomas will carry the Bruins for the long haul. "Over the course of 82 games, I really feel that if you can rely on guys to pitch in here and there, and they still do the job and you keep them fresh, you're way ahead of [a situation in which] a guy who played 60 or 70 games you expect to hold the fort in the playoffs," said Julien.

For the first time in a while, whether Thomas or Fernandez starts in net is irrelevant. And with five wins in a row, and eight in their last nine games, the plug-and-play Bruins have become creatures of a winning habit.

"The veteran players, we always get in conversation about it," said defenseman Aaron Ward. "We're always assessing things you need to change, things guys need to do to create better habits. The onus is always on the older guys to do those things. And the funny thing now is, it's just one of those things you leave alone. Extraordinary things are becoming very regular things now."

Players formerly known for skill and not snarl are getting in opponents' faces. Guys known to possess limited offensive skill are taking the puck to the net. If a shooting lane opens, someone - no matter who - is going to fill it.

"What was once sacrifice now becomes habit," said Ward. "Everybody's pulling the same rope."

Finally, after so much uncertainty, Fernandez is happy to lend a hand.

Defenseman Andrew Ference will miss tonight's game against the Rangers in New York after taking an Andrei Markov slapper off a leg in the second period Thursday.

"I think everybody knows he's been one of our most consistent defensemen since the start of the year," said Julien. "I think we've got to survive the loss of Andrew for this weekend - hopefully just this weekend. But I think Matt Hunwick has been getting better every game, and it's an opportunity for him to step in and do the job."

Hunwick was scratched Thursday, but played the three games before that while Shane Hnidy was out with a lower-body injury. "I think the past three games I've been in, I've just been trying to keep it simple," said the 23-year-old Hunwick. "Things are going well, so I'm just going to try to step in and be a positive player."

Shawn Thornton drew praise from Julien. Known for his grit, the winger upgraded his offense Thursday as he scored his first goal of the season, assisted on another, and was a fourth-line force from start to finish. "When he's out on the ice, I don't care if you're [Montreal's] Georges Laraque - Georges Laraque knows that if something's going to happen, [Thornton] is going to step in there," said the coach. "It makes your team bigger, you know?" . . . A Ranger to watch: right wing Nikolai Zherdev, traded from Columbus in July. "We haven't seen him," said Ward. "The easiest thing for a defenseman is familiarity. Even a guy like [Buffalo's Thomas] Vanek, as much as he dominates the league, you know what his tendencies are."