Bruins notebook

They're getting more possessive

Marc Savard, who had a goal and two assists, checks in with Pittsburgh's Brooks Orpik in the second period. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

By Fluto Shinzawa

Globe Staff / December 31, 2008

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PITTSBURGH - Not even halfway through 2008-09, Tim Thomas feels fresher than he did last season.

Thomas can credit the presence of Manny Fernandez, with whom he has formed the most powerful goaltending tandem in the game. But Thomas also tips his helmet to his teammates for controlling the puck far more than they did last year. That has allowed him to sit back in his crease, relax, and watch the show.

"You get more of a break when you're in goal," Thomas said.

While the NHL doesn't track time of possession, the Bruins' offensive numbers indicate they have had the puck more this year than they did last season. By scoring five times last night, the Bruins jacked up their output to 3.65 goals per game, a Zdeno Chara-sized bump from the 2.51 goals they scored in 2007-08.

The Red Wings seemingly have mastered the art of puck possession. Their skilled defensemen retrieve pucks smoothly. They hit their on-the-fly forwards with outlet passes in center ice. The forwards carry the puck into the offensive zone with speed and swarm opposing netminders. Even when a play isn't available for the Wings, they backtrack, regroup, and try to restart the flow.

The Bruins, in contrast, have featured a more lunchpail version of puck possession that, while missing the grace of Detroit's game, has been just as effective in wearing down opponents.

"It's not like we have the puck all the time," Thomas said. "And it's not like we want to regroup, set it up, and try again, which is Detroit's tendency. That Russian influence."

Boston's puck-possession philosophy starts in the back end with goalies and defensemen. Thomas and Fernandez have been instructed not to clear the zone when they leave the crease to play the puck. Instead, they are encouraged to hit their defensemen with crisp passes. Similarly, the defensemen are instructed not to rim the puck wildly around the wall except in last-ditch situations.

Once the defensemen gain control, they can break the puck out to their forwards, who can stickhandle into the offensive zone. Or they can throw dump-ins deep, turn defensemen around, and barrel after the puck with their straight-line approach - their preferred method of attack.

Once the Bruins have the puck in the offensive zone, they cycle. They use their point men effectively to get defenders moving and create seams. And they turn to their skilled players - Marc Savard, David Krejci, Phil Kessel, Blake Wheeler, Michael Ryder - to handle the puck, make plays, and create scoring chances. Last night, the Bruins pumped 40 shots on goal, including 13 power-play attempts.

"I think we're a puck-possession team because of our size, speed, and ability to battle in the offensive zone," said Aaron Ward. "I think for us, it's getting the puck in a position where you can get it back.

"Where [Detroit] is being overly creative in the neutral zone, we're straight-forward, straight-ahead, chip the puck behind the defensemen, and all three guys find their place."

Welcome back, Hal

Former Bruin Hal Gill, out since Dec. 6 with a bum shoulder, returned to the Pittsburgh lineup last night. "I don't know what was more frustrating, missing three weeks or rooting for the Jets," cracked the Bolton, Mass., native. Gill was one of seven defensemen who dressed for the Penguins last night . . . In the second period, Krejci stretched his points streak to nine. During a four-on-three power play, Krejci stickhandled down the left wing and slid a cross-crease pass to Savard, who roofed a shot over goalie Marc-Andre Fleury . . . Bruins director of hockey operations and player development Don Sweeney, making a rare road trip with the team, hadn't seen a replay of the five-minute major penalty that prospect Denis Reul took Monday at the World Junior Championship. Reul, playing for Team Germany, decked Canada's Angelo Esposito from behind. Reul is the only Boston prospect participating in the world juniors . . . Work is progressing across the street from Mellon Arena on the Consol Energy Center, the Penguins' new rink, which is scheduled to open in 2010-11.

Featured bout

At 16:57 of the third period, Milan Lucic cuffed Tim Wallace on the head, prompting the Pittsburgh forward to remove his helmet and gloves. Lucic did the same and the two went at it, with the smaller Wallace (6 feet 1 inch, 207 pounds) hanging in well against his bigger opponent. "They're a proud team," said Bruins coach Claude Julien. "They're certainly not going to roll over and die." . . . Last night, Pittsburgh center Jordan Staal became the youngest player in league history to appear in 200 NHL games. At 20 years, 111 days, he surpassed San Jose's Patrick Marleau, who was 20 years, 115 days when he hit the milestone in 1999-2000. "It came up pretty quickly," Staal said. "I didn't really realize it until [Tuesday]." . . . Willie O'Ree, who broke the NHL's color barrier with the Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958, was named to the Order of Canada yesterday by Governor General Michaelle Jean.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com.