Kobasew fits in just fine

He's solid addition to Savard-Kessel

He was the same Chuck Kobasew on the ice - hard-charging, quick, tough to play against.

After his time in the spotlight, it would be a fallacy to assume the Bruins winger would alter his reserved nature after he and his teammates defeated the Senators, 6-4, last night.

The stoic 26-year-old didn't think he did anything exceptional against Ottawa. Playing on the top line for the first time all season, a right shot playing his off wing, Kobasew was expected to bring grit and speed to the Marc Savard-Phil Kessel combo.

He delivered, pitching in a goal and an assist to help the Bruins get off a two-game slide.

"It's big to get a win," he said. "We hadn't played so well in the last couple of games. We had to find a way to win tonight."

Coach Claude Julien has kept playmaker Savard and finisher Kessel together most of the season. The other ingredient, a gritty type to create space for the two dynamos, has changed a few times. Like Milan Lucic and P.J. Axelsson before him, Kobasew brings the tools necessary to play with the two stars. Playing with them could raise his game as well.

"For me, it was somehow finding a little spark for him, and I thought if he could play the way we know he can, he can really help that line become better," said Julien.

The Bruins came out flying, pinning a goal on their shellshocked opponents 2:20 into the game. Less than two minutes later, Kessel came up the ice with speed against Ottawa defender Alexandre Picard, who backed off and allowed Kessel to feed Dennis Wideman, who sent the puck across the high slot. It bounced toward goalie Martin Gerber, and with Kobasew bearing down, the puck crossed the line for Kobasew's seventh goal of the season.

"Kess made a nice play over to Wideman," Kobasew said. "I was just going to the net and Dennis found me. I think I got a heel on it and it ping-ponged its way in there. I don't know exactly how it went in, but I'm glad it went in."

After David Krejci's tiebreaking goal in the third period, Savard made it 5-3 thanks to Kobasew's efforts.

The winger took a blast from Ottawa defenseman Jason Smith along the boards, but the puck skittered across the slot to Savard. With Smith out of the play, Savard had ample time to move in and deke Gerber for the goal.

"He took a good one there," said Savard of the jarring hit Kobasew endured. "I thought when I looked at him, his nose was off his face after the goal."

"I thought, 'Geez, I better put this one in because he's not going to be a happy camper over there,' " said Savard. Kobasew was flat on the ice as his teammates celebrated.

"That was a great play by him," said Savard. "I said to him right away that it was all him."

It's little known that Kobasew's first name is not Charles; his full name is Nicolas James Kobasew. After the game, someone suggested he might take on a new moniker to replace "Chucky." Something with a little more flash, a little more spotlight-worthy. At least something that captures the spirit of his game.

How about "Kamikaze"?

"I doubt it," said Kobasew.

Nope, Chuck will do just fine.