Bruins notebook

No details on Ryder surgery

Winger undergoes facial procedure

By Kevin Paul Dupont

Globe Staff / February 10, 2009

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WILMINGTON - Bruins right winger Michael Ryder, felled by a high stick last Thursday night in Ottawa, underwent surgery yesterday to repair a facial fracture, details of which the club won't reveal until this morning.

According to a media advisory e-mailed by the club, Ryder had a "facial bone" repaired. The e-mail did not note where the surgery took place, by whom it was performed, which bone was damaged, or how long the 28-year-old will need to recover.

A barebones update, at best.

Ryder was struck by Antoine Vermette's errant high stick late in Boston's 4-3 shootout win at Ottawa. Bleeding profusely, Ryder quickly left the ice for medical attention and did not return. Coach Claude Julien announced Saturday, prior to a matinee vs. the Flyers at the Garden, that Ryder sustained a "fresh fracture" in the nose and eye area, but the coach did not specify which bone or how long Ryder could be sidelined.

Oftentimes, the eye socket, consisting of seven bones, sustains a fracture in blunt force accidents. The circumference of the eye socket varies in thickness and is almost paper-thin in some areas. The stretch of bone beneath the eye acts as its main support.

Joe Thornton, here tonight with the San Jose Sharks, sustained a fractured orbital bone (part of the eye socket) in January 2004 when the then-Bruin took a net-front beating at the hands of Eric Lindros. Three days later, Jumbo Joe required surgery and sat out three games following the repair.

Ryder, slow to get his offensive game going at the start of the season, is up to 19 goals and 36 points. He is tied for third on the team in goals with David Krejci but had only two in his last 10 games.

"He's been criticized in the past for not having an all-around game," noted Julien. "But we see him out there throwing his body around, battling for pucks."

He's back

Much of the hubbub in the Bruins' dressing room after the morning workout centered on Thornton's return to Garden ice, only his second time on Causeway Street since the November 2005 deal that sent him to San Jose for Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau, and Brad Stuart.

"It's going to be fun, nice," said P.J. Axelsson, who reported to Bruins training camp in September '97 with Thornton, the two forwards both rookies.

Thornton's only other visit in teal came Jan. 11, 2006, and he lasted only until the 5:13 mark, his night coming to an end when he hammered ex-teammate Hal Gill into the boards. The shot was deemed a hit from behind, and the towering center received a game misconduct, one the league later redacted from his record when it was determined the check was not as dirty as it first appeared. Even without Thornton, the Sharks prevailed, 6-2.

It's a good bet that Julien will roll out Zdeno Chara for nearly every one of Thornton's shifts. Big Z typically is paired against the opponent's top trio.

"It's a job that we all have to do - not just one guy," said Chara, whose long reach could have a way of playing havoc with Thornton's propensity to deliver passes from the right-wing half-wall (prime Chara territory in the defensive end). "It's going to be an exciting game. It's going to be challenging."

Tim Thomas, expected to start in the Boston net, became a regular in Boston in the weeks after Thornton was dealt. However, "Tank" recalls being with Thornton in a few of Boston's training camps, during which time he became somewhat versed on the big man's on-ice strengths.

"The best thing he does is getting passes to guys when they're in scoring position," said Thomas. "And not just passes, but passes to guys when they're in great places on the ice - and you don't know which guy it will be, either."

Marco's mark

Sturm, the only ex-Shark left in Boston from the Thornton trade, has scored 84 goals in 226 games since leaving the Bay area. Thornton has scored 83 goals in 272 games since the trade. Sturm won't be back this year, after undergoing knee surgery, but he has two more years on his contract at $3.5 million per season . . . Thornton, with only 85 shots on net this season, is on a pace for a total of 140, which would be his lowest tally since his second year in the league, when he squeezed off only 128 in 81 games with the Bruins . . . Rookie winger Blake Wheeler, benched for most of the third period in Saturday's OT loss to the Flyers, practiced on a trio with David Krejci and Petteri Nokelainen . . . Shawn Thornton skated on the crash-and-bang line with Stephane Yelle and Byron Bitz . . . Julien made note that the "flu bug" continues to make its way around the team, in part why he would not commit to rolling out the same lines in tonight's game. With Ryder banged up, the club is down to 12 forwards, but Julien suggested that a forward could be recalled quickly from Providence . . . All seven defensemen skated in the one-hour workout, with either Shane Hnidy or Matt Hunwick the most likely to be scratched.

Facing up to it

Asked if Ryder would wear a cage or protective visor upon his return, Julien said that "is a no-brainer." . . . Word from the ticket office: not a single ticket is available for tonight's teal tilt . . . Julien said after Saturday's loss to the Flyers that he felt his club looked tired. "I think we've played something like eight games in 12 days," said Chara, asked about Julien's comments. "So, it's possible. Sometimes, when you are playing back-to-back afternoon games, here in Boston, then in Canada, maybe it is tiring, and you don't feel fresh." Added Julien: "We seemed to have more energy today." Julien noted that the players had time off Saturday following the matinee, and also were off all day Sunday . . . Asked if he ever played against Claude Lemieux, who is now suiting up for the Sharks, Julien said with a smile, "Yes, and I made one of the dumbest comments I've made to a player. And I'll leave it at that." The comment, Julien later added, was made in the penalty box. Lemieux, 43, is playing his first NHL hockey since 2002-03. In six games thus far, he has yet to register a point.

Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at dupont@globe.com.