BRUINS NOTEBOOK

In his debut, Bitz helps cause

He conquers nerves and assists on a goal

Bruins goalie Tim Thomas has the Canadiens' Gregory Stewart well covered - and just for safe measure, Dennis Wideman knocks the net off its pins. (Globe Staff Photo / Barry Chin)

By Fluto Shinzawa

Globe Staff / April 21, 2009

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MONTREAL - At 13:16 of last night's second period, Byron Bitz led with his stick and got his blade in Alex Kovalev's skate. Kovalev went down, the Canadiens went on the power play, and Bitz found himself in forbidden territory for a fourth-liner during a 2-2 game: the penalty box.

"It was the right call," said Bitz. "It was a tough break."

It already had been a doozy of a day for the rookie. Because of Milan Lucic's one-game suspension for delivering a head shot to Maxim Lapierre in Game 2, Bitz was making his NHL playoff debut.

Even before a walk to the rink with Shawn Thornton (his linemate limited him to one cup of coffee), Bitz knew last night wouldn't be just another game. When he stepped onto the ice come game time, that feeling was affirmed.

"The hair on the back of your neck stands up," Bitz said. "It's an unbelievable feeling. You watch the playoffs on TV growing up. You sit there and you feel that emotion. But when you're out there, it's the best feeling in the world."

The Bruins killed off Bitz's penalty to keep the score tied, then Michael Ryder scored the winning goal at 17:21 of the period.

"They picked me up with a big kill," Bitz said. "That's what our team is all about. Guys step up for each other."

Earlier in the second, Bitz recorded his first postseason point. Bitz won a puck battle with defenseman Yannick Weber deep in the offensive zone along the boards. He used his 6-foot-5-inch, 215-pound frame to protect the puck and keep Weber from regaining position.

As Bitz was cycling, Thornton drifted back as the third man high, ready to hustle back if the Canadiens won the puck. But when Bitz stepped into the corner, leaving Weber several strides behind, Thornton cut back into a seam. Bitz fed Thornton and the Boston tough guy slung a shot past Montreal goalie Carey Price, giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead.

"Obviously this guy played an extremely good game for us tonight," said coach Claude Julien. "You just have to look as far as the play he made on Thornton's goal and how strong he was along the boards."

Control issues

As upset as Lucic was about being in suit and tie instead of Black and Gold, he was even more troubled that he put himself in position to suffer the judgment of NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell.

"Little bit disappointed in myself," said Lucic. "I think our team's done a really good job about being disciplined this whole series. So I'm a little disappointed that way."

Lucic, one of the organization's most dominant big-game players despite his cub status, was given a match penalty for the Lapierre hit in Game 2. He explained that he was jostling with Mathieu Schneider when he saw Lapierre coming for him. Lucic reacted and got his stick and gloves high, delivering what Campbell deemed a head shot.

"He's got to be more careful with his stick," said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli. "We talked about composure. My sense is that had he just hit him with the glove, not with the stick, he probably would have gotten off.

"He was very disappointed in himself. Our coaching staff has been preaching composure. That's something we expect to carry forward throughout the series."

A spin for Ference

Andrew Ference, out with a lower-body injury since April 4, took a few spins following the Bruins' morning skate. It was the first time Ference skated since the injury. "Few laps, touched the puck, knocked a little cement off," said Ference. "It was good." Ference is not expected to be available for tomorrow's Game 4 . . . Blake Wheeler, on the fourth line for Games 1 and 2, moved up to his old spot on the left wing with David Krejci and Michael Ryder. Wheeler had one shot in 14:06 of ice time. "As long as the end result is the same from the first two games, that's all that really matters this time of year," Wheeler said. "All year we've had guys step into different roles and played different spots in our lineup, and we've been successful with it. It's really all about just winning. I don't think anyone's concerned about being on the first, second, third, or fourth line." . . . Only two teams in NHL history have come back from 0-3 deficits: Toronto in 1941-42 and the 1974-75 Islanders . . . Steve Montador led all players with nine blocked shots . . . Marc Savard committed a game-high five giveaways.

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