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Boston’s Guillaume Lefebvre and Montreal’s Gregory Stewart mixed it up last night. (Paul Chiasson/Associated Press) |
Bruins notebook
Thornton has been a nice fit
Wing’s preference is to stay in Boston
MONTREAL - Shawn Thornton is in the last season of a three-year contract. He is a former Maple Leaf, having been selected in the seventh round of the 1997 draft by Toronto. He played in the organization through the 2000-01 season, although he never dressed for the big club. He has a history with Toronto general manager Brian Burke, his former boss in Anaheim. He plays the hard-hat style Burke prefers. He hails from Oshawa, Ontario, about a 20-minute drive from Toronto.
Thornton, however, thinks of himself as two things: a Bruin and an adopted Bostonian.
“I love this city,’’ said Thornton. “We bought a house here when I signed here. We’re kind of settled here. I don’t want to go anywhere.’’
Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has always liked Thornton’s game. During the 2006-07 season, when Thornton was in the Anaheim organization, Chiarelli inquired with Burke about the forward’s availability. A trade never took place and Thornton finished the season by hoisting the Stanley Cup, proving to be a valuable member of the championship squad because of his toughness, skating, and ability to be a good teammate.
Less than a month later, Chiarelli went after Thornton again. On July 1, 2007, Thornton signed the three-year deal worth $517,000 annually. It was his first multiyear deal and first one-way contract. So far, it has been a bang-for-the-buck acquisition - with emphasis on the bang - for the Bruins, who have gotten everything they’ve asked of the character wing.
In his first season as a Bruin, Thornton made 58 appearances and put up a 4-3 -7 line with 74 penalty minutes. Last season, he appeared in 79 games, collecting six goals and five assists while logging 123 PIMs.
Thornton has played both wings on the fourth line. Because of his thump-first game, he has been an effective forechecker, a dependable backchecker, and a somewhat surprising source of scoring chances. Thornton has been willing to take on all challengers, including heavyweights such as Montreal’s Georges Laraque. He has been a strong presence in the dressing room.
Now, Thornton is pursuing another contract.
“It’s always in the back of your head,’’ Thornton said. “But I’ve just to go out and help the team win. That helps everyone, you know?’’
Krejci 50-50
David Krejci has yet to appear in an exhibition game, and coach Claude Julien said it’s a long shot that he will dress for tomorrow’s preseason finale against Columbus at TD Garden.But when the coach looks ahead to Thursday’s regular-season opener against Washington, he hasn’t eliminated Krejci from being in the lineup.
“As we speak today, I’d probably put him at close to a 50-50 chance,’’ Julien said.
Krejci has been practicing with the team as he recovers from offseason hip surgery. He joined the team on the two-game swing to Montreal and Ottawa, and will continue to skate with his teammates.
“I think he’s at the stage where we can start pushing him a little harder and hopefully get him back as soon as we can,’’ Julien said.
While Julien continues to tinker with his lines, it’s likely that Krejci will center Blake Wheeler and Michael Ryder when he’s back to full health.
Thomas shines
Tim Thomas, shaky in his only other preseason start (against the Rangers last week), was back to his old self last night at the Bell Centre. Thomas turned aside 33 of 34 shots to backstop the Bruins to a 2-1 shootout win over the Canadiens. In the shootout, Thomas stopped Matt D’Agostini, Tomas Plekanec, and Scott Gomez. After the win, Thomas thanked goaltending coach Bob Essensa for steering him in the right direction during practice. “He’s shown confidence in me,’’ Thomas said. “Not that I was really worried, either. But obviously after last Saturday, it showed that I definitely had some work to do to get back ready. This shows it’s a step in the right direction.’’ . . . Mark Stuart scored the only regulation goal, while Patrice Bergeron netted the lone shootout strike . . . After some so-so efforts, Vladimir Sobotka emerged last night to play his best preseason game. Sobotka, centering Brad Marchand and Jeff LoVecchio, landed four hits and put two shots on goal in 15:09 of ice time. “By far, that was his best game,’’ said Julien. “I thought he competed well. He looked more like the Vladdy that we saw a few years ago. It was nice to see. He’s got to find that confidence of playing and competing like he did for us a few years ago.’’Chara, Begin sit out
Zdeno Chara and Steve Begin, slowed by groin discomfort, didn’t play last night, but accompanied the team on the trip. Julien said he’s expecting Chara to play tonight against Ottawa. Julien said Begin is a little farther away than Chara . . . Andrew Ference declined to comment on any NHLPA matters. Ference has come under fire from teammate Mark Recchi and ex-Bruin Brad Park for his involvement in the ouster of former Players Association executive director Paul Kelly . . . Wheeler was in the lineup last night after leaving practice Wednesday when he was struck around the right eye by a puck. Wheeler wore a shield to protect the eye . . . Longtime Montreal defenseman Patrice Brisebois announced his retirement yesterday. Brisebois, who appeared in 1,009 career games, was honored in a pregame ceremony.
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