Kobasew back tonight

Chuck Kobasew, who missed the last two games with a groin injury, will return to the lineup tonight against Pittsburgh. Kobasew skated with David Krejci and Milan Lucic during the morning skate.

Claude Julien didn't tip his hand on who will not play tonight, but the guess is that Peter Schaefer and Petteri Nokelainen will be the healthy scratches.

* Tim Thomas will start tonight.

* Shane Hnidy was the only Bruin not to skate this morning. Julien said it was a minor issue and that Hnidy will be at TD Banknorth Garden tonight.

Tonight's expected lineup:

Axelsson-Savard-Murray
Sturm-Metropolit-Kessel
Lucic-Krejci-Kobasew
Reich-Sobotka-Thornton

Chara-Wideman
Ference-Ward
Stuart-Hnidy

Thomas