Ex-Bruin Brad Stuart scored the game-winning goal at 12:23 of the third period as the Bruins dropped their second straight preseason game. Tim Thomas, making his first preseason start, stopped 36 shots, but wasn't at his sharpest.

"Definitely some things to work on," said Thomas. "I was a little rusty out there. Some decent things. But that's what you have training camp and exhibition games for."

Specifically, Thomas said he needs to practice spotting pucks in traffic. He was screened on the first and fourth goals.

"When you're not on as a goalie, you make the screen," Thomas said. "I don't think [his defensemen] did anything wrong. It was more me. You allow yourself to be screened. That's something that comes with practice."

Claude Julien acknowledged Thomas didn't play his best, but said he wasn't concerned about his goalie.

* Henrik Zetterberg broke a 2-2 tie in the third period when he scored a shorthanded goal on Thomas. Zetterberg wheeled around Aaron Ward and was foiled by Thomas on the backhand, but turned around and swept a forehand shot through the goalie.

* Another solid game from Blake Wheeler, one of the brightest young players in training camp. Wheeler played on the left side tonight and played with some jam along the boards. Wheeler also used his straight-line speed to give himself several scoring chances. "When you're coming into this for the first time, you have to take a couple deep breaths and remind yourself that you belong out there, play as hard as you can, play your game, and let the rest take care of itself," Wheeler said. "You start looking around at the Zetterbergs out there and the all-world players, you start thinking, 'Oh man, what am I doing out here?' It was great to be out there with guys like that. But at the same time, you've got to go out there like you belong."

STICK SALUTE: Martin St. Pierre. The center scored a goal and an assist in his first preseason game. He's destined for Providence out of camp, but given his shifty and clever play, St. Pierre could be a mid-season call-up if injury strikes.

SIN BIN: Matt Lashoff. The young defenseman committed several turnovers and took a holding penalty at 17:30 of the third to prevent the Bruins from pulling Thomas earlier.