< Back to Front Page Text size – +

Thomas tonight

Email|Link|Comments (8) Posted by Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff December 23, 2008 12:30 PM

Tim Thomas was the first goalie off the ice this morning, indicating he will start tonight. Manny Fernandez had started the last two games.

* Patrice Bergeron remains at his Boston home today. He is still experiencing headaches.

* While the Bruins have played some less-than-stellar opponents lately, they will go up against a formidable club in New Jersey, which is 3-1-1 in its last five games. "[Martin Brodeur] is still a key element to that team," Claude Julien said. "But I think we're realizing that the rest of the team isn't bad either. You just watch them play and they're hard on the puck. Relentless. Don't give you much space. I think they're probably at their best right now."

Tonight's expected lineup:

Milan Lucic	Marc Savard	Phil Kessel
Blake Wheeler	David Krejci	Michael Ryder
P.J. Axelsson	Stephane Yelle	Chuck Kobasew
Vladimir Sobotka	Martin St. Pierre	Shawn Thornton

Mark Stuart	Zdeno Chara
Matt Lashoff	Dennis Wideman
Matt Hunwick	Shane Hnidy

Tim Thomas

Manny Fernandez

« Back to Front Page

8 comments so far...

Solid 4th line!! They're good for two tonite...

Posted by AD December 23, 08 12:46 PM

Anyone else out there rather see Sobotka, St. Pierre, and Kobasew as a 3rd line. Put PJ, Yelle, and Thornton as a solid checking line? I feel like Kobasew is more of a straight-forward player that would match well with Sob on the off wing. Missing Bergeron and Sturmy definately hurts the lineup, but its better to have those guys healthy come March.

Posted by IcedAdam December 23, 08 01:49 PM

Gonna be a tough game. Funny how having Bergeron out of the lineup really changes the complexion of the lines.

Posted by DoubleA December 23, 08 02:30 PM

No question about Bergy and Sturmy...but Sob and Pierre are full of pee and vinegar...So it's all good! Koby is a good fit just about anywhere you put him..

Posted by AD December 23, 08 03:14 PM

That's what I thought the other day too in the Blues game Adam. Not going to question CJ when the team is winning, but seems like Sobotka-St Pierre- Kobasew would be a good match.

Posted by DoubleA December 23, 08 03:22 PM

To me it looks like Julien is trying to have at least one large body on each line.

Posted by b&gbleeder December 23, 08 05:18 PM

I agree with IcedAdam and DoubleA...I'm a huge Axe guy but Kobasew's numbers are great when he's on lines with better players. When he came back from his leg injury, he went onto a line with Bergy and Ryder, put up points. Chuckie on a line with St. Pierre and Sobs would be a solid line, and Thornton, Yelle, and Axe would be a terrific shut-down line in terms of defense. Chuckie is a gifted scorer but he needs somebody to get him the puck.

That being said, I think tonight is going to be a terrific game.

Posted by Naoko Funayama > Rob Simpson December 23, 08 05:27 PM

"one large body on each line"

Now there's an idea.

Posted by Medford Mickey December 23, 08 10:17 PM