When the Bruins come out before their fans tonight to play against the Nashville Predators, there are going to be some familiar faces missing and some new faces around. Some of those new faces will be here permanently, so keep a close eye on their play tonight. The Bruins will be without Milan Lucic (broken finger, LTIR) and Marc Savard (broken foot, LTIR). Shawn Thornton is doubtful for the game with an undisclosed injury.
The Bruins are coming home for one game after a two-game road trip in Dallas and Phoenix. The Coyotes beat the Bruins 4-1 on Saturday. The Predators are coming off a 4-3 shootout lost against the Washington Capitals. (Had to confirm with my Predators fan friend because I closed game notes already.)
Goalies: *
Nashville: Dan Ellis (2-1-1, 2.80 GAA, .903 Sv%); Pekka Rinne (0-3-0, 3.46 GAA, .894 Sv%)
Boston: Tim Thomas (2-3-0, 3.20 GAA, .896 Sv%); Tuukka Rask (1-1-0, 3.39 GAA, .883 Sv%)
*Starters are underlined.
Injuries: Savard and Lucic are out. Thornton is doubtful.
Need to Know: After Chuck Kobasew was traded, the Bruins recalled Vladimir Sobotka and Brad Marchand. The Bruins acquired Daniel Paille from Buffalo, who will be wearing #20. Trent Whitfield was recalled today on emergency basis and will be wearing #42. Craig Weller (acquired in the Kobasew traded) and Guillaume Lefebvre were assigned to Providence. Dennis Wideman will be returning to the line-up.
Debuts: Marchand will be playing in his first NHL game tonight. Whitfield and Paille will be playing in their first games as Bruins.
The Bruins will have a bit of a test tonight without their number one center in the line-up and a few new additions. It will be interesting to see how they match up against the Predators, who are without Jason Arnott. We all know injuries happen, but to lose Lucic and Savard in the same week, as well as a couple of trades, it's a lot to get used to.
The Bruins will travel to Philadelphia for a game tomorrow. This is their second set of back-to-back games of the season, and of the week.
Tim Thomas showed what our "back Up" players can do, why are so many Bruins fans on the negativity!