Shoulder injury for Thornton
He's questionable for Thrashers
ATLANTA - He was forced to the sideline for three games because of a stick-related suspension, and Bruins center Joe Thornton said he couldn't stand being out of the mix.
Tonight, he expected to be in the lineup when the Bruins take on the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena. However, that may have to wait. Thornton banged up his shoulder during practice yesterday morning and coach Robbie Ftorek labeled him as questionable.
''He just fell,'' said Ftorek. ''I went down and [trainer Don Del Negro] just said he hurt his shoulder and was going to the room. I went in to see him and asked him how he was doing and he said, `Bad.' I said, `What's the deal?' and he said it was sore. I told him to keep the ice to it and we'll see how it is [this morning]. So that's where it stands right now.''
With Thornton going down, Ftorek couldn't accomplish his objective for the workout, which was to work on the power play.
''It's not the best thing in the world for us because we had the power-play units ready to go and work on them and then we had to make some changes there,'' said the coach.
''He might be all right, who the heck knows? It could be something like you get a shot in the foot and it's sore and you can't walk on it but you can skate on it or you can't skate on it but you can walk on it. Well, his shoulder is sore, but who knows what some ice is going to do?''
Ftorek said no X-rays were taken yesterday but it's possible Thornton could have some either today or when the team returns to Boston.
''Right now, they didn't even think about getting X-rays on it,'' Ftorek said. ''If a guy breaks something, then it's easy. It's six weeks and away you go. There's nothing worse than bruises or strains and pulls.''
Speaking of those, right wing Martin Lapointe aggravated his left hamstring Wednesday night against the Canadiens and is almost certainly out for tonight. Lapointe was playing just his second game after missing a month because of the injury.
Lapointe played a terrific game against Montreal, logging 17 minutes 15 seconds over 22 shifts. He had one goal and one assist with three shots on net.
''I don't see him being able to play,'' said Ftorek.
The only good news was that forward Rob Zamuner, who missed the past two games because of an injured hip flexor, practiced and felt fine afterward, meaning he should be able to step in for Lapointe against the Thrashers.
''But if [Zamuner] doesn't feel good and Joey can't go, we'd have to bring somebody in,'' said Ftorek.
It has been a rough road for the Bruins since the Olympic break. In the eight games leading up to the recess, Boston was rolling with a 6-1-1 record. Since they've come back, they have lost four in a row and are winless in five (0-4-1).
Ftorek admitted the Olympic Games, as thrilling as they were, put them a bit behind the 8-ball.
''The worst thing about the break was we didn't get an opportunity to work on the power play because we had so many guys [in Salt Lake],'' said Ftorek. ''That's a good thing on the one side but a tough thing on the other. You could see it with Montreal, how their power play worked really well. We didn't maybe kill the best during the five-on-three, we spread out a little too much, but their power play was very well done and that's what five days of being able to practice it will do.
''I'd rather not see pros play, but if that's the way the Olympic committee votes on it, then so be it, let's do it. You have to adjust your teams accordingly after that. I'm not saying I'd vote for it. But if the committee says they want pros, then fine.
''Myself, the Olympics are for amateurs, and that's the way I look at it, but I know times change. The dollar dictates that. You can say you don't like it but it's not going to change it.''
He's questionable for Thrashers
ATLANTA - He was forced to the sideline for three games because of a stick-related suspension, and Bruins center Joe Thornton said he couldn't stand being out of the mix.
Tonight, he expected to be in the lineup when the Bruins take on the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena. However, that may have to wait. Thornton banged up his shoulder during practice yesterday morning and coach Robbie Ftorek labeled him as questionable.
''He just fell,'' said Ftorek. ''I went down and [trainer Don Del Negro] just said he hurt his shoulder and was going to the room. I went in to see him and asked him how he was doing and he said, `Bad.' I said, `What's the deal?' and he said it was sore. I told him to keep the ice to it and we'll see how it is [this morning]. So that's where it stands right now.''
With Thornton going down, Ftorek couldn't accomplish his objective for the workout, which was to work on the power play.
''It's not the best thing in the world for us because we had the power-play units ready to go and work on them and then we had to make some changes there,'' said the coach.
''He might be all right, who the heck knows? It could be something like you get a shot in the foot and it's sore and you can't walk on it but you can skate on it or you can't skate on it but you can walk on it. Well, his shoulder is sore, but who knows what some ice is going to do?''
Ftorek said no X-rays were taken yesterday but it's possible Thornton could have some either today or when the team returns to Boston.
''Right now, they didn't even think about getting X-rays on it,'' Ftorek said. ''If a guy breaks something, then it's easy. It's six weeks and away you go. There's nothing worse than bruises or strains and pulls.''
Speaking of those, right wing Martin Lapointe aggravated his left hamstring Wednesday night against the Canadiens and is almost certainly out for tonight. Lapointe was playing just his second game after missing a month because of the injury.
Lapointe played a terrific game against Montreal, logging 17 minutes 15 seconds over 22 shifts. He had one goal and one assist with three shots on net.
''I don't see him being able to play,'' said Ftorek.
The only good news was that forward Rob Zamuner, who missed the past two games because of an injured hip flexor, practiced and felt fine afterward, meaning he should be able to step in for Lapointe against the Thrashers.
''But if [Zamuner] doesn't feel good and Joey can't go, we'd have to bring somebody in,'' said Ftorek.
It has been a rough road for the Bruins since the Olympic break. In the eight games leading up to the recess, Boston was rolling with a 6-1-1 record. Since they've come back, they have lost four in a row and are winless in five (0-4-1).
Ftorek admitted the Olympic Games, as thrilling as they were, put them a bit behind the 8-ball.
''The worst thing about the break was we didn't get an opportunity to work on the power play because we had so many guys [in Salt Lake],'' said Ftorek. ''That's a good thing on the one side but a tough thing on the other. You could see it with Montreal, how their power play worked really well. We didn't maybe kill the best during the five-on-three, we spread out a little too much, but their power play was very well done and that's what five days of being able to practice it will do.
''I'd rather not see pros play, but if that's the way the Olympic committee votes on it, then so be it, let's do it. You have to adjust your teams accordingly after that. I'm not saying I'd vote for it. But if the committee says they want pros, then fine.
''Myself, the Olympics are for amateurs, and that's the way I look at it, but I know times change. The dollar dictates that. You can say you don't like it but it's not going to change it.''
