Guillaume Lefebvre, summoned this morning from Providence (AHL), worked out today in Boston's optional skate at Wachovia Center and will be available for duty tonight when the Bruins face the Flyers.
''He's here not necessarily as insurance,'' said Boston coach Claude Julien, hoping to build on his squad's 3-2 win the night before over Nashville. ''But he's going to be a game-time decision.''
Meanwhile, injured winger Shawn Thornton, who sat out the Wednesday win at the Garden, was among the last of the Boston players to leave the ice here this morning. Though smiling and effervescent as always, the gritty winger would not say if he would be up and at 'em for tonight's game.
''You know I can't answer that kind of question,'' said a smiling Thorny.
If Thornton is deemed not ready, look for Lefebvre to get the call, possibly at the expense of newcomer Trent Whitfield moving to the sidlelines. The Flyers remain one of the game's edgier groups and Julien likely will prefer to get added muscle into the lineup, be that Thornton or Lefebvre.
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Tim Thomas, the winner in net the night before, was not among the 13 Bruins to take advantage of the ice here this morning. His understudy, Tuukka Rask, fielded shots form the other dozen Bruins.
No telling whether Thomas or Rask will get the call tonight, but Thomas could be the better bet in that Julien is searching for any trace of momentum at the moment and Thomas came up big with a couple of sparking saves late in the win over the Preds.
Boston forwards on the ice this morning: Byron Bitz, Blake Wheeler, Danny Paille, Whitfield, Thornton, Vladimir Sobotka, Brad Marchand and Lefebvre.
The blueliners: Zdeno Chara, Derek Morris, Dennis Wideman and Johnny Boychuk.
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Newcomer Danny Paille, who picked up a helper on Steve Begin's game-winner on Wednesday, hadn't asked to be traded in Buffalo, nor did he feel the Sabres were about to move him. That said, he's glad to be a Bruin.
''I never complained,'' said Paille, who fell out of coach Lindy Ruff's game-to-game plans and played only recently to fill a void while Thomas Vanek was sidelined by injury. ''But I guess [Ruff] had a couple of issues with me on the ice, thought I could be better...finishing checks and getting in scrums.''
Overall, said Paille, he was glad the trade happened when it did.
''I'm happy it happened now rather than later,'' he said. ''It's only October, and it can be a long year if you're not playing.''
''He's here not necessarily as insurance,'' said Boston coach Claude Julien, hoping to build on his squad's 3-2 win the night before over Nashville. ''But he's going to be a game-time decision.''
Meanwhile, injured winger Shawn Thornton, who sat out the Wednesday win at the Garden, was among the last of the Boston players to leave the ice here this morning. Though smiling and effervescent as always, the gritty winger would not say if he would be up and at 'em for tonight's game.
''You know I can't answer that kind of question,'' said a smiling Thorny.
If Thornton is deemed not ready, look for Lefebvre to get the call, possibly at the expense of newcomer Trent Whitfield moving to the sidlelines. The Flyers remain one of the game's edgier groups and Julien likely will prefer to get added muscle into the lineup, be that Thornton or Lefebvre.
xx
Tim Thomas, the winner in net the night before, was not among the 13 Bruins to take advantage of the ice here this morning. His understudy, Tuukka Rask, fielded shots form the other dozen Bruins.
No telling whether Thomas or Rask will get the call tonight, but Thomas could be the better bet in that Julien is searching for any trace of momentum at the moment and Thomas came up big with a couple of sparking saves late in the win over the Preds.
Boston forwards on the ice this morning: Byron Bitz, Blake Wheeler, Danny Paille, Whitfield, Thornton, Vladimir Sobotka, Brad Marchand and Lefebvre.
The blueliners: Zdeno Chara, Derek Morris, Dennis Wideman and Johnny Boychuk.
xx
Newcomer Danny Paille, who picked up a helper on Steve Begin's game-winner on Wednesday, hadn't asked to be traded in Buffalo, nor did he feel the Sabres were about to move him. That said, he's glad to be a Bruin.
''I never complained,'' said Paille, who fell out of coach Lindy Ruff's game-to-game plans and played only recently to fill a void while Thomas Vanek was sidelined by injury. ''But I guess [Ruff] had a couple of issues with me on the ice, thought I could be better...finishing checks and getting in scrums.''
Overall, said Paille, he was glad the trade happened when it did.
''I'm happy it happened now rather than later,'' he said. ''It's only October, and it can be a long year if you're not playing.''
