BUFFALOAn optional morning skate for the Bruins here at the first Niagara Center on Friday morning, with a group of Bs skaters opting for a game of soccer in the bowels of the Buffalo Arena.
Claude Julien wouldnt confirm it, but it appears that Tuukka Rask will be getting the nod after he was the first goaltender off the ice. Rask is riding a five-game losing streak and was pulled from the Feb. 8 blowout loss to the Sabres in Buffalo after allowing three goals on 10 shots. Hes 0-3 with a 4.28 goals against average and an .848 save percentage during the month of February, but a Friday night start against the Sabres will offer him a chance at sweet redemption. It would also leave an important Northeast Division tilt on Saturday nightagainst the Ottawa Senators in the hands of Tim Thomas.
Shawn Thornton took part in the skate on Friday morning, and Claude Julien said the Bs enforcer will be in the lineup after missing practices the last few days while battling the flu.Here are the projected lineups for tonight:
Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin
Lucic-Kelly-Krejci
Pouliot-Camper-Caron
Paille-Campbell-Thornton
Chara-Boychuk
Seidenberg-Corvo
Ference-McQuaid
Rask
Thomas