BOSTON — The Bruins won't get much time to celebrate Monday's dramatic win in Pittsburgh, as they get right back to work on Tuesday when they host Ottawa to open a four-game home stand.
The Bruins did get the morning off though, as there was no morning skate on Tuesday after beating the Penguins with four goals in the final 3:23 of the third period on Monday.
No skate means no indication on what the lineup will look like, though it's unlikely that either Nathan Horton or Adam McQuaid will be ready to return. Both are out with undisclosed injuries, and they did skate with Mark Stuart, who is on injured reserve with a broken hand, under the supervision of the training staff on Monday morning.
Milan Lucic also suffered an apparent injury in the third period Monday and did not finish the game. There has been no update yet on his status. If both Lucic and Horton are unable to play, the Bruins would have to recall a forward from Providence, as they have no extra healthy bodies up with the big club.
Tim Thomas, fresh off his All-Star selection earlier Tuesday, is expected to get the start in goal after Tuukka Rask earned the win on Monday. Thomas is 18-4-6 and leads the NHL with a 1.84 GAA, .944 save percentage and five shutouts, and he's dominated Ottawa throughout his career with a 17-8-2 record, 2.01 GAA, .934 save percentage and five shutouts against the Senators.
Ottawa has plenty of injuries of its own, with Jason Spezza (shoulder), Alex Kovalev (knee) and goalie Pascal Leclaire (lower body) all sidelined. Mike Fisher, who left Saturday's game against Tampa Bay after blocking a shot, is expected to play, centering the Senators' top line between Milan Michalek and Daniel Alfredsson.
With Leclaire out, Brian Elliott has played nine-straight games and is expected to start again in this one. He posted a 31-save shutout in Ottawa's last game in Boston on Nov. 13 and is 12-13-5 with a 2.98 GAA and .903 save percentage overall this year.
Projected Bruins lines
Forwards
Milan Lucic-Marc Savard-Michael Ryder
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Mark Recchi
Blake Wheeler-David Krejci-Tyler Seguin
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Defense
Zdeno Chara-Steven Kampfer
Dennis Seidenberg-Johnny Boychuk
Matt Bartkowski-Andrew Ference
Goalies
Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas
Scratches: Nathan Horton (undisclosed), Adam McQuaid (undisclosed), Mark Stuart (hand)
Projected Senators lines
Forwards
Milan Michalek-Mike Fisher-Daniel Alfredsson
Nick Foligno-Peter Regin-Jim O'Brien
Jarkko Ruutu-chris Kelly-Chris Neil
Zack Smith-Jesse Winchester-Ryan Shannon
Defense
Chris Phillips-Erik Karlsson
Chris Campoli-Sergei Gonchar
Filip Kuba-Matt Carkner
Goalies
Brian Elliott
Mike Brodeur
Scratches: Brian Lee, Alex Kovalev (knee), Jason Spezza (shoulder), Pascal Leclaire (lower body)
