The Bruins held just an optional skate on Tuesday morning, with only Daniel Paille, Steven Kampfer and Tuukka Rask taking the ice. That would seem to give a good indication of who will be sitting this one out, but Julien declined to confirm his roster decisions.
"There's different options here, and those options, or those decisions on those options, will be finalized before the game," Julien said.
The Bruins have to make a scratch up front because Brad Marchand is back after serving a two-game suspension for an elbow to the back of Columbus forward R.J. Umberger's head.
"I'm very excited," Marchand said of returning to action. "Any time you have to sit out and watch your team play, it's very tough. It's been hard the last few days watching the guys, especially when you lose a couple games you want to help any way you can, so I'm very excited to get back tonight."
Marchand might not immediately slide back into his spot on the second line, though. He skated there with Patrice Bergeron, Mark Recchi and Michael Ryder in practice Monday, but if Paille is indeed the scratch, that could put Marchand back on the fourth line. That's where Marchand spent the first half of the season, forming a very effective energy line with Greg Campbell and Shawn Thornton.
Marchand had been struggling offensively before his suspension, with no goals and just one assist in his last nine games. A reunion with his old running mates on the fourth line could help get him going again and add another effective line to what has become far too much of a one-line team. Marchand doesn't have a problem playing on any line, just as long as he gets back in the lineup after sitting out the past two games.
"It doesn't matter," Marchand said. "It doesn't matter where I play as long as I'm in the lineup. If I can contribute in any way, then I'm going to do that to the best of my ability."
On defense, Kampfer will likely be a scratch again after sitting out following Andrew Ference's return from injury on Saturday. Shane Hnidy also stated he expects to be activated from injured reserve on Tuesday but will not be playing in this one.
Tim Thomas is expected to get the start, despite being pulled Saturday in Toronto. He's still leading the league with a 2.08 goals-against average and .937 save percentage, but he's allowed 14 goals in his last four starts.
There's no doubt about New Jersey's starter, as Martin Brodeur will make his 12th straight start for the Devils. He hasn't exactly been overworked of late, as Brodeur has faced just 25 combined shots in his last two games. He did allow three goals on 12 shots in a 3-0 loss to Washington on Friday but bounced back with a 13-save shutout in a 3-0 win at Columbus on Sunday.
Projected Bruins lines
Forwards
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Mark Recchi-Patrice Bergeron-Michael Ryder
Rich Peverley-Chris Kelly-Tyler Seguin
Brad Marchand-Greg Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Defense
Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Tomas Kaberle- Dennis Seidenberg
Andrew Ference-Adam McQuaid
Goalies
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
Scratches: Daniel Paille, Steven Kampfer, Shane Hnidy
Projected Devils lines
Forwards
Ilya Kovalchuk-Travis Zajac-Nick Palmieri
Brian Rolston-Patrik Elias-Dainius Zubrus
Mattias Tedenby-Jacob Josefson-David Clarkson
Vladimir Zharkov-David Steckel-Adam Mair
Defense
Henrik Tallinder-Mark Fayne
Andy Greene-Anssi Salmela
Colin White-Anton Volchenkov
Goalies
Martin Brodeur
Johan Hedberg
Scratches: Mark Fraser, Rod Pelley
