BOSTON — The Bruins return to action Thursday night at the Garden against Buffalo, and they'll have their captain in the lineup.
Zdeno Chara was not suspended for his hit on Montreal forward Max Pacioretty on Tuesday. Chara drove Pacioretty into the partition between the benches, which left Pacioretty with a severe concussion and fractured vertebrae.
The Bruins will still be without defensemen Steven Kampfer (concussion) and Andrew Ference (lower body). Tim Thomas was the first goalie off the ice for the Bruins at the morning skate, indicating he will likely get the start after Tuukka Rask took the 4-1 loss in Montreal.
It was an optional skate, so there was no indication of who will be the healthy scratch up front in this one. Daniel Paille and Tyler Seguin alternated on the fourth line in practice on Wednesday after Seguin played against the Canadiens on Tuesday. Claude Julien shook up the other lines in that practice and is expected to open Thursday's game with Rich Peverley up with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand and Mark Recchi down with Chris Kelly and Michael Ryder.
The Sabres will have Thomas Vanek (flu) and Mike Grier (groin) back in the lineup, but Jochen Hecht (upper body), Patrick Kaleta (lower body) and Patrick Lalime (knee) remain out. With Lalime injured, Jhonas Enroth will back up Ryan Miller in goal.
If Miller and Thomas both start as expected, it will be a matchup of the last two Vezina winners and two of Team USA's netminders from last year's Olympics.
The Sabres recalled Mark Mancari to replace Hecht, while former Bruin Shaone Morrisonn returns to the lineup after being a healthy scratch. Defenseman Mike Weber will head to the press box instead.
Thursday's game also marks the return of another familiar face, as Brad Boyes returns to the Garden for the first time as a Sabre. The former Bruin was acquired from St. Louis just before the trade deadline and is now back at center for Buffalo.
Projected Bruins lines
Forwards
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Rich Peverley
Mark Recchi-Chris Kelly-Michael Ryder
Tyler Seguin/Daniel Paille-Greg Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Defense
Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Tomas Kaberle-Adam McQuaid
Matt Bartkowski-Dennis Seidenberg
Goalies
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
Scratches: Seguin/Paille, Steven Kampfer (concussion), Andrew Ference (lower body), Shane Hnidy (shoulder)
Projected Sabres lines
Forwards
Jason Pominville-Mark Mancari-Thomas Vanek
Tyler Ennis-Brad Boyes-Drew Stafford
Nathan Gerbe-Tim Connolly-Cody McCormick
Rob Niedermeyer-Paul Gaustad-Mike Grier
Defense
Andrej Sekera-Steve Montador
Chris Butler-Tyler Myers
Jordan Leopold-Shaone Morrisonn
Goalies
Ryan Miller
Jhonas Enroth
Scratches: Mike Weber, Patrick Lalime (knee), Jochen Hecht (upper body), Patrick Kaleta (lower body)
