BOSTON — It's not time to panic, but it is time to make a change.
The Bruins are down 2-0 to the Canucks in the Stanley Cup Final, but they've yet to lose a game at home. They dropped a pair of one-goal heartbreakers in Vancouver, but came away knowing they can compete with this talented Canucks squad.
They also know they are capable of digging out of this hole. They did it once already this postseason, beating Montreal in the opening round after losing the first two games of that series. And those losses were at home, before the Bruins won two straight at the Bell Centre to pull even.
Shawn Thornton was a part of that comeback. Just as he was a part of the Bruins' sweep of Philadelphia in the second round and a key contributor throughout the regular season. He was also a part of Anaheim's run to a Cup in 2007, playing in 15 of the Ducks' 21 playoff games that spring.
The Bruins need him to be a part of this comeback attempt as well. And they need to do that now, by inserting him into the lineup for Game 3 Monday night at TD Garden.
Thornton has been the good soldier since coming out of the lineup in Game 3 of the conference final against Tampa Bay when Patrice Bergeron returned from a concussion. Thornton hasn't complained about being relegated to the press box. He's remained upbeat, doing his best to encourage his teammates off the ice and working hard in practice.
But the Bruins need a more direct dose of the experience, leadership and energy he can bring to the lineup.
It will be a limited role. Thornton isn't going to play a ton of minutes on the fourth line and he isn't going to fill up the stat sheet. But what he can contribute emotionally shouldn't be overlooked.
The Canucks witnessed that with the return of fourth-line center Manny Malhotra in Game 2. Malhotra played just 7:26 on Saturday with no shots or hits, but was 6-1 on faceoffs and his very presence in his first game since suffering a serious eye injury on March 16 energized both the Canucks bench and the Rogers Arena crowd, who chanted "Manny" when he stepped on the ice for the first time.
Thornton's return wouldn't be as dramatic, but it could still make a significant impact. This has been a surprisingly physical series so far, with the teams combining for 132 hits and 19 penalties in the first two games. Adding some extra toughness in the form of Thornton may cut down on some of the Canucks' agitating antics. At the very least, Alexandre Burrows certainly isn't going to try to bite Thornton, or any other Bruin, when Thornton's on the ice.
But Thornton's addition isn't about dropping the mitts, which rarely happens at this stage of the playoffs. It's about the emotion and leadership he brings to the bench.
Those attributes are no secret. Bruins coach Claude Julien is well aware of what Thornton adds to the mix and would love to never have him out of the lineup. The issue is who will come out to give Thornton a spot.
Fourth-liners Daniel Paille and Gregory Campbell are too valuable on the penalty kill. Rich Peverley, who has been on the fourth line in Thornton's spot, also contributes on special teams and is used throughout the lineup during the course of the game. By the end of Game 2, he was back skating on the third line with Chris Kelly and Michael Ryder.
That's how Monday's game should start as well, with that trio reunited and Thornton back with Paille and Campbell. That puts talented rookie Tyler Seguin back in the press box, which wouldn't be a popular move for many. But it's the right move.
Seguin dazzled in his playoff debut, stepping in when Bergeron was hurt and scoring six points in his first two games against the Lightning. That earned him the chance to stay in the lineup when Bergeron returned, bumping Thornton out. But Seguin has come back to earth since those two games.
He has no points in his last seven, and he hasn't even attempted a shot in the first two games of this series. Seguin played 6:21 and 8:46 in those games, so the lack of production isn't completely his fault. But he hasn't done a lot to deserve more ice time, as he's struggled to fight through the checks of the physical Canucks defense. Given his limited role, the Bruins are better off having Thornton's physical presence for that handful of shifts and rekindling the chemistry that fourth line showed for so much of the season.
Seguin has a tremendously bright future ahead of him. He will surely have plenty of big nights like he had in those first two games against Tampa ahead of him. But they aren't likely to come in this series. Nor should he be expected to produce like that as a 19-year-old rookie.
Seguin has experienced the playoffs. He'll benefit tremendously in the future from the nine games he's played so far. But it's time to worry about winning now. And right now, Thornton gives the Bruins a better chance of doing that.
Do you agree that the Bruins should dress Shawn Thornton in Game 3? Share your thoughts below.
