Turco put in two solid periods of work on Sunday after replacing Tim Thomas against the Penguins, and will get a chance to play a full game Tuesday night when the Bruins take on the Lightning.
“I think it’s time for him to come in there and help us out,” Bruins coach Claude Julien told reporters after the morning skate in Tampa. “I liked his competitiveness and everything else [against Pittsburgh]. That’s why we brought him in, to help us out. So he’s got to step up for us tonight and help us win a hockey game tonight.”
The Bruins will get at least one of their injured players back Tuesday, and they may have two more returning as well.
Daniel Paille will return up front after missing the past five games with an upper-body injury. Center Patrice Bergeron, who was injured blocking a shot in Sunday’s loss in Pittsburgh, and defenseman Adam McQuaid, who was hurt on a hit in the first period against the Penguins, will be game-time decisions on Tuesday.
All three players participated in the morning skate and will skate in pre-game warm-ups before the final decisions are made on Bergeron and McQuaid. If Bergeron can’t go, emergency call-up Trent Whitfield will make his season debut with Boston, with Chris Kelly sliding up to Bergeron’s spot between Brad Marchand and Jordan Caron. Beniot Pouliot will remain out for the third-straight game with a lower-body injury.
Boston has better depth on defense, which could lead them to be extra cautious with McQuaid and give him some time to rest regardless of how he feels after warm-ups. Greg Zanon will skate in warm-ups and could fill in for McQuaid after being scratched in two of the last three games. Mike Mottau won’t skate in warm-ups and is expected to be a healthy scratch regardless of the decision on McQuaid.
“We’re going to dress 13 forwards and seven D’s [in warm-ups] and make sure everything is OK for tonight,” Julien said. “I know McQuaid and Bergeron are possibilities, but not certainties. We’ll know more later and probably know even better after warm-up.”
For Tampa Bay, rookie Dustin Tokarski will get the start in goal with Mathieu Garon out with a groin injury. Tokarski has played just four games in the NHL and is still looking for his first win at 0-1-1 with a 3.23 GAA and .877 save percentage.
The Lightning have a host of injuries as well, but will have top scorer Steven Stamkos (48-34-82) in the lineup after he was given a maintenance day on Monday. The Lightning are still likely to go with just 11 forwards and dress seven defensemen.
Frederick L’Ecuyer and Dennis LaRue will be the referees, with Mark Shewchyk and Jean Morin working the lines.
Projected Bruins lines
Forwards
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Tyler Seguin
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Jordan Caron
Daniel Paille-Chris Kelly-Brian Rolston
Lane MacDermid-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Defense
Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg-Joe Corvo
Andrew Ference-Adam McQuaid
Goalies
Marty Turco
Tim Thomas
Scratches: Nathan Horton (concussion), Rich Peverley (knee), Tuukka Rask (groin), Benoit Pouliot (lower body), Mike Mottau, Greg Zanon, Trent Whitfield
Projected Lightning lines
Forwards
Marty St. Louis-Steven Stamkos-Teddy Purcell
Ryan Malone-Tom Pyatt-Brett Connolly
JT Wyman-Nate Thompson-Adam Hall
Ryan Shannon-Tim Wallace
Defense
Victor Hedman-Eric Brewer
Brett Clark-Brian Lee
Mike Commodore-Brendan Mikkelson
Keith Aulie
Goalies
Dustin Tokarski
Dwayne Roloson
Scratches: Vincent LeCavalier (hand), Mathieu Garon (groin), Dana Tyrell (knee), Marc-Andre Bergeron (back), Bruno Gervais (upper body), Matthias Ohlund (knees), Brandon Segal
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