Tim Thomas was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate and is expected to get the start. He has appeared in 10 straight games, including Tuesday when he had to come on in relief of Marty Turco after Turco surrendered three goals in the opening 4:31 of his first start as a Bruin. Thomas gave up two goals on five shots himself and was pulled in favor of Turco early in the second period.
Patrice Bergeron, who was hit by a Matt Niskanen shot in Pittsburgh on Sunday and again by a Johnny Boychuk blast on Tuesday, is hopeful he will be able to play. Bergeron, forward Benoit Pouliot (lower body) and defenseman Adam McQuaid (upper body) will all be game-time decisions.
If he plays, Bergeron will likely be reunited with Tyler Seguin, who was moved back to that line with Brad Marchand during Tuesday's game. Jordan Caron moved up alongside David Krejci and Milan Lucic, and those combinations are expected to remain for the start of this one.
Bruins coach Claude Julien told reporters after the morning skate that Rich Peverley, out since suffering a knee injury Feb. 15 in Montreal, skated back in Boston on Wednesday, but Julien had not yet received a report on how the sessions went. Nathan Horton (concussion) still has not resumed skating.
The Panthers have plenty of injuries themselves. Jack Skille (shoulder) and Matt Bradley (concussion) are definitely out. Kris Versteeg (lower body), Scottie Upshall (sports hernia) and Dmitry Kulikov (knee) are all close to returning, but not expected to play in this game.
Jose Theodore is expected in net for Florida, which has a one-point lead on Washington for the Southeast Division lead. The Panthers are just four points back of Boston for the second seed in the East, but the Bruins are more concerned with Ottawa closing fast in their rear-view mirror. The Senators have pulled within a point of the Northeast Division lead.
Kelly Sutherland and Brad Meier will be the referees, with Tony Sericolo and Pierre Racicot working the lines.
Projected Bruins lines
Forwards
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Jordan Caron
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Tyler Seguin
Benoit Pouliot-Chris Kelly-Brian Rolston
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Defense
Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg-Joe Corvo
Andrew Ference-Adam McQuaid
Goalies
Tim Thomas
Marty Turco
Scratches: Nathan Horton (concussion), Rich Peverley (knee), Tuukka Rask (groin), Mike Mottau, Greg Zanon, Trent Whitfield
Projected Panthers lines
Forwards
Tomas Fleischmann-Stephen Weiss-Wojtek Wolksi
Sean Bergenheim-Marcel Goc-Mikael Samuelsson
Marco Sturm-Shawn Matthias-Tomas Kopecky
Krystofer Barch-John Madden-Jerred Smithson
Defense
Jason Garrison-Brian Campbell
Keaton Ellerby-Mike Weaver
Ed Jovanovski-Erik Gudbranson
Goalies
Jose Theodore
Scott Clemmensen
Scratches: Jack Skille (shoulder), Mike Santorelli, Tyson Strachan, Kris Versteeg (lower body), Scottie Upshall (sports hernia), Dmitry Kulikov (knee), Matt Bradley (concussion)
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