Projo Bruins Blog

Ok, I may be getting ahead of myself, especially since this is my first day at training camp, but the Bruins do look good.

New coach Claude Julien seems to have created an up-tempo style of play in the two practices I've watched this morning at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington.

The Bruins will face the New Jersey Devils in the in their second preseason game in Manchester, N.H. tonight with Manny Fernandez getting the nod between the pipes. Rookie netminder Tuukka Rask wil serve as the backup.

Bruins assistant captain Patrice Bergeron battled injuries all last season and he just said he's healthy and ready to go. Boston needs Bergy to have a big year and he said he's ready for the challenge.

There have been a few surprises at camp this season, including forward Pascal Pellitier and rookie defensemen Andrew Bodnarchuk and Matt Hunwick.

Pellts could easily be a guy who makes the team out of camp. Julien said he's been impressed with him.

"He's been good," said the coach. "Actually, he's been very good. I like his work ethic and his dedication. He's had a really good camp, probably well above what was expected of him."

"He's a high-engergy guy," added Julien. "He's gritty and he gets his nose dirty."

Pellts played in all 80 games for the P-Bruins last season and recorded 49 points (14 goals and 35 assists). The 24-year-old was one of only a few players from Providence not called up to Boston last season, and he said he took it personal.

"I came to camp in really good shape and I lost a lot of body fat," said Pelletier. "I think I've opened some eyes."

There's a good chance Pelletier could make the team, if not he'll be one of the first players called up from Providence if he can continue to play the way he has during camp.

Bodnarchuk made his professional debut with the P-Bruins last season, playing just one game at the conclusion of his junior season with Halifax. The 19-year-old blueliner has played better than some of the veteran rookies on the club. If he does not make the team out of camp, he'll return to Halifax.

Hunwick, the 22-year-old product of the University of Michigan, has also opened some eyes and he will likely be a mainstay in Providence with a solid chance of helping Boston at some point this season.

I'll have a feature on all three "surprises" in tomorrow's Journal. . .

A scary moment occurred late in the first period when P-Bruins defenseman Matt Lashoff was pushed from behind by a Manchester forechecker and crashed awkwardly into the corner boards in the Providence zone.

His defensive partner, Nathan Dempsey, signaled for team trainer Mike Poirier as Lashoff lay motionless on the ice. After a few minutes, Lashoff made it to his feet and skated off on his own. It appeared he was favoring his left shoulder. He went to the locker room and has not returned.

The P-Bruins clinched a playoff berth with their victory over Springfield on Saturday, so Gordon gave a few of the team’s starters the day off in order to rest for the upcoming playoffs, including Mark Stuart, captain Jay Leach, Nate Thompson, David Krejci, T.J. Trevelyan and Sean Curry.

What's country music doing in Boston?

The Wreckers, the female duo of Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp, will play a 45-minute show after the Bruins game tonight at the Garden. After a brief sound check this afternoon, the crew and band members, including Branch took a twirl on the Garden ice.

The NHL and country music are beginning to forge a relationship, maybe the fact that the Nashville Predators are one of the more exciting teams in the league helps. Branch, who grew up in Arizona, admitted she's a big hockey fan.

"We were very excited in Arizona when our team started," she said. "I remember going to Coyotes games with my brother, watching fights and eating hot dogs."

Branch sang the National Anthem at this year's NHL All-Star game in Dallas and has performed at other NHL arenas this season.

"It's funny we keep getting calls to do these NHL things," she said. Fans don't think "hockey and country music really don't go hand-and-hand. But, it'll be fun and it will be a chance for some people to be exposed to (country music). I'll be cool to see what [impression] people walk away with."

The Boston Bruins have recalled forward Ben Walter from Providence.

In his second professional season, the Bruins' fifth pick (160th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft has had a tremendous year in Providence. For the P-Bruins, the 22-year-old forward has 22 goals and 34 assists in 62 games this season.

More to come. . .

Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward, who only skated for a few minutes this morning, was just on the ice taking a twirl under the watchful eye of team trainer Don DelNegro. Ward took a shot off the foot during practice on Wednesday, but said after the game-day skate today that he's ready to go for tonight.

From the 9th floor at the Garden _ six stories off the ice _ Ward could be heard telling DelNegro "it's not tender." It's likely he will be in the lineup.

Forward David Krejci has been recalled from Providence for tonight's game. P.J. Axelsson is out of the lineup for undisclosed reasons.

This will be Krejci's third trip to Boston this season. The talented rookie has 21 goals and 35 assists for 56 points, while posting a plus-6 rating in 52 games for the P-Bruins this season.

More to come . . .

** Colorado starting goaltender Peter Budaj has a history with the Bruins organization. Fans may remember Nov. 12, 2004 when Budaj played for the Hershey Bears, the AHL affiliate of the Avalanche at the time.

The Bears and the P-Bruins were playing at the Dunkin' Donuts Center when an all-out melee erupted behind the teams' benches in the lower concourse. The only players remaining on the ice were Budaj and Providence goalie Hannu Toivonen. After passing the puck back and forth a couple of times, the two masked men met at center ice and dropped the gloves in a spirited matchup.

Because Budaj is playing for Colorado ltonight, the incident was up for discussion this morning.

**No. 77 is in the building tonight. And why not? He only played for the Bruins from 1979 to 2000 before being traded to the Avalanche where he won his only Stanley Cup.