Bruins Gameday: Boston @ Minnesota and the Tuukka/Timmy controversy

By BRANDON MACDONALD

BRUINS BLOGGER

The Bruins are in Minnesota tonight to face the Wild and some familiar faces.  Chuck Kobasew, who was acquired by the Wild Oct. 18, and Shane Hnidy who was an off-season pickup.

It’s looking like Tuukka Rask will be once again manning the crease for the Bruins.  Rask would be playing his fifth consecutive game as Tim Thomas continues to rest a sore hand.  It could be a second consecutive Jennings trophy coming the Bruins way.

Despite the rash of starts by Rask, Bruins fans shouldn’t worry about a goalie controversy when Thomas is 100%.  Thomas just signed a healthy extension in the off-season and should remain the starter for the Bruins.  There isn’t a point of playing Timmy until he is fully ready to play, especially with Tuukka’s play.  In the mean time, having a goalie with Rask’s talents is something the Bruins will take advantage of.  It is nice to have two goalies that can win games for their teams; some teams aren’t lucky enough to have one.  While Rask is the future, Thomas is the now.

The Bruins are slowly getting their play back; getting Marc Savard back was key.  Boston can ice four lines that can beat you.  Even down to the fourth line of Paille-Begin-Thornton can take teams by surprise with their speed and checking.  This is what helped the B’s march to the top of the conference.

The Bruins will get a chance to catch up with ex-teammates Kobasew and Hnidy.  Kobasew has one goal and three assists in 11 games with the Wild; he scored 21 for the Bruins last year.  Hnidy has five assists and is a minus one in 21 games.

The Wild are having serious injury problems as they have been playing without Martin Havlat, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Petr Sykora and Kobasew.    Kobasew is the only likely player to return to the lineup.  Brent Burns is also slated to miss the game as he is battling a concussion.

Boston has a chance for their fourth straight win and have recorded points in eight of their last nine games.  The Bruins are currently a point behind the division leading Senators.  The whole North East division is in action tonight.

If the Bruins can continue to produce on their power play, which went 2-5 against the Blues, they should be able to Beat the injury riddled Wild.

Puck drop is tonight at 8 p.m. EST in Minnesota.

Go Go Black and Gold!

EDIT: Accoring to Ben Bishop, Bruins Beat Writer, Tim Thomas was the first goalie off the ice, however, he did return and is working with Sobotka and Boychuk.  Tuukka should get the start tonight.