Shawn Thornton News

Now it's off to Buffalo, where the Sabres have three games in hand, but have left the door open for the Bruins to remain in a race for first place in the Northeast Division.

The planets couldn't have aligned any better for Bruins center Marc Savard , who this week is expected to sign a lucrative long-term extension that could tie him up for seven more years at a cost of about $32 million, according to The Boston Globe.

The man who is never a loss for words, Jack Edwards of NESN has asked fans to help name find a nickname for the Bruins' 4th line .

Boston Bruins left wing Shawn Thornton, right, lines up a punch as he fights New York Islanders right wing Tim Jackman in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Boston, on Nov.

And that's a shame for a guy like Shawn Thornton. One of the most negative trends in the National Hockey League - unless, of course, you're one of the lucky few striking it rich - is the lucrative second contracts being handed to young players.

For the last eight games, their fundamental play has been as solid and impenetrable as Fort Knox; their forechecking has picked up; they're getting plenty of quality scoring chances.

They knew at the time the pair would miss at least 10 games and probably more - a stretch where the B's could slip well down the Eastern Conference standings.

Florida's Tomas Vokoun stops a shot by the Bruins' Shawn Thornton on Thursday in Boston.

The Bruins have felt they've been on the right track for a while. Last night they finally got some evidence to support that notion.

Maybe he didn't get to relax, or let his guard down, or allow his mind to wander during timeouts to some warm Caribbean isle, but Tim Thomas finally got to breathe a little last night, which is something he's rarely been able to do this season.

The Bruins [ team stats ] are not using tonight's game with the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins at the Garden as a barometer of their season.

The Bruins wrapped-up the week with a 1-1-1 record while saving their best game for last.

If there is a word to describe the 2009-10 Bruins season, it would be disjointed.

The Bruins, coming off a 4-2 win over Buffalo last night at TD Garden, are off today.

's performance in the team's 2-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers yesterday at TD Garden.

Reaction to the news that Bruins center David Krejci has been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu virus has been underwhelming following the game-day skate for tonight's Bruins-Canadiens game at TD Garden .

With the biggest rivalry in the NHL, we could see a lot more of this tonight. Charles Krupa - AP Another game and another shutout loss for the offensively-challenged Boston Bruins.

Chris Osgood had 29 saves as the Detroit Red Wings beat the Bruins, 2-0, tonight at Joe Louis Arena.

The fourth line, arguably the Bruins [ team stats ] ' most consistent and reliable trio this season, had a new look yesterday, with Byron Bitz sidelined by a minor groin strain.

Some big-time changes in practice today, with Marco Sturm reuniting with Patrice Bergeron, and the old No.