BRUINS NOTEBOOK;Little bit of everything on 3rd line;Trio enjoys experience
NEWARK, N.J. - The third line featured something old, something new and something in the middle for last night's encounter with the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center.
Coach Claude Julien assembled a multigeneration combination when he placed rookie first-round draft pick Tyler Seguin at center between ageless wonder Mark Recchi and Michael Ryder.
Seguin, 18, made the jump from juniors to the NHL after being selected second overall in the June draft. Recchi, 42, is in the 23rd professional campaign of a lockdown Hall of Fame career. Ryder, 30, is in his 11th pro season.
''Recchi's like the grandfather, and he's still battling,'' Ryder said. ''He's been around and he's a good leader on this team. It's going good with Tyler, but we are still getting used to each other. It takes time, that's for sure. But we've been doing well in practice now that Recchi's with us. We've had one game together, and with each practice we'll feel that much better with each other.''
Ryder is looking to rebound from an unproductive 2009-10 season. In his first season with the B's, in 2008-09, he scored 27 goals and dished out 26 assists, playing primarily on a line with David Krejci and Blake Wheeler. His game fell off in 2009-10, as he scored 18 goals to go with 15 assists and bounced from one line to another.
Julien believes Ryder is skating like he did two years ago just to keep up with Seguin. Ryder assisted on Seguin's first NHL goal in the 3-0 victory against Phoenix in Prague, Czech Republic, last Sunday.
''I'm feeling good and I'm in good shape now on the ice,'' Ryder said. ''Last year was tough.''
Century Mark
Recchi competed against the Devils for the 100th time, a remarkable milestone in a career full of them. The winger entered the game with 33 goals and 44 assists against a Devils franchise known for its trapping defense and legendary goaltender Martin Brodeur.
''That just speaks volumes about what he's been all about,'' Julien said. ''For our team he's been a real good fit, and with a lot of young players we needed stability and veteran leadership. I think we can figure on another milestone in almost every game.''
Thomas impresses
Tim Thomas has done some fine work clouding up the Bruins goaltending debate.
Tuukka Rask is the future between the pipes but, according to Julien, Thomas, the 2008-09 Vezina Trophy winner, is making a clear statement for the moment. . . . Defenseman Andrew Ference was in the lineup. He showed no lingering effects from Tuesday's cortisone shot to his left thumb.
