Tim Thomas practiced today but remains day-to-day. Given the run Tuukka Rask is on, it's a good bet the rookie will make his fifth straight start tomorrow. No other lineup changes are expected.

* Homeboy Blake Wheeler, who grew up about 20 minutes away from the arena, bought lunch for his teammates to enjoy after practice. Attaboys all around for the second-year pro from the room.

* Several of the Bruins said hello to Shane Hnidy and Chuck Kobasew, two of the better-liked players over the last few seasons.

The Bruins have started their practice at the Xcel Energy Center. All players are present, with no changes from last night's lineup.

Chuck Kobasew should be back in the Minnesota lineup tomorrow. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)

Chuck Kobasew has taken his share of heat for being the resident wine aficionado, and that's no different here in St. Paul. After the Wild's practice, Josh Harding approached the greaseboard in the dressing room to take drink orders. Next to each player's name, Harding wrote drinks such as Gatorade and coconut water. When he got to Kobasew, Harding wrote, "glass of merlot," prompting a good round of razzing from the room.

"Guys have been good here," said Kobasew.

The ex-Bruin, dealt to the Wild last month, is due to return tomorrow after missing the last four games because of an upper-body injury. Kobasew, a natural right wing, has skated on the left side for his new club.

* Guillaume Latendresse is not expected to dress tomorrow. Latendresse is still securing a work visa.

ST. PAUL -- Good morning from the Xcel Energy Center, where the Wild are going through their practice. No sign of Guillaume Latendresse, acquired yesterday from Montreal for Benoit Pouliot.

Old friends Chuck Kobasew and Shane Hnidy are on the ice.

Patrice Bergeron was involved in all four goals. (Jeff Roberson/AP)

For the first time this season, the Bruins won their third straight game. Patrice Bergeron triggered the offense with assists on all four goals.

"Road trip's not over," Bergeron said. "We can't be satisfied with three wins."

* Marc Savard didn't score a point in his return, but said he felt fine after the game. Savard snapped the puck around on the first power-play unit, and Bergeron, dropped to the second unit, assisted on two PP goals.

* Milan Lucic, who scored a second-period goal, led all players with five hits.

* All four centers won at least half of their faceoffs.

STICK SALUTE: Daniel Paille. Was on the ice for 2:17 on the PK, most of any forward. Was relentless in his puck pursuit.

SIN BIN: Chris Mason. Poor clearing pass led to Marco Sturm's shorthanded goal.

***

All done in St. Louis. Bruins, 4-2.

11:14 (3). Bruins, 4-2. Marco Sturm with the SHG. Patrice Bergeron picks off a Chris Mason clearing attempt and sets up Sturm in front.

8:10 (3). Chris Mason robs Patrice Bergeron with a diving stick save.

4:19 (3). Brad Boyes on the doorstep after Tuukka Rask can't handle an initial shot. Rask covers up after the bobble.

1:35 (3). Giveaway by Mark Recchi to B.J. Crombeen in the slot. Zdeno Chara steps in front of the shot.

Second intermission

After 40 minutes, Bruins with a 3-2 lead. St. Louis still leading in shots, 19-15.

* Some very nice work by the Bruins in front of their own net. They've got good sticks and good positioning to limit the Blues' in-front chances.

* So much zip on both PP units. Does Marc Savard make that big of a difference in confidence?

16:10 (2). From his knees, Marco Sturm puts a shot on goal. Good glove save by Chris Mason.

12:52 (2). Eric Brewer dumps David Krejci and is called for interference. Shaky call. Bruins 2 for 2 on the PP so far.

12:10 (2). Bruins, 3-2. Milan Lucic tips a Zdeno Chara point shot past Chris Mason. Nice pass by Patrice Bergeron up the wall to Chara to start the play.

7:37 (2). Tied, 2-2. Brad Boyes drives to the net and sets up Carlo Colaiacavo in front with a clever backhand dish.

7:22 (2). Byron Bitz vs. Barret Jackman. Meanwhile, Roman Polak goes off the ice with a bloodied face. Not sure if he caught the puck or a stick.

5:52 (2). St. Louis timeout. Andy Murray not looking pleased.

3:02 (2). Bruins, 2-1. Patrice Bergeron threads a cross-crease pass to Blake Wheeler at the left circle. Wheeler winds and snaps a PP shot past Chris Mason.

First intermission

After 20 minutes, tied at 1-1. St. Louis with a 16-6 shot advantage.

* Not a bad first period back for Marc Savard. The center made one Savvy-like pass on the power play to Marco Sturm. Later in the first, Savard nearly set up Sturm for a down-low chance. We'll see how he holds up as the TOI increases.

* Bruins moved the puck crisply on their only power play. Looks like they've already got a bit more swagger with Savard back on the PP.

* The Blues possessed the puck for most of the first. They've got lots of speed up front and some mobile defensemen on the back end. Tough to figure out why these guys only have 20 points.

13:30 (1). Andrew Ference doesn't care for a high hit by T.J. Oshie. Oshie keeps the gloves on.

13:10 (1). Marc Savard sets up Marco Sturm during a two-on-one, but Chris Mason comes out to stuff the left wing.

12:31 (1). Tied, 1-1. Keith Tkachuk with the tip-in from the slot.

11:00 (1). Bruins, 1-0. Mark Recchi with the PPG. Chris Mason stops Patrice Bergeron's first shot, but Recchi swats the rebound past the goalie.

9:21 (1). High-sticking on Mike Weaver. Our first look at the Marc Savard PP.

7:47 (1). Big hit by Cam Janssen on Zdeno Chara. Shawn Thornton might have to address that.

6:01 (1). Sharp glove save by Tuukka Rask on Jay McClement. Good pace to the game so far.

2:15 (1). Scoring chance for Marc Savard on the center's first shift.

1:10 (1). Milan Lucic flattens Barret Jackman.

0:15 (1). Scoring chance right away for Keith Tkachuk. Good save by Tuukka Rask.

0:00 (1). Vladimir Sobotka and Johnny Boychuk are the healthy scratches.

Based on pregame warmups:

* Chris Mason (6-6-3, 2.17 GAA, .926 save percentage) will start in goal for the Blues.

As a Bostonian, my knowledge of ribs is painfully limited. For the most part, ribs and New England don't mix -- not much meat, far too much sweet sauce, nothing resembling a high-level experience.

Different story in Missouri, where they take their BBQ seriously. The local institution is Pappy's Smokehouse, and the question of the day, after a two-mile walk to the joint (crucial considering the calories about to be ingested), was the following: the Heifer & Hog platter (beef brisket and pulled pork), or the half slab of dry-rubbed ribs? Or both?

After considering sheer gluttony, went with the half slab. The ribs didn't disappoint. The half slab, which came with sweet potato fries and green beans, looked as big as a harp. Once you broke apart the slab, eating each rib was like biting into a pork chop. You have several choices for sauce, but none is needed. The rub is just that good. Thought about sneaking the bones home to throw in a stock, but that might have been just a hair too crazy.

Tim Thomas will back up Tuukka Rask for the fourth straight game tonight. According to a source, it is a minor upper-body injury.

"It's one of those injuries that we have to allow him to get better," Claude Julien said. "Yet it could be something that could be cured on a day-to-day basis."

* Marc Savard will be ready to go tonight after missing 15 games with a broken left foot. "It feels like you're a kid again," Savard said. "I just can't wait to get out there and get the game started. I've just got to remember to try not to do too much."

* Despite skating with Savard and Marco Sturm tonight, Byron Bitz is seated next to Steve Begin and Shawn Thornton in the dressing room. Bitz's teammates continue to give the right wing good-natured grief for playing on a skilled line tonight.

Tonight's expected lineup:

Tuukka Rask was the first goalie off the ice this morning, indicating he'll make his fourth straight start tonight against the Blues. Tim Thomas is participating in the morning skate and doesn't appear to have any significant limitations.

Chris Mason (6-6-3, 2.17 GAA, .926 save percentage) was the first goalie off the ice this morning for St. Louis, indicating he'll start in goal tonight.

Ilya Kovalchuk has been a model captain for Atlanta this season. (Frank Franklin II/AP)

From time to time, I'll be rolling out a top-five list of NHL items as I make my way through the league schedule. We see so many things during games and practices, so this will be a home for the random observations these eyes encounter during the season.

1. If I'm Atlanta management, I'm giving Ilya Kovalchuk long-term max dollars. Didn't think Kovalchuk was an elite player before this season -- looked like a shoot-first offensive specialist. But he's bought in. Completely. He's skating well, playing both sides of the ice, even fighting. He's got the best PP one-timer from the left point in the league. Strong on the puck. Good speed. Thrashers can't afford to let Kovy walk.

2. He's a Hall of Famer, a legend in Ottawa, and an international superstar who might get another gold medal in Vancouver. But I still think Daniel Alfredsson is one of the league's more underrated stars. He's the perfect player -- smart, fast, tough. Willing to enter the dirty areas. Oozes hockey sense. Wins puck battles. Skilled as they come. Can play in every situation. Bruins would love to have a player like that riding with Marc Savard.

3. David Clarkson can play on my team any day of the week. The way he's developing, Clarkson is a legit top-six forward. And won't back down from anybody.

4. Another black mark on Bob Gainey's resume: letting Mark Streit walk. He's a bargain version of Nicklas Lidstrom -- smart, smooth-skating D who logs big minutes and quarterbacks the PP. Hard to believe Guy Carbonneau had Streit switching between forward and defense.

5. Atlanta coach John Anderson = dead ringer for Curt Schilling.

Marc Savard will be back in the lineup tonight after missing more than a month. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff)

ST. LOUIS -- Good morning from the Scottrade Center, where the Bruins will face off against the Blues tonight at 8 p.m. EST.

Marc Savard, out of the lineup since Oct. 17 against Phoenix, will be back in uniform tonight after recovering from a broken left foot. Savard will center the No. 1 line between Marco Sturm and Byron Bitz.

* We should find out later this morning whether Tim Thomas (undisclosed injury) is available to play. If Thomas can't go, Tuukka Rask will make his fourth straight start.

* Should be a battle of the power-play titans. Blues have the league's worst PP (12.7 percent). Bruins have the second-worst (13.2 percent).

* Vladimir Sobotka and Johnny Boychuk are expected to be the healthy scratches.

* Dan Marouelli and Steve Kozari will be the referees. Pierre Champoux and Tim Nowak will be the linesmen.

A rare Sunday practice for the Bruins is under way here at Ristuccia Arena and Marc Savard, who returns to the lineup tomorrow night in St. Louis, is centering a line with Marco Sturm and Byron Bitz.

Will that line remain intact when the puck drops tomorrow night vs. the Blues? Most likely, at least to start the game.

The other lines here this morn:

Milan Lucic--Patrice Bergeron--Mark Recchi

Blake Wheeler-David Krejci-Michael Ryder

Shawn Thornton -Steve Begin/Vladimir Sobotka - Danny Paille

The four-man fourth line will send one member to the press box tomorrow night. The likeliest candidate would be Sobotka, given that Paille has been such an effective penalty killer since joining the club last month from Buffalo.

Brad Marchand and Trent Whitfield, both of whom were on the charter flight back from Buffalo Friday night, rejoined the Providence Bruins Saturday. Whitfield could have been claimed by another NHL club for a lowly $3,375 fee, but the other 29 clubs passed on the chance to add the journeyman forward.

Coach Claude Julien, back working with a full varsity roster for the first time in five weeks, put together a first-unit power play that had Savard centering Sturm and Ryder, backed by Chara and Derek Morris.

Savard and Ryder have combined for four of Boston's 10 power-play goals this season. Sturm has been blanked during his time on the man-advantage.

The second unit had Krejci centering Wheeler and Recchi, with Bergeron and Wideman manning the points.

Bruins win it, 2-1, with 47 seconds gone in OT. Bergeron pulls puck back to Chara on faceoff, then moves to slot for winning tip of Chara's long-range wrister.

Knotted, 1-1, after 60 minutes. Bruins head to OT four fourth time in last five games.

The Bruins are 3-4 in OT this season, and 3-2 in shootouts.

The Sabres are 3-1 in OT, and a perfect 2-0 in shootouts.

Beauty of a kick save by Rask, stoning Kaleta off right wing, with 2:05 left in regulation. Sabres originally break up right wing when Andrew Ference fails to hold zone.

Nice glove stop by Rask, picking off a short wrister by flashy rookie defenseman Tyler Myers with just over 7:00 remaining in regulation.

Midway through third period and still tied, 1-1. If Bruins go to OT, it will be the eighth time in 22 games that they've been tied after 60 minutes.

David Krejci nearly supplies 2-1 lead with dash down left side, deke around ex-Bruin Steve Montador and a tight shot on Ryan Miller with 4:20 gone in the third. Puck comes to rest under Miler.

Second period in the books here at the edge of Lake Erie. All tied, 1-1.

Sabres land only their third shot of period at 16:56. Bruins hold 14-3 advantage to this point in period, and 18-11 after 40 minutes.

10:54 -- Bruins tie it, 1-1. Looch pots a short-range wrister from them left side, finishing off a 2-on-1 rush with Byron Bitz. The two close down the slot and Bitz fires forehander relay cross-slot for Lucic to snap by Miller. Bruins lead shots, 15-10. For Lucic, his first goal of 2009-'10.

Another power play opportunity for Bruins at 7:47. They get more chances (4 shots), but none of them a serious threat to end Miller's shutout bid.

Bruins back on power play at 5:43 when Derek Roy charged with hooking David Krejci. Again, no dice for Bruins, who are outshot, 1-0, while on power play. During last two power plays, Bruins oushot, 3-0.

Bruins show a little more spunk from the outset in the middle period. Bitz lands a short backhander on Miller in the opening minute, with Begin just unable to get to the rebound. Sobotka puts up Boston's seventh shot at 3:20 By 4:30, Bruins hold a 9-8 shot lead, but still trail on scoreboard, 1-0.

First period is wrapped here at HSBC, with Sabres holding a 1-0 lead. Bruins, many of their attempts off net, land only four shots on Ryan Miller. Sabres put eight shots on Tuuka Rask, including a Paul Gaustad tip for a 1-0 lead.

Sabres do a fine job of not allowing Bruins much time to set up in the offensive end. Danny Paille was off net with one good chance. The aptly-named Wideman twice fires wide.

During Boston's second attempt with man advantage, two shots land on net, but both are fired by the Sabres. Tim Connolly squeezes off the best of the pair.

Sabres stifle Boston's first powerplay chance.

Bruins employ second PP unit of Marco Sturm, David Krejci and Michael Ryder, with points manned by Matt Hunwick and Dennis Wideman.

Boston's first-/ujnit power play has Patrice Bergeron centering Mark Recchi and Blake Wheeler, with Zdeno Chara and Derek Morris on points.

6:45 -- Buffalo penalty, Ellis, 2:00 for hooking.

4:20 -- Sabres 1, Bruins 0 -- Parked on doorstep, Paul Guastad provides tip off of Jason Pominville one-time slapper from 10 feeet inside the blue line. PPG for Gaustad, his fifth goal this sesaon.

3:23 -- Bryon Bitz sent off for tripping Patrick Kaleta.

Only 30 seconds into the action, Lucic buries defenseman Henrik Tallinder with a heavy bhit behind the Buffalo net.

Bruins committ first penalty. Bitz off for hooking Kaleta at 3:23.

The Bruins are using the same lines from Thursday's 4-3 win over Atlanta:

Marco Sturm--Patrice Bergeron--Mark Recchi
Blake Wheeler--David Krejci--Michael Ryder
Milan Lucic-Steve Begin-Byron Bitz
Shawn Thornton-Vladimir Sobotka-Danny Paille

Coach Claude Julien is rolling with the same defensive pairings:

Zdeno Chara--Derek Morris
Andrew Ference--Dennis Wideman
Matt Hunwick--Mark Stuart

Tuukka Rask made his third straight start for Boston, opposing US Olympic hopeful Ryan Miller.

Scratched for the Bruins: Johnny Boychuk, Trent Whitfield, Brad Marchand and Marc Savard.

Scratches for Buffalo: ex-BU standout Mike Grier, Nathan Paetsch and Andrej Sekera.

The Sabres, 6-2 losers to the Panthers in their last outing, entered the evening having gone 4-for-15 (26.7 percent) on the power play in their previous three games.

The Bruins hadn't allowed a power-play goal in six straight games prior to yielding one on the PK Thursday night in Atlanta. They entered the night here having killed 28 of their last 29 (96.6 percent) shorthanded situations.

Getting close to the 7:30 puck drop here at HSBC Arena.

Tuukka Rask will make his third straight start in the Boston net. Tim Thomas, the backup again, still has a niggling (undisclosed) injury, allowing Rask to start for a third straight time.

''So much of practice for us has been all about goal scoring,'' he said. ''It's tough to get game-like situations in practice, and if you are off 12 days between [starts], it can make it tough to be pumped and focused.''

As reported here earlier in the day, the Bruins put journeyman Trent Whitfield on waivers, intending to return him to Providence (AHL). Late in the afternoon, they also announced that rookie Brad Marchand would be returned tomorrow to the Baby B's.

''He did a good job,'' said coach Claude Julien, referring to Marchand's contribution with the varsity. ''He had a good training camp with us, but he tapered off after a while. But he got some experience and that's good, he can bring that back to Providence with him and build off of that. I think he lost some of his confidence with the puck, just wasn't as creative with it as he had been. But I thought he did a good job for us on the penalty kill.''

Fresh from their shootout win in Atlanta last night, the Bruins will take on the Sabres here in Buffalo tonight, possibly with Tuukka Rask make a third straight start in the Boston net for the first time this season.

After surrendering Maxim Afinogenov's tying goal with 42 seconds to go in the third period in Atlanta, Towerin' Tuukka snuffed out shootout bids by Rich Peverley, Slava Kozlov and Ilya Kovalchuk, allowing Patrice Bergeron's lone snipe in the shootout to stand for the victory.

''That goal at the end,'' mused coach Claude Julien, referring to the Afinogenov strike, the eighth this sesaon for the ex-Sabre, ''could have been a killer.''

Goalie Tim Thomas figured to make the start in Altanta, but a minor injury (nature undisclosed) had him instead slotted as Rask's backup. Thomas, though, looked agile and comfortable during the pre-game warmup in Atlanta and could be ready for duty at HSBC Arena. Coach Claude Julien made the morning skate optional here in Buffalo and won't make his starting netminder known until much closer to the 7:30 p.m. puck drop.

Thomas, last year's Vezina winner, was among five Bruins to work out here under the watchful eye of assistant coach Doug Houda. Trent Whitfield, Johnny Boychuk, Brad Marchand and Marc Savard also skated. Savard, returning from a fractured bone in his left foot, now has tuned up his legs and hands for two days in a row. Look for him to to back in the lineup next week, either just before or after Thanksgiving.

Prior to Whitfield taking the ice, the 32-year-old center was placed on waivers, likely for the purpose of being sent back to Providence (AHL). His waiver price: $3,375. The other 29 NHL clubs have until noon tomorrow to put in a claim.

This is the second time this season that the clubs have met. Mark Recchi, Zdeno Chara, Byron Bitz and Marco Sturm all scored in Boston's 4-2 win at the Garde on Nov. 7. The Bruins followed that with a 3-0 whitewash of Pittsburgh. It was the only time this season that the Bruins have won two in a row.

One of Michael Ryder's two goals in Atlanta came via the power play, allowing the Bruins to bounce off the bottom of the league's overall PPG pile. As of this morning, the Bruins ranked 28th overall on the man-advantage, connecting only 10 times on 72 chances for a 13.9 percent success rate. Only the Penguins (13.7 percent) and Blues (13.3 percent) were more futile.

However, Boston's penalty killing has been exceptional of late, especially since the arrival of ex-Sabre Danny Paille. As of this morning, the Bruins ranked third overall on the PK, rubbing out 84.8 percent of the opposition's chances. Only the Blackhawks (86.3 percent) and Sharks (86 percent) have been better thus far in 2009-'10

Unfortuantely, the Bruins were far too reliant on their PK unit in the third period at Atlanta. Minor penalties to Marco Sturm, Mark Recchi, Michael Ryder, Blake Wheeler and Dennis Wideman--all guys who should know better--had the Bruins shorthanded five times in the final period.

The Sabres, ranked third in the East with a 12-5-1 record, as of this morning were tied with the Devils for having allowed the fewest goals (43) in the NHL this season.

Matt Hunwick, who picked up Mark Stuart as his new partner in Atlanta, allowing Dennis Wideman to ride with Andrew Ference, has four goals this season. Only nine other NHL defensemen have more. Zdeno Chara, with 57 shots from the backline, ranks second only to Washington's Mike Green (62) for shots on net by defensemen.

Chara last season landed a career-high 216 shots in 80 games. At his current rate, he would finish with 223. Calgary's Dion Phaneuf led the way last season with 277.

Patrice Bergeron scored the only goal of the shootout. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty)

With 42 seconds remaining in regulation, the Bruins saw Maxim Afinogenov beat Tuukka Rask with an off-wing wrister to tie the game at 3-3. But Rask remained calm, stopped three shots in overtime, and turned aside three more in the shootout.

At the other end, Patrice Bergeron scored the only goal on Ondrej Pavelec to give the Bruins a 4-3 shootout win.

"We knew we had to start tonight off good with four games on the road," said Michael Ryder (two goals, first multi-goal game of the year). "It was a good win. We played well. We knew we had to turn the light on somehow. It was just a matter of us putting it together."

* The penalty kill came up big in the third period, when the Bruins were whistled for five penalties. Claude Julien acknowledged his team took too many penalties, but thought there were a few that were iffy calls.

* Julien reiterated that Tim Thomas has a minor undisclosed injury. Julien said it's a short-term injury. He didn't rule out Thomas for tomorrow's game against Buffalo.

* Milan Lucic reported no issues with his finger after the game. Lucic had two shots and one hit in 14:01 of ice time.

STICK SALUTE: Dennis Wideman. Two assists in a team-high 28:03 TOI. Was put back together with Andrew Ference tonight because the Bruins felt he'd be more free to roam up the ice. Wideman responded with one of his best games of the year.

SIN BIN: Ondrej Pavelec. Turned in a 39-save effort, but still has to stop Ryder's third-period PPG.

***

All done in Atlanta. Bruins in the shootout, 4-3. Patrice Bergeron with the only goal of the shootout. Tuukka Rask turns aside Rich Peverley, Slava Kozlov, and Ilya Kovalchuk.

End of overtime

After 65 minutes, tied at 3-3. Atlanta with the better chances in OT. Shootout time.

End of regulation

After 60 minutes, tied at 3-3. Backbreaker of a goal by Maxim Afinogenov in the final minute.

19:56 (3). Quality chance for David Krejci in the crease. Good save by Ondrej Pavelec.

19:18 (3). Tied, 3-3. Maxim Afinogenov with the game-tying goal.

19:07 (3). Atlanta timeout.

17:00 (3). Soft shot by Evander Kane, but Marty Reasoner in front sniffing for a rebound.

13:31 (3). Glove save by Tuukka Rask on Rich Peverley. Bruins 16 seconds away from killing penalty.

11:30 (3). Ondrej Pavelec stacks the pads to rob Michael Ryder.

6:16 (3). Bruins survive the five-on-three Atlanta PP. No good looks for Kovy.

4:19 (3). Hooking on Michael Ryder. Had to take it to stop Tobias Enstrom.

3:16 (3). Great down-low chance for Dennis Wideman. Nice save by Ondrej Pavelec.

0:00 (3). Atlanta's first goal now credited to Nik Antropov instead of Tobias Enstrom. Antropov tipped Enstrom's point shot. Surprisingly, that's Antropov's first goal of the year.

Second intermission

After 40 minutes, Bruins with a 3-2 lead.

* Scary sight to see your partner caught up ice and have Ilya Kovalchuk and Maxim Afinogenov steaming your way. But Derek Morris, with Zdeno Chara nabbed pinching, held his ground and blocked Kovalchuk's cross-crease pass to break up the odd-man rush. Good positioning and even better anticipation by Morris.

* Not sure why Ondrej Pavelec was so deep on Michael Ryder's goal. Pavelec has to be out and challenging Ryder instead of sagging back and giving him multiple holes.

* Dennis Wideman looks far more comfortable with Andrew Ference as his partner.

17:25 (2). Great play by Derek Morris to bust up Ilya Kovalchuk and Maxim Afinogenov's two-on-one.

16:45 (2). Bruins, 3-2. Michael Ryder with a bad-angle PPG. Ondrej Pavelec has to stop that one.

14:23 (2). Tied, 2-2. Ilya Kovalchuk takes a feed from Tobias Enstrom and wings a PP one-timer from the point past Tuukka Rask. Sick stuff from Kovy. What a shot. Bruins PK streak ends at 26 straight.

12:13 (2). Christoph Schubert with a late hit on Vladimir Sobotka. Nothing new for Schubert.

9:20 (2). Bruins, 2-1. Ilya Kovalchuk drops a pass to Tobias Enstrom, who pumps a long-distance bomb past Tuukka Rask. Might have hit a stick on the way in.

4:25 (2). Milan Lucic with a good chance in front but goes wide. Lucic slams his stick on the ice in frustration.

0:25 (2). Sparkling kick save by Tuukka Rask to rob Rich Peverley on the one-timer.

First intermission

After 20 minutes, Bruins with a 2-0 lead. Bruins have a 13-7 shot advantage.

* Appropriate that Marco Sturm and Michael Ryder, the two wings who've been struggling to score the most, found the back of the net. The Bruins need these two to get their games in gear. Sturm had several scoring chances, including one he passed up, while Ryder was in good position in front of the net to tip Blake Wheeler's shot. Ryder also had a heavy hit earlier in the first. Ryder needs to skate and be physically engaged to be successful.

* Plays like Dennis Wideman made on Ryder's goal are ones the defenseman needs to make more consistently. Good vision by Wideman to notice Wheeler open in the slot instead of firing a puck on goal.

* Solid first from Milan Lucic. Legs look OK.

18:11 (1). Bruins, 2-0. Michael Ryder deflects Blake Wheeler's shot. Play starts with Dennis Wideman holding the right point, faking a shot, and finding Wheeler open in the slot. Slick tip by Ryder.

17:00 (1). Vladimir Sobotka goes wide on the backhand after a Shawn Thornton shot.

14:42 (1). Another good scoring chance for Marco Sturm, who slips behind Zach Bogosian. Ondrej Pavelec gets a glove on Sturm's attempt.

12:08 (1). Good work by the Bruins PK. They continue on their torrid pace.

9:32 (1). Silly delay of game penalty by Zdeno Chara. Floats it over the boards instead of reversing the puck.

9:25 (1). Heavy forechecking pressure by the Thrashers. Tuukka Rask forced to cover the puck to settle things down.

6:40 (1). Another chance for Marco Sturm after a Mark Recchi feed. Sturm tries to go back to Recchi instead of shooting.

5:59 (1). Bruins, 1-0. Mark Recchi comes off the bench and feeds Marco Sturm in front. Nice play on both ends.

2:55 (1). Lightning-quick transition from defense to offense for Atlanta. Started with Ilya Kovalchuk through the NZ.

0:00 (1). Johnny Boychuk, Brad Marchand, and Trent Whitfield are the healthy scratches.

Based on pregame warmups:

* Ondrej Pavelec (6-5-1, 2.90 GAA, .917 save percentage) will start in goal for the Thrashers.

Tim Thomas is out with an undisclosed minor injury. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Tim Thomas will not play tonight because of a minor undisclosed injury. Tuukka Rask will make his second straight start.

Thomas participated in today's morning skate and didn't appear to be in any discomfort. Thomas is on the ice for pregame warmups.

UPDATE: At the end of every warmup, the backup goalie stays in net while a handful of shooters remain on the ice and try to beat him with one last puck. The game usually involves serious acrobatics, and tonight's was no exception, as Thomas made several lunging stops to keep the puck out. That Thomas went through this exercise underscores the minor nature of his injury.

Last night, soon after I e-mailed my wife a picture of my dinner (what, you don't take snapshots of your meals?), she called with the following question: "Are those tater tots?"

Indeed. At the Vortex Bar and Grill, one of Atlanta's most popular burger joints, tater tots are the preferred side dish. So to go with my Swiss and mushroom burger, I had tater tots for the first time in years. A little greasy, naturally, but you can't go wrong with 'em. Nor with the plump burgers they serve at Vortex.

And naturally, in Coca-Cola's home city, nothing beats a burger washed down with a tall, cold Coke.