Ference/By S. Bradley
Bruins head coach Claude Julien said this morning after his team’s skate in Toronto that defenseman Andrew Ference will be a game-time decision.
Ference has been out of the lineup since Feb. 26 because of a lower-body injury. The Bruins have desperately missed his puck-moving ability and he could slide into a third pair with Adam McQuaid if he gets the nod.
If Ference plays, Julien will need to make someone a healthy scratch. Even before his backchecking mistakes and overtime penalty Thursday in Nashville, rookie Steven Kampfer was the leading candidate to sit out in favor of Ference.
The Bruins held an optional skate, which makes the starting goaltender hard to determine. But the Bruins’ Twitter feed said Tim Thomas was first off the ice.
We need Ference back big time, but he needs to be healthy. His presence should take ice time and give some much needed rest to the D corp. Kampfer needs to sit in the press box more than Seguin does.
If it wasn’t for his terrible flop in front of Rask to force overtime and lose us a point, I would have told Ference to wait another game, but Kampfer needs to be shaken. He needs to know that you can’t be on this club if you are going to react to a play like that. Ference is composed and hungry and would only get the sit if Kampfer brought more, which I don’t think tonight, he would.
Lets get Ference up to speed and get back to playing physical D
Both Kampfer and Ference could use some game time. It’s a tough call. If Andy can go I guess the vet shouldn’t lose a spot due to injury. Kampfer’s penalty in Nashville was the end of the world but everyone can use a hug. I prefer mine from the front.