Horton/By S. Bradley

WILMINGTON, Mass. — Prior to today’s practice at Ristuccia Arena, Bruins forward Nathan Horton skated with Bruins strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides.

Goaltender Tuukka Rask was also on the ice.

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Krug made his NHL debut/Photo by D. Hickling

BOSTON — Playing in the first of three games that are basically glorified exhibitions because of their locked-in status as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, the last thing the Bruins wanted to happen tonight against Pittsburgh was an injury to a key player.

Well, their worst nightmare became reality when Johnny Boychuk went down to the ice after a collision with Penguins forward Arron Asham 6:45 into the third period of Pittsburgh’s 5-3 win at TD Garden.

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Krug debuts for the Bruins tonight.

BOSTON — As expected, Tim Thomas will not start tonight against Pittsburgh at TD Garden.

Head coach Claude Julien announced Marty Turco as the starter with Anton Khudobin, just recalled from the Providence farm club, as tonight’s backup. However, Julien said Thomas is not shut down for the rest of the regular season and will play again before the playoffs open next week.

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Khudobin

Although Tuukka Rask seems to be progressing well in his attempt to return from a severe abdominal/groin injury he suffered early last month, the Bruins still need to make sure they have a backup goaltender with some experience for when the playoffs start in nine days.

So today they recalled Anton Khudobin from Providence of the American Hockey League. Khudobin was recovering from his own injury when Rask went down, which led to the brief recall of Michael Hutchinson and the subsequent signing of veteran Marty Turco. Turco is not eligible to play in the postseason.

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Bergeron/By S. Bradley

Ottawa’s rout of the New York Islanders earlier today put the heat on the Bruins to win the Northeast Division title without backing into it.

On the strength of Patrice Bergeron’s power-play goal and Tim Thomas’ 33 saves, the Bruins did just that by beating the New York Rangers, 2-1, at Madison Square Garden. It was Boston’s first win in four tries against Eastern Conference-leading Rangers this season.

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Marchand/By S. Bradley

While still not decided, the Bruins’ race against Ottawa for the Northeast Division title lacks for drama now that Boston leads the Senators by six points and needs just clinch a tie to repeat as division champion.

However, a better race is brewing with just four games remaining in the Bruins’ season. Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand, who both scored in the Bruins’ 6-3 win over the New York Islanders today, are all tied up for the team goal lead.

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The Penguins helped the Bruins.

It’s rare for the Bruins to root for Pittsburgh, especially considering the Penguins still employ Public Enemy No. 1 Matt Cooke.

However, playoff races make for odd bedfellows, and tonight the Penguins did Boston a heavy. Pittsburgh defeated Buffalo in regulation, 5-3, which according to the Bruins and the NHL was what Boston needed to clinch a playoff berth.

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Seidenberg's awaiting medical clearance to play./By S. Bradley

BOSTON — The news was mostly positive about the Bruins two ailing defenseman after an optional practice today at the TD Garden.

Dennis Seidenberg, who missed his first game of the season last night, said he’s feeling fine and could be cleared to return to the lineup over the weekend when the Bruins play a back-to-back against the two New York teams.

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Thomas is no longer perfect in shootouts/By S. Bradley

BOSTON – Although they didn’t do it with just their top snipers getting the glory, the Washington Capitals ended Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas’ perfect shootout record tonight.

Speeder Alexander Semin scored one of the Capitals’ goals, but the other Washington scores came off the sticks of hard-working forwards Matt Hendricks and Brooks Laich in a shootout the Caps won 3-2 to clinch a 3-2 win in the game.

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Corvo

BOSTON — After six games as a scratch, Joe Corvo will get a chance to return to the Bruins’ lineup tonight against the Washington Capitals at the TD Garden, head coach Claude Julien confirmed after his team’s morning skate.

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Paille's been a healthy scratch/By S. Bradley

WILMINGTON, Mass. — Bruins head coach Claude Julien doesn’t consider Monday’s travel day back from California an off day, so today he allowed his players to have an optional skate.

A handful of players took the Ristuccia Arena ice, led by the healthy scratches Daniel Paille, Joe Corvo and Mike Mottau, and back-up goaltender Marty Turco.

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Chara/By S. Bradley

BOSTON – Zdeno Chara skated in his 1,000th NHL game Saturday night in Los Angeles.

Before Tuesday night’s game with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Bruins and the NHL lavished the Boston captain with gifts to commemorate that accomplishment. After the ceremony, Chara went out and thanked the Bruins the best way he knows how.

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Peverley/By S. Bradley

BOSTON — After taking Monday to travel back from the West Coast, the Bruins hit the TD Garden ice for their morning skate in preparation for tonight’s game against Tampa Bay.

Among those on the ice was Rich Peverley, who missed 19 games with a knee sprain before he returned to the lineup and played more than 16 minutes in Boston’s win at Anaheim Sunday. Peverley says he’s feeling fine and that now he just has to continue to work his way back to being 100 percent normal.

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Kelly's line is on fire/By S. Bradley

For much of this season, the debate has raged as to whether the line centered by David Krejci or the one with Patrice Bergeron in the middle was the Bruins’ No. 1 line.

Well, over the last 10 days a third candidate has emerged. The line of Chris Kelly centering Brian Rolston and Benoit Pouliot is on fire, and that trio of forwards combined for six points in Boston’s 3-2 win Sunday night in Anaheim.

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Krug's coming to Boston from East Lansing.

The Bruins have today confirmed their signing of Michigan State defenseman Torey Krug, who has left the Spartans after his junior season.

While the deal was reported earlier by several outlets, the fact that Krug is joining Boston and not reporting to the Bruins’ Providence (AHL) farm club is something of a surprise. Krug will be eligible to play in regular-season games but not the postseason.

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