Kampfer back in B's lineup; Thomas expected to start

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By Danny Picard
CSNNE.com

BOSTON -- @font-facefont-family: "Times New Roman";p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormalmargin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; table.MsoNormalTablefont-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; div.Section1page: Section1; Claude Julien knew he would eventually run into this type ofissue. When Mark Stuart returned from a broken hand in January, and with his teamplaying well with youngsters Steve Kampfer and Adam McQuaid on the back end,the Bruins coach realized it wouldn't be an easy decision as to who'd be the healthy scratch for each game.

Stuart played three consecutive games in January, and hada goal, an assist, and was a plus-three. He was scratched for the nexteight games, and then got thrown back into the Bs lineup on Sunday in Detroit.

"Right now, it's turned into a bit of a competition, ifyou may," said Julien after Tuesdays morning skate. "I think lately,our back end hasn't been as consistent as it had been in the past, so weobviously made a move last game and brought Stuart back in the lineup. This isjust something that you knew eventually would happen, and we're dealing withit."

Kampfer was the healthy scratch in that game, but said afterTuesdays morning skate, that hed be back in the lineup against the MapleLeafs.

"Unless something changes by seven o'clock, I'm intonight, said Kampfer.

Kampfer was disappointed to be scratched for Sundays lossin Detroit, seeing that hes a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan. But heunderstands why Julien made the move.

"It was for good reason, said Kampfer. I wasn't happywith my game, as well. It's to help me out in the long run. One game's not goingto hurt, sitting out. I've got to get perspective on sitting out and watchingthat game. Hopefully we'll be able to go tonight.

"I don't think I was really slipping, I just don't think I was doingthings with a sense of urgency, as much as I was in the beginning stages. Yourealize that maybe when you sit back and you try to make the outstanding playinstead of the easy play, your game starts going that way. And I think that'swhat I was trying to do. I was trying to force things too much, instead ofplaying the simple, easy way that I was when I got up."

"He really felt he got a lot from sitting up there and watching the game,said Julien. We've said it a million times before, it never hurts, once in awhile, for a young player to get up there and see what's going on."

Also returning to the lineup is Daniel Paille, who hasfinished serving a four-game suspension for an illegal hit on Dallas RaymondSawada on Feb. 3. He said after Tuesdays morning skate that, because hesplaying on a checking line with Shawn Thornton and Gregory Campbell, he cantchange the way he plays.

Obviously Ill think about certain plays, but Im going totry and stay physical, especially playing with the line Im with now, saidPaille. Thats how I have to play. I just have to be aware of certain plays,and try not to extend the arm out maybe.

Tim Thomas was the first Bruins goaltender off the ice onTuesday, and is expected to start against Toronto.

Danny Picard is on Twitter at http:twitter.comDannyPicard. You can listen to Danny on his streaming radio show I'm Just Sayin'Monday-Friday from 9-10 a.m. on CSNNE.com.

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