Big Bad Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
RSS

Chris Bourque a healthy scratch vs. Sabres

 01.31.13 at 12:07 pm ET
By DJ Bean

Chris Bourque

After a challenging start to his Bruins career, Chris Bourque will be made a healthy scratch Thursday night against the Sabres, Claude Julien confirmed after the team’s morning skate.

Bourque, who has no points and a minus-4 rating through six games, stayed out later than his teammates in the skate, which is often a sign that a player won’t be in that night’s lineup. Tough guy Lane MacDermid will be inserted into the lineup on the fourth line, while Daniel Paille will move up to take Bourque’s spot on Chris Kelly‘s line.

“Chris spent a little extra time on the ice, and he’s a player that we’re going to sit out tonight,” Julien said Thursday. “I had a good talk with Chris this morning. I think he’s putting a lot of pressure on himself right now, and it’s certainly not the Chris we know. I’ve seen him enough to know he’s a really skater, he’s a really good playmaker, but I think right now he’s putting way too much pressure on himself. Hopefully we can help him through that. Once he takes that extra weight off his shoulders, you’re going to see a player that can certainly be a much more efficient player than he’s shown so far.”

For more on the Bruins, visit weei.com/bruins.

Read More: Chris Bourque, Lane MacDermid, Print  |  Email   | Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • philips66

    Good move at least for this game. Add some toughness to the 4th line, and some speed to the 3rd. That said I hope Bourque is back in next game, and gets a decent shot at the 3rd line again.

  • Your name

    Oh thank goodness.  Ray Bourque possesses some of the most desired hockey genes in the world,  his wife must have the least desired, because this kid has none of his dads grit nor skill.  Its a good story, but this kid does not belong in the NHL.  I would still suit Ray up over his kid

  • streak time

    Keep the streak going.

  • Jtb75093

    I still cant believe they even signed this kid to an NhL contract…he’s at best an AhL Level player

  • Titletown1

    Honestly, aside from being Ray’s kid, what does he bring to this line-up?

    There are hundreds of kids with talent superior to his languishing in the minors. Enough said….

  • glenn88

    Chris is an AHL superstar and can be a legend in Providence, but he can’t play at the NHL level.  It has nothing to do with “pressing”, his size and lack of elite speed (Marchand) is the issue.  There is a reason no other NHL club gave him a chance by age 27, despite being and AHL all star. 

    McDermitt is fine for now, but the Bruins will have to address a 3rd line player in either Caron or a trade.   Paille helps make the 4th line effective with his speed.  

  • John Charbonneau13

    Oh thank God….painful to watch on the power play and penalty shots.  He does nothing particularly well.  Waste of a roster spot.

  • Deeman3

    Evidently you don’t know anything about the game to make such a stupid statement the kid is good I have seen him play but no wonder he is feeling pressure by the stupidly of people like yourself …

  • Harv

    Chris has proven himself at the international level and in the AHL. Look at the guy’s personal accomplishments and championships and then decide if he deserves a fair shot at the NHL.
    He does have to play under the microscope every time he touches the puck, always being compared to his Dad. This can’t be easy, especially wearing a Bruin’s jersey.
    Special teams is a big part of todays hockey and Chris excels in every area here. Just watch.
    Confidence will breed success here, he just a little more time.
    Harv

Bruins Box Score
Bruins Schedule
Bruins Headlines
NHL Headlines