The Boston Bruins vs. Matt Cooke: A Primer

BOSTON -- Since the beginning of the regular season, signs all around TD Garden in Boston have declared, "The Big, Bad Bruins are Back." At 31-26-12, the disappointing, often passion-free Bruins haven't been that tough at all on opponents, but on Thursday night everyone is expecting them -- counting on them -- to prove it.

On March 7, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke nailed Bruins center Marc Savard with a blindside head shot. Savard lay motionless on the ice and, 11 days later, is still feeling serious effects from a concussion. Cooke was not given a suspension by NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell. That game was in Pittsburgh. The scene of any potential crime on Thursday is the Garden.

A primer ...

What's at Stake: The Bruins are holding on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eatsren Conference, three points ahead of the New York Rangers. The defending champion Penguins are tied atop the Atlantic Division with New Jersey and fighting for the No. 2 seed so they wouldn't have to face Washington until the conference finals. Also at stake -- the Bruins' reputation not as a big, bad team, but just as a team.

Savard's Status: "Savvy's not doing any better," reports Boston coach Claude Julien. The concussed Savard's symptoms include headaches and nausea. His sensitivity to light is supposedly so intense, the playmaking center needs to sit in dark rooms.

Oh, the Irony: On a night when Boston fans want retribution for the blindside knockout of one of the Bruins' best players, the organization is honoring the real big, bad Bruins' 1970 Cup team in a pre-game ceremony.

Potential Combatants: Shawn Thornton is Boston's resident tough guy fourth-liner. The 6-1, 210-pound left wing has 114 penalty minutes this season. He's one of the smartest enforcers in the league. Don't expect him take a stupid penalty that could cost his team two important points in the stands in the name of justice.

The Fall Guy: Bruins forward Blake Wheeler appears to be best known around here these days as the one Bruin on the ice who saw what Cooke did to Savard on March 7 and did nothing about it. Unless the 6-3, 190-pound Wheeler changes his approach, chances are they won't be honoring him at the Garden in 30 years.

The Minor Stumbling Block: Matt Cooke has four fights this season -- against Ilya Kovalchuk, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury and Ron Niedermayer. In other words, Cooke is a clubber, not a fighter.

The Other Strategy: If Cooke doesn't engage, the Bruins could opt for making a run at one of the Penguins' playmakers. Pittsburgh has plenty to choose from.

Referees: The NHL hand-picked veteran refs Stephen Walkom and Bill McCreary for the grudge match. Walkom is the NHL's former supervisor of officials who returned to the ice this season. McCreary's resume is long with Cup finals and Olympic games.

Eyes in the Sky: Colin Campbell announced earlier in the week that he would attend Bruins vs. Cooke in person. The czar of discipline will be joined by Walkom's successor as supervisor, Terry Gregson. With the luxury set-up of wide-screens Campbell and his team has in their Toronto office to watch games, it seems unnecessary for Campbell to be here in person.

Campbell's presence feels like an umpire warning both teams when just one pitcher brushes back a batter. Still, it won't deter the Bruins from an attempt at retribution.