Zach Hamill Making Season Debut, Tim Thomas In Net, As Bruins Take On Sharks

BOSTON — The Bruins will have a few tweaks in the lineup on Saturday as they take on San Jose in a matinee at the Garden.

With Daniel Paille serving the first game of his four-game suspension, Zach Hamill with make his season debut with the big club and play his second career NHL game. The 2007 first-round pick will center the third line between Michael Ryder and Blake Wheeler.

Tyler Seguin moves down to the fourth line. He'll play the right side, with Shawn Thornton sliding to left wing and Greg Campbell staying at center. Thornton left practice early on Friday, but coach Claude Julien declared him good to go in Saturday's game.

Julien also stated there would be no changes on defense, so Mark Stuart will remain a healthy scratch. Tim Thomas returns in the net after Tuukka Rask got the start in Thursday's win over Dallas.

For the Sharks, Antti Niemi is expected to start in goal, but finding a backup was a bit of a scramble. Antero Niittymaki tweaked a groin injury and is not available, and Alex Stalock, the starter for the Sharks' AHL affiliate in Worcester, was injured in a game Friday night. Worcester backup Carter Hutton has been recalled instead to serve as Niemi's understudy.   

Projected Bruins lines

Forwards
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Mark Recchi
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Blake Wheeler-Zach Hamill-Michael Ryder
Shawn Thornton-Greg Campbell-Tyler Seguin

Defense
Zdeno Chara-Steven Kampfer
Dennis Seidenberg-Johnny Boychuk
Andrew Ference-Adam McQuaid

Goalies
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask

Scratches: Daniel Paille (suspension), Marc Savard (concussion), Mark Stuart

Projected Sharks lines

Forwards
Patrick Marleau-Joe Thornton-Dany Heatley
Ryane Clowe-Joe Pavelski-Devin Setoguchi
Ben Eager-Kyle Wellwood-Benn Ferreiro
Jamal Mayers-John McCarthy-Scott Nichol

Defense
Douglas Murray-Dan Boyle
Marc-Edouard Vlasic-Kent Huskins
Niclas Wallin-Jason Demers

Goalies
Antti Niemi
Carter Hutton

Scratches: Derek Joslin, Antero Niittymaki (groin)