“The logical response would be yes,’’ said Julien, asked if he ever considered wearing a helmet during practices. “But we are stubborn in our ways. If I’m on the ice, I don’t want to wear one.’’
Ruff, in his 14th season as Sabres coach, watched from the press box last night. Longtime NHL defenseman James Patrick, Ruff’s lead assistant, assumed the role of bench boss and was in charge of the forwards.
Ruff was injured when defenseman Jordan Leopold lost an edge during a skating drill and tumbled into the unaware coach, who will turn 52 a week from tomorrow. X-rays revealed that Ruff cracked three ribs, and he has not returned to work.
Renney, another veteran coach, was felled when a puck deflected by defenseman Ladislav Smid struck him in the head, requiring the 56-year-old to have some 20 stitches. He missed that night’s game and also remained off the ice for the Oilers workout Tuesday.
Tuukka time
Tuukka Rask , without a win in his last three starts, started in the Boston net last night, looking for his first win since a 3-2 shootout decision over the Panthers Jan. 16, but he didn’t make it out of the second period. On the morning of games, Julien rarely reveals his starting netminder, but he was quick to tell the media yesterday that Rask would be in net. Is the old coach going soft? “Nope,’’ he said. “Just depends what side of the bed I get up on.’’
Home stretch
Former Sabre Daniel Paille led the Bruins through their brief on-ice stretch following the morning workout. There is no hard-and-fast rule as to who will lead the stretch, which has one player in the middle of the ice, ringed by his teammates. But on the road, it’s usually the Bruin with some connection to the host team or town.
“I was the guy because I played here and I grew up only 20 minutes away,’’ explained Paille, who grew up just over the border in Welland, Ontario, practically a bike ride to Niagara Falls. “And when we’re in Columbus, it’s Quaider [Adam McQuaid] because he was drafted by them. And in Montreal, Bergy [Patrice Bergeron] because he’s from Quebec City. In Florida, we’ve got [ex-Panthers] Soup [Gregory Campbell] and Horts [Nathan Horton].’’
