Thornton On Toucher & Rich: Whining Doesn't Solve Anything
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Bruins have just one game remaining in the regular season before they begin their quest for another Stanley Cup championship.
The Bruins beat the Senators 3-1 in Ottawa Thursday night in what could have been a potential playoff preview. Bruins forward Shawn Thornton joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher and Rich Friday morning, and said that even though the B's and Senators played six times this season -- with the Bruins winning five of those games -- the playoffs will be a lot different.
"Playoffs is a whole new animal, so I don't think it matters. If we play them, we might not have as many meetings, maybe, because we've played them so many times," Thornton joked. "But it doesn't matter, I'm sure they'll make adjustments and so will we as it goes on."
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Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron and Tim Thomas were just a few of the Bruins that got to stay behind and rest up, rather than make the trip to Ottawa. With just one game to go, is there any emphasis on avoiding injuries for those that are in the game?
"I try not to think about it. I think if you start thinking that way, that's usually when you get hurt," said Thornton. "The focus in the room -- even though the points don't matter -- is to play the game so you're ready in a week so you're not flipping a switch and just trying to turn it on [for the playoffs]."
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With Thomas getting the night off, goaltender Anton Khudobin got the start between the pipes, making 44 saves en route to his first victory as a Bruin. Was Thornton impressed with the new netminder?
"He played unbelievable. He was the reason we won that game," Thornton said of Khudobin. "Especially the first period, he made some big stops for us."
Toucher & Rich also asked Thornton about Rangers' head coach John Tortorella's take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, as he lashed out against them Thursday night calling them "one of the most arrogant organizations in the league."
"It was entertaining," laughed Thornton. "I will say this, that coach, he definitely sticks up for his players. I'll give him that."
There has been a lot of criticism towards Pittsburgh and their whining-ways lately. Is there any whining in the Bruins locker room?
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"From the top down, whining doesn't really solve anything for us," said Thornton. "We just kind of go about our business, and if we need to sort something out we usually do it ourselves anyways. I don't think the whining really helps anybody's cause."
