Bruins vs. Panthers Preview: "When I left you I was but the learner. Now I am the master."

Just the Facts:

Game Time: 7:30 PM, BB&T Center. TV Broadcast: NESN. Radio Broadcast: 98.5 The Sports Hub

Rival SB Nation Site: Litter Box Cats

Records: Bruins 3-1-0 vs. Panthers 2-5-0

Get Tickets Here: Boston Bruins Tickets

Panthers Lines:

Kris Versteeg - Jonathan Huberdeau - Scott Gomez
Tomas Fleischmann - Aleksander Barkov - Brad Boyes
Marcel Goc - Jesse Winchester - Shawn Matthias
Tomas Kopecky - Nick Bjugstad - Krys Barch
Brian Campbell - Tom Gilbert
Erik Gudbranson - Matt Gilroy
Dmitry Kulikov - Mike Weaver

Jacob Markstrom

Bruins Lines:

Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Jarome Iginla
Reilly Smith - Patrice Bergeron - Loui Eriksson
Jordan Caron - Chris Kelly - Brad Marchand
Daniel Paille - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton
Zdeno Chara - Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg - Matt Bartkowski
Adam McQuaid - Torey Krug
Tuukka Rask
Chad Johnson

Preview:

Remember that day, long ago, when Tim Thomas signed with the Islanders? Remember how no one ever really gave a thought to the idea of him actually playing in the NHL again? PROVEN WRONG AGAIN, HATERS! Today Thomas returns to NHL ice to face his former club - and his former protégé, Tuukka Rask. THE STUDENT HAS BECOME THE MASTER. It's very Star Wars.

The Panthers have come out of the gate struggling, mostly due to their....well, really everything but their weirdly good PK, which should be made even better by the Bruins' always-stagnant power play. Tim Thomas may be the wild card here - if he comes out flat, the Bruins should have a relatively easy game ahead of them.

Look for Jonathan Huberdeau to provide a good chunk of Panthers offense tonight, alongside old buddy Scott Gomez and former Providence Bruin Kris Versteeg.

NEVER FORGET:

"6'9 AND HE'S A BALLERINA!"