Shawn Thornton, Bruins Forward

Michael Holley is off today Mike Milbury is says seated alongside. Very ably filling and we mentioned earlier that the Bruins are in New Jersey to face the Devils tonight. The doubles are white hot twelve to win one in their last fifteen games. The only team hotter than the doubles would be the Bruins joining us on the line right now. From the Boston Bruins as Shawn Thornton Shaun dale and Mike here how -- All we're doing great thanks. This is this is -- a battle of two very hot hockey teams tonight New Jersey.

That's an era toughest test a little -- that's for sure there are pretty good game at Busch well I've played -- for a long time so really detest. Who's single through -- I think we almost certainly Thomas.

Can't go wrong either way these days --

followed the -- we luxury which is nice that's for sure.

So he scored again the other night you're on fire I. Don't. Wanna -- at that. Hey what's. What's made this team so believable what's -- so real that the of the league finally reluctantly. Has taken it seriously.

The mind that room maybe we have got caught up there on. An old one in the time -- it's actually work or so. He's trying to spoke up and the next game and then -- Sacks in -- well well and the guys that. A couple of -- obviously -- Ian. Serbian against the stepped up rights as planned. About it and they're a great job. It's been like --

You know I was kind of joke and with Mike about this earlier. If you're the marketing arm of the Boston Bruins -- the sales arm. You want to trumpet how great this team is some talk about the best team in the east and maybe the best team in the league. And yet if you're Claude Julien and his staff you what you guys to just calm down a little bat.

It you know all of they've been doing pretty good job you. But well and it's a sure.

Well and and and but a lot of that has to do with the I think the psychology. Of the players in the room it's not just the coaches. I I would say there's probably some good veteran leadership who's able to say hey just calm down -- we haven't done anything he got a pretty young team but -- got some young veterans.

that and we got that would have been you know -- to -- it -- airports at three and they've been an -- long it takes to get there and been arrested December doesn't -- hectic so. It's been fun the last couple months but we know we're a long long ways ago where -- at.

You know we Q you got here at the beginning of last season and you just coming off a Stanley Cup run. Had to be kind of an eye opener to receive the empty seats in the what -- was appearing to -- a lack of interest in the team at that point but at that compared to where it is now is going to be remarkable trip for.

Perhaps but also. For me person ever larger rudder couldn't give tickets away now how people are now offered a couple of all of them in -- ticket -- so. But it is Boston's -- or. The -- you know a lot on opposite of what it. 78000 people in the -- in. There's no --

What did you think when -- went down the other night.

Post and the ultimate record result it's quiet it didn't. A well played at -- look that bad at first but. Get up close. -- I haven't talked to have a talk a little on the total that in me. I -- to top it off well. Apparently.

Are you one of those guys that thinks we have to be concerned about the head shots and shots from behind we have to do anymore -- Much ado about well not nothing more about.

I think the I think intentional -- and things of that nature and once behind Michael -- Without -- dressed and that's what players take their own end of that. Huge respect for each other. That it looked at its special older gates caught medium and it at people's gonna happen now they use. Take hitting out of the game and I mean I'm going to finish. Their repertoire. Their repertoire and that we outsider and I missed a check too so. That'll make. Album of the ball little out of portions are concerned that and other ones. Through it and -- much about it I think that that's.

Talking also about the difference in your team and I've I've mentioned this on a couple of occasions this year. He just tougher to play against them I'm not talking about fighting here I'm talking about grit and sandpaper. You just how much fun to play against and that's a good thing.

They had all the guys are we have pretty good system there as by an air of grind it out. Trying to keep up. And I think we get little bit of trouble. Start -- Try and do little with too much sort of pop sort of personal troubles. The we have a lot of guys that are really strong -- and treat to watch them special -- like we look at it to an awfully good to outlaw.

He's up plus nineteen.

Yeah -- pick it and that's that off -- have been deeply big and it's going to be a plus player. It was when he split didn't you -- I just wears under. That.

In and I don't blame him not a big fan of it either but you're talking about surprise players him. David -- he's now knocking on the door of the top ten in the league in scoring. He doesn't look so big he's not so fast what's the key to what he's too.

as patience on believable. He's pretty strong about pocket. I'll practice we do oracle although alternative Ron Adams sometime to joke and gently knocked off the pocket not that figure right but he pretty strong speed. Station police CP -- player at the right time. It's pretty special player.

I've always then. A real fan of a tough guys in the sport of hockey have a real respect. For people who who make a living the way you make a living. I thought the piece that ran in the global last Wednesday. Was fascinating and for people who -- hockey fans they probably don't understand. That there are rules on written though they may be there is etiquette to it. And I thought that peace in the paper really helped bring that out for people who might not know.

Yeah I didn't I didn't read it out to read papers too much at all about possible so. But I had -- that's what -- that he's on. The mutual respect for each other posters out what.

You know we're well getting into that and and Owens deemed it but I I got asked the question of the whole thing in Montreal Lucic in and -- and George or -- has been talked about not just hear about around the league because. You know it was a Don cherry up and Hockey Night in Canada was looked that was his interest there was. How did you feel about all that means that Lucic told not to fight him and then. You had to step in on occasion -- a fight is battled would make sure you're there mean is there. How does that all work out what what makes sense to turn -- a lot --

Less -- artists. -- closer battle for a year and a half before it on the spot. They've read each other for however many games what it's like in street -- spot. Which spewed about plate and the story that's a lot spotted in public Serbs expired to 35 to which sweaters 63 -- Excuse. The cockpit -- 850 pal so. I thought I was the candidate but obviously. They didn't think so so -- carry on the -- George all around erased -- that's their choice -- might might take all of that it was over after the after the player good fight which advocate an upper hand in that and historic and -- look like it's not so.

Shot if you had your druthers with the NHL do away with the investigator penalty.

Yes I want to hear about -- that I think -- Process I just ball like the fact the guys go -- take cheap shots not have kept the ball forever Italy does. The good job with you know pick -- and spending but without that. There's just some some games just wished there was no rule such as the year palace in maybe against us.

Well I I can tell you that when I saw Zdeno -- jump men. Same night Shane O'Brien from also jumped in and and was counted and and fight they got instigator penalties both teams got through it. And I come from an -- were there were. Blind sides here polls and I mean real legitimate hits to they had. From a guy that never sought common so alive as much as I understand what you're saying about policing and I. I wonder whether we're going to get especially with the size of the guys with a one of these cheap shots or one crack that somebody's instigating here with a loaded -- to cause more damage than anybody wants to talk.

Well I hope that we move on Parcells is. But it appears that fire and hectic it is Cardinals. Even that which Arnott was sort -- and then stick up for. Obviously it goes 67 China is what he's doing his job traffic ticket office in. I don't know I guess cousins the distance travel weather in parts I don't know why that is investigators -- somebody's going to address such as that syllables. And I don't know I. He waited they dropped it won't receive time that was addressed I don't know why that be considered cheaters that your.

Well that the rule states if you go certain distances author's intent if there's. Menacing all that stuff comes into play and lets his I don't like it I think the the instigator penalty was to avoid somebody getting out. Punch in the head when he wasn't looking to me. That he might have instigated the fight but that's not what we're trying to prevent that's the exact exactly the kind of Mannelly approach to fighting. I think everybody in hockey thanks as the right way to go.

Do you think there's there's still too much of a lack of respect amongst players in the NHL and and even if you go back to the Bergeron hit a year ago against the flyers. It seems to me there's a certain and and I don't know if if guys just think they can't hurt other guys or not but that doesn't seem to be enough respect for hate this guys in a vulnerable position I can't take him out here.

Yeah. I mean not everyone abuses. Few isolated. Incidents but. -- you have that split second decision I think he's of these numbers. Permanently pole position. There's not a -- different case I think sometimes. Guys about the situations.

Talking about your team in and we talked to Mike and I were talking earlier it seems like whoever comes up. Fits right in whoever is asked to step up their game does that. Has it surprised you what how seamless. Some of these transitions of -- because you're missing some pretty key people right now.

Yes and all I mean the guys that step then we've seen before -- last year once every now. Back injuries. And knows. -- here that was just called up and that was in the minors should note that there it was he can agree to outlast. There four point oh in the minors he's more at first point. He needed a great job for so. Not surprising and -- public really stepped in and take on that the rules are bigger roles and -- more -- surprises that.

view -- Brian Burke sometime the last couple weeks in the -- and off. Pretty little good Bobble Soviet in the Stanley Cup ring how'd that go down.

This. Last year but last year actually right now I'm in the -- got my.

It was a quiet moment he was just I just seem -- a couple couple weeks ago -- recently was remembering. And how emotional was for you to get it and and what it meant to you to be in. The situation and and and to be able to contribute I just kind of curious and set -- I'm not wearing one because it was too many men on the ice penalty. What I meant to be in that quiet position when Brian Burke and and have backed down.

I would. -- long long road for me personally come up to the minors in. Be given a chance to play around -- that but let me it and and then in the majority of the game. Yeah but -- the couple -- at his own life and close second -- up and show off their. The -- about what do -- Special. -- but it figures. Out.

Final question from me you hung around here a lot of the offseason impact. I talked the and at an NBA finals game you were their for the first game of the NBA finals and we talked I've seen it. At at Fenway Park Q you've got to feel now for this community and and the winning that the other franchises have done. Have you gotta feel yet for what it would be like for the Bruins franchise if they could follow what some of these other teams in town of done.

care there and it's still early but -- city. What I came here once or hockey city there's foremost if it would get back to make an exciting it into the garden and start to feel that now so. I can only imagine what do you like it if there there there's.

Read jealous when you saw the Celtics when the NBA championship.

That brought back. And to also brought back memories it's personal. -- I'm. I got to run and -- Pollard couple weeks later and -- in his pocket. Doesn't really matter what sport -- the feelings and so -- of field again.

Well not a question for me -- but more comment than and I. As a guy who had dislike my way through the league I think. I think it's been it's great for me to watch what you brought to this team guys it's brought a sense of honor and identity to it something the Bruins were. We're missing and and you -- a guy like Aaron Award of help bring this thing back to have to the forefront and and and I for one as an ex -- very much appreciate what you've done for the franchise.

Much like -- Shot was great talk to you good luck tonight against the Devils thanks -- you take care. That is a Boston Bruins forward John -- joining us from New Jersey and actually probably. Little time off from his pregame nap by that -- John joining us on the eighteenth the hotline AT&T. Your world delivered.