Bruins coach Claude Julien said that Aaron Ward will take pre-game warmups and, if everything feels OK, the veteran defenseman will be back in the lineup today against the Atlanta Thrashers in Phillips Arena. Ward missed the last 10 of 11 games with an ankle injury.
Julien said Matt Lashoff would most likely take a seat.

Tim Thomas was the first goalie off the ice at today’s morning skate, meaning he’ll most likely be the man tonight when the Bruins resume play after their Christmas break with a game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes are coming off a 5-4 see-saw win over the Atlanta Thrashers last night.
Also, Aaron Ward (ankle) and Petteri Nokelainen (shoulder) skated this morning and did some extra work afterwards, but will not play tonight.

          The Bruins this afternoon announced that Patrice Bergeron sustained a concussion in a mid-ice collision with

            Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli released a statement this afternoon, which read in part, “Since being admitted to Mass. General Hospital (yesterday afternoon), Patrice has undergone extensive testing and all of the results have come back normal. When examined this morning, his condition had improved greatly over last night and he was released from the hospital. There is no timetable for his return to the ice.”

            Bergeron, of course, missed most of last season with a severe concussion suffered on Oct. 27, 2007. The 23-year-old played in just 10 games before receiving a vicious hit from Philadelphia’s Randy Jones along the boards.

            After yesterday’s hit, Bergeron stayed on the ice for several minutes, barely moving while surrounded by medical staff and teammates. He was finally helped off the ice, partly supported by his teammates.

Marco Sturm, who has missed the last 12 game with concussion like symptoms, appears to be ready to go for tonight in the Bruins’ game against Toronto at TD Banknorth Garden. He participated in the morning skate and led the team in its stretches afterward.
Coach Claude Julien allowed for the possibility that Sturm could not feel so well when he comes in tonight and kept the “game-time decision” card in his hand, but he expects Sturm to play. With four games in six nights, Julien said that Sturm will be worked in slowly.
“I think it’s important that we don’t overload him in that first game back. He may skip shifts, he may not be put in all the situations he’s been in before. That’s how I work guys back into the lineup,” said Julien. “It’s not so much where (he plays) but how much work and ice we give him in his first game back.”….
Aaron Ward (ankle) and Petteri Nokelainen skated briefly but won’t play tonight…
Tim Thomas was the first goalie off the ice this morning, which means he’ll most likely be the starter….
The B’s are going for their 12th straight win at home. The last time they lost at the Garden was on October 23, when they were outworked by these same Leafs in a 4-2 decision.

After colliding with a linesman in Monday’s win over Tampa Bay, Stephane Yelle stayed off the ice today but will make the trip with the team today to Washington. Coach Claude Julien said x-rays were taken and there were no breaks in the rib area. He termed Yelle as day-to-day while Vladimir Sobotka, called up from Providence on an emergency basis, is also going with the team.
Meanwhile, both Marco Sturm (neck) and Aaron Ward (leg) continued to skate, though it looks doubtful if Ward will play against the Caps.