On Jason LaBarbera, who will make his first start in goal since Nov. 1…
“LaBarbera will play. I planned that before the road trip and I told him that he would be playing this game.”

On the insertion of Brad Richardson into the lineup. Richardson will play his sixth game of the season and his first since Oct. 27…
“We will take Boyle out of the lineup and put Richardson in. It’s his first game in a long time. He will center a line with Raitis Ivanans and Simmonds on the right side. He’s been waiting patiently and working hard in the practices. His game is a skating game and this team does have that kind of a team. I know it’s hard, when you’ve been out, to jump back in and be on top of things, but we’re looking for him to have a good game.”

On moving Wayne Simmonds down to a line with Richardson and Ivanans…
“It was something in (Simmonds’) game. I don’t want to get into a `number one’ or `number four’ line thing. I feel it’s very important that we have four lines that can go out and play on a regular basis. His game last night was good at times. He made a good play on the shorthanded goal with Frolov, and there were other good plays, but there were a couple other times when he tries to do a little too much with the puck and turned it over in the neutral zone. That’s a learning process. It’s not a punishment. He’s going to play and the line is going to play.”

On keeping Derek Armstrong in the lineup and moving him to center, with Handzus and Calder…
“Armstrong will be in the middle. I’m going to put him at center, which is his natural position and where he feels comfortable. He’s going to play minutes and an important part of the game. He’s been sitting and waiting patiently.”