NEWARK, N.J. -- Despite Tuukka Rask making 40 saves in a 1-0 shutout win against the New Jersey Devils last week, Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien has opted to go with backup Anton Khudobin against the Devils on Wednesday at Prudential Center (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2).

Rask, who is 2-0-0 with one goal allowed against the Devils this season, has played in three consecutive games and the Bruins play again Thursday at home against the New York Islanders.

Khudobin is 8-3-0 with a 2.07 goals-against average and .929 save percentage this season.

NEWARK, N.J. -- Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron has begun working out on his own, but there is no timetable for his return from a concussion.

Bergeron will miss his fourth straight game Wednesday when the Bruins face the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2). He was injured after colliding with Ottawa Senators forward Colin Greening during a game April 2.

"Any time a guy starts doing something it's a step in the right direction," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "We never comment any more than that because, as you heard me say often, those things are encouraging one day and discouraging the next, so we just keep our fingers crossed and keep hoping that he keeps getting better."

DETROIT -- St. Louis Blues forward Andy McDonald is out of the lineup for the game Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings because of the flu.

As a result of McDonald's absence, the Blues are playing with seven defensemen, but they're using Kris Russell as a left wing on the fourth line.

McDonald has four goals and 11 assists for 15 points in 26 games this season.

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CHICAGO -- Jonas Hiller was the first off the ice after the Anaheim Ducks' morning skate Friday at United Center, so it looks like he'll again be in net to try to stop the bleeding against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Ducks have lost four in a row since their 4-2 win over the Blackhawks on March 20. Hiller gave up four goals on 29 shots in a 4-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.

The Ducks have allowed nine first-period goals over the past four games. They yielded eight first-period goals in their previous 14 games.

"You gotta look at the way we started the last couple of games and it hasn't been great," Ducks forward Corey Perry told NHL.com. "We had a stat up this morning that we gave up nine goals in the first period in the last four games and that's just not starting the game the right way. If we're better in the first 10 minutes and get our feet under us we'll be all right for the rest of the game."

Anaheim is the only team in the Western Conference that hasn't lost to Chicago this season. The Ducks are five points behind the Blackhawks in second place in the Western Conference standings.

Here is the projected lineup for Anaheim against Chicago on Friday:

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils forward Harri Pesonen will make his NHL debut Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens at Prudential Center. Pesonen will skate as the left wing on a line with Patrik Elias and David Clarkson.

The Devils signed Pesonen, 24, last year after the Stanley Cup Final ended. He was playing professionally in his native Finland.

Pesonen, who was called up Tuesday, has 25 points, including 11 goals, in 54 games with the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League.

"Some energy, some fresh legs," Devils coach Peter DeBoer said when asked what he wants to see out of Pesonen. "It's his first NHL game so I think he'll be excited. He's a guy that's played pro hockey over in Europe a little so he's not a 20-year-old rookie coming in; he's a 24-year-old that's played some pro. I'm hoping that that transition is a little bit easier for him."

Devils rookie Stefan Matteau will play for the first time March 9. He has been a healthy scratch for the past three games.

NEWARK, N.J. -- Montreal Canadiens forward Michael Ryder did not make the trip for the game Saturday night against the New Jersey Devils because of a lower-body injury.

Ryder, who practiced Friday, stayed in Montreal to receive treatment.

"There were too many question marks," Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said. "We feel it's better for him to treat it and resolve the problem. When we put him back in the lineup he's going to be 100 percent. At this time of the year we don't want to take any risks.

"It's not like a major injury, but it's something we have to pay attention to."

Ryder will be replaced in the lineup by Mike Blunden, who was recalled Friday from the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League. Travis Moen will move up from the fourth line to play on the top line with Tomas Plekanec and Brian Gionta.

Blunden had quite a trip just getting to Newark.

NEWARK, N.J. -- Martin Brodeur (back) skated on his own for the second straight day, but New Jersey Devils coach Peter DeBoer said it's still too soon to determine when the injured goaltender will resume working out with the team. So Johan Hedberg will make his 10th consecutive start Wednesday night.

The Devils host the Philadelphia Flyers at Prudential Center in NBCSN's Wednesday Night Rivalry game (7:30 p.m., NBCSN, TSN2).

Hedberg hasn't started 10 games in a row since the 2001-02 season, when he started 10 straight for the Pittsburgh Penguins from Jan. 5-23.

"I feel good," Hedberg told NHL.com. "People always ask me before the year how many starts do you expect, and I say I don't expect anything. Anything that you do expect usually gets changed anyway. During the season, so many things happen so you have to be ready for whatever happens."

PHILADELPHIA -- Forward Matt Read returned to the Philadelphia Flyers' lineup Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center against the Pittsburgh Penguins after missing six games with torn muscles in his rib cage.

Read, who last played Feb. 20 against Pittsburgh, was originally supposed to miss six weeks, but he's back after missing exactly 15 days. He is starting the game on the third line with Sean Couturier and Simon Gagne.

Read had 13 points in 18 games this season.

Flyers defenseman Nicklas Grossmann is also in the lineup after leaving the game Tuesday against the New York Rangers after the first period with a lower-body injury.

For the Penguins, defenseman Paul Martin is back after missing two games with a lower-body injury. Martin started the game paired with Brooks Orpik on the Penguins' blue line.

Follow Dan Rosen on Twitter at: @drosennhl

PHILADELPHIA -- As much as the Philadelphia Flyers faithful inside Wells Fargo Center attempt to make Sidney Crosby and Co. uncomfortable every time they're here, since coach Dan Bylsma took over, the Pittsburgh Penguins have typically been able to brush it off and play their game.

The Penguins are 8-2-1 under Bylsma at Wells Fargo Center. They'll try to push it to 9-2-1 Thursday night.

"They'd probably say the same about coming to Pittsburgh, they've done pretty well there," Crosby said, referring to the Flyers' 8-3-0 record there since Bylsma took over on Feb. 15, 2009.

PHILADELPHIA -- Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Paul Martin could return to the lineup Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers after missing two games with a lower-body injury.

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said Martin will be a game-time decision, but the defenseman, who skated in practice Thursday morning with regular partner Brooks Orpik, said he feels good and hopes to be in.

"The last couple of days it's been getting better and today was no different," Martin said. "I hopefully expect to be in tonight."