Veteran Slovakian forward Miroslav Satan didn't arrive in Boston until January, but he made an impact offensively down the stretch for the Bruins. (photo: Getty)

Note: Continuing our look back at the 2009-10 Bruins, the Black & Gold Blog’s player-by-player report card now turns its attention to Miroslav Satan, who was signed midway through the season but made an impact down the stretch for the offensively-challenged Bruins.

Miroslav Satan

2009-10 stats: 38 games, 9-5-14, plus-8, 12 PIMs

Playoffs: 13 games, 5-5-10, plus-4, 16 PIMs

Other numbers of note: Was a plus-2 after just two shifts as the Bruins scored the first two times he stepped on the ice against Ottawa on Jan. 5; scored just four goals in his first 26 games, but had 10 in his final 25 games (5 in his final 12 games of the regular season and 5 more in 13 playoff games); three of his five playoff goals were game-winners, including one in double-OT to beat Buffalo in Game 4; that goal started a six-game point streak when he posted 5-4-9 totals; led the Bruins with a 15.3 shooting percentage (9 goals on 59 shots), but still wasn’t exactly accurate, as nearly a third of his shot attempts missed the net (28 missed shots); did add five goals on 37 shots in the playoffs with just seven missed shots; never known as a physical player despite his 6-foot-3 frame, but just nine hits in 38 games (plus 4 in the playoffs) is still a little ridiculous; also had just four blocked shots, though he did add six in the playoffs.

Preseason expectations: None, at least not in Boston as he began the year out of hockey. When the Bruins finally signed him in early January, they hoped the veteran still had a few more goals left in his stick, but expectations were tempered by the fact that he had not played all season.

Performance evaluation: Satan exceeded expectations considering the circumstances, picking up his play after a solid showing for Slovakia at the Olympics. He became a legitimate scoring threat down the stretch and in the playoffs, where he delivered several huge goals against the Sabres and early in the Flyers series. But once David Krejci went down with a wrist injury when he took a hit from Mike Richards to start a play that ended with a Satan goal, Satan’s offense disappeared and he did not have another point in the playoffs without his center.

2010-11 outlook: Satan showed he still had something left in the tank with his performance late in the season, but as much as the Bruins need scoring, it’s hard to see Satan being in their plans for next year. He signed for short money (pro-rated $700,000) but will likely look for more on a new deal as he heads to unrestricted free agency on July 1. The Bruins would be better off utilizing their limited cap space elsewhere and leaving more room for a youngster to crack the lineup, but Satan did contribute in his short stay in Boston.

Regular-season grade: B-

Playoff grade: B+

Overall grade: B

Matt Cooke is in the lineup tonight for Pittsburgh in the Penguins’ game at Carolina, having escaped any discipline from the NHL. Marc Savard isn’t playing for the Bruins against Philadelphia, and the team has acknowledged that Savard will likely not play again this year has he has yet to show any signs of improvement from the concussion he suffered as a result of Cooke’s cowardly blindside shot to his head on Sunday.

“There’s a good chance that Marc may be out for the year,” said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli prior to tonight’s game against the Flyers. “He’s one of our best players, so it’s devastating to us.”

Savard met with neuro-psychological specialist Dr. Kelly McInnis today, but the examination revealed little progress in his recovery. The Boston Globe reported that Savard remains plagued by symptoms that include sleep disruption, dizziness, sensitivity to light, nausea and difficulty concentrating.

The Bruins are also without forward Miroslav Satan tonight, as he is out with a groin injury. He has been replaced by Brad Marchand on a line with Vladimir Sobotka and Milan Lucic. Captain Zdeno Chara is back after missing one game with a lower-body injury. Jeff Penner is the healthy scratch on defense.

Tuukka Rask is also back in goal after Tim Thomas had started the last four games.