In February, Matt Hunwick appeared in only three NHL games. The rookie defenseman missed four games because of flu-like symptoms. He was a healthy scratch for six more. While the Bruins scored a 6-1 win over the Florida Panthers last Tuesday, Hunwick was in Providence for a one-game AHL tuneup.

Yesterday, the seldom-used Hunwick closed out the month in an unexpected position: riding shotgun on the first line with Marc Savard and Phil Kessel. Hunwick, playing his second game this season up front, responded with a 2-point performance.

On Jan. 27 against the Capitals, Hunwick skated on the fourth line. On Friday, Hunwick practiced as a forward.

"He was great," said Savard. "He reminded me of [Marco Sturm] with the speed. He's got a good shot and he get in those danger areas, so it was a lot of fun to play with him."

Hunwick replaced Milan Lucic, out with an upper-body injury he suffered Thursday when fighting Anaheim forward Mike Brown.

Coach Claude Julien said Lucic was day-to-day.

Although Hunwick doesn't have Lucic's size or strength, the natural defenseman employed his speed and hockey sense to keep up with Savard and Kessel.

In the first period, with a forechecker in his face, Hunwick rapped a pass off the wall in the defensive zone to Savard, who sprang Kessel for a scoring chance.

Later in the first, after winning a puck battle against Norris Trophy candidate Mike Green in the corner, Hunwick slid the puck to Savard, then went straight to the top of the crease. From behind the goal, Savard returned the pass to Hunwick, who tapped a shot past goalie Jose Theodore at 5:03 for his second goal in two games.

In the second period, 18 seconds after Alex Ovechkin wristed an off-wing shot past Tim Thomas, Hunwick recorded on assist on Kessel's tying goal.

"Just tried to go out and use my speed and play my game," said Hunwick. "I just tried to keep it simple. Obviously Savvy's a great passer. Just tried to use my speed to get it on the forecheck."