“What would you expect me to do? It’s a coach trying to find solutions. It’s as simple as that. … If it doesn’t [work], I’m telling you right now, you’re going to see changes again.” -- Claude Julien, Oct. 28.

Julien had no choice but to shuffle the lines once again on Friday in hopes that the Bruins could get back to their winning ways. One day and another loss later, maybe it’s time for more changes. This time, perhaps the changes should be more severe. 

The Bruins’ latest contest, a 4-2 loss to the Canadiens at Bell Centre Saturday, has the last-place Bruins sitting with a 3-7-0 record after the first 10 games of the season and a truly horrid month. They’ve scored just 20 goals on the season, only three of which have been in front of Tuukka Rask (0-3-0). They’ve gotten a better Tyler Seguin, but a team with the likes of David Krejci and Nathan Horton, among others, shouldn’t be banking on the second-year player to be their brightest light on offense. The goaltending has been good, but again, 20 goals of support can only get you so far. Turns out it gets you a 3-7-0 record and the worst start to the season for a defending champion team since 1994. 

Looking at the Bruins’ roster and the success that it had a season ago, the play and the results have been baffling, even for those initially willing to write it off as a “Stanley Cup hangover” (that’s a term that hasn’t really been used by media or fans, but who knows? Maybe it will catch on). The same bodies have been yielding the same disappointing results after a month, and though Peter Chiarelli has cap space to play with (between $2.6 million and $6.6 million depending on whether they want to put Marc Savard on long-term injury reserve)  and has reportedly been working the phones, but what difference-maker can be had this early in the season?

Here’s a less-costly option that still sends the message that clearly needs to be sent: When the Bruins are next on the ice, why not call up a 23rd guy? The mere presence of a Zach Hamill (Providence’s points leader) or another small-name P-Bruin might look like the most callable bluff imaginable for the current B’s, but why not have Claude Julien say afterwards that he’ll be playing Tuesday against Ottawa? Have him rotate in on each line during line drills, with him even spending a good amount of time with the top six. Don’t make it look like there’s a new candidate for the other third-line wing spot – make the Bruins’ big-name, underperforming forwards legitimately worried that they’ll spend Tuesday night in the press box. Remember, Julien was willing to scratch Michael Ryder last season, so what’s to stop him from making a Nathan Horton (or someone else) sweat it out for a couple of days and then make him watch from the press box. That wouldn’t just send a message to the player being scratched, but a message to the whole team that nobody is safe from a night on level 9. 

I know what you’re thinking: Some combination of Hamill (or whomever)’s name, a remark about the dropoff in talent, and the fact that Julien would never in a million years come out and declare that somebody is playing in an upcoming game (Julien plays those things close to the chest). But what’s the worst that can happen – could the Bruins lose? That’s nothing new right now, and after weeks of shaking up lines and exhausting every resource on the big club to get these guys going, it might be time to try something different.

After Saturday’s loss, one of the most obvious candidates for a healthy scratch would be Horton, who despite assisting the Bruins’ first goal was also the goat for Boston. The playoff hero and ultra-talented power forward has taken two of the worst penalties a player could take this season, the most recent of which came at the Bell Centre Saturday. After the first penalty of a 5-on-3 expired with the B’s trailing in the third period of a 3-1 game, a frustrated Horton negated the remaining power play time for the Bruins by cross-checking Hal Gill. It was the second rally-killing third-period penalty of the season for Horton, who had punched Tim Gleason to earn a roughing double-minor with 8:30 remaining in a one-goal game against the Hurricanes earlier this month. He also has had one shot on goal or less in seven of the Bruins’ 10 games this season.

Horton isn’t the only candidate, but as one of the Bruins’ top players and a guy who’s four points through 10 games is unacceptable, Julien could send a serious message by sitting the 26-year-old.

The Bruins are in a situation virtually unimaginable given their talent and track record, but with unfamiliar territory might come unfamiliar tactics to break out of this mess.