They don’t get along. They never have.

Dustin Byfuglien and the Boston Bruin’s Shawn Thornton simply don’t like each other, and if it carries over on the ice, so be it.

“I’m not going to think about it,” Byfuglien said following morning practice before the Hawks play the Bruins Friday night at the United Center. “I’m not going to let it sit in my head, I’m just going to go out there and do my job. If something happens again, then we’ll handle it.”

The again Byfuglien is referring to is last season's November game in which Thornton jumped Byfuglien from behind and was given an instigator and 10-minute misconduct penalty. Both went off for fighting as well.

“He obviously got a good penalty for it and got his 10 but it is what it is, the guy’s an idiot,” Byfuglien said.

The feud goes back further than last year. Both played together in the Hawks system earlier in the decade, and didn’t get along then. Teammates confirm the animosity but can’t point to any one incident.

“They just didn’t get along,” one Hawk player said.

“What needed to be addressed was addressed last year,” Thornton said before taking the ice for Friday’s practice. “It’s all done. I want to get two points and get the hell out of town.”

But when the emotions of the game take over, Thornton admits things happen.

“I’m an emotional player. I don’t go looking for it but if something needs to be taken care of it gets taken care of,” Thornton said.

This may be the holiday season but these two won’t be exchanging pleasant greetings any time soon.

“My Christmas card probably did not make it to his front door,” Thornton said as he walked back into the dressing room.

“The guy’s an idiot,” Byfuglien said a second time.

Game on.

Notes

Antti Niemiis starting in goal. The irony isn’t lost on coach Joel Quennville who has switched goaltenders twice after back to back shutouts which is an unusual move. Quenneville says this is how they have planned things, according to their playing calendar, and has nothing to do with results. He did re-confirm Niemi would see “a little more” work but Cristobal Huet is still the main guy.

Niklas Hjalmarssonwill not play against Boston. Quenneville said he’s “under the weather.”

Cam Barker skated Friday morning and will play against the Bruins after leaving Wednesday’s game with a “lower body injury.” “A guy fell on me a little awkwardly. Doesn’t seem to be too bad, though,” Barker said.