Friday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

It's been awhile. I hope everyone had some great holidays. B's on the road at New York Islanders tonight. Isles sitting out of the playoffs right now so every game - especially conference games - for them really starts getting big now that we turned the calendar from '02 to '03...Anyway on to the info

BOSTON BRUINS at NEW YORK ISLANDERS

at
1/3/2003
Friday, January 3, 2003
Nassau Coliseum; Uniondale NY
7:00 PM (ET) - Gametime
6:30 PM (ET) - Boston Globe Pre-Game Report
NESN

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins visit the Islanders tonight in the second of four games between these clubs this season and the first of two games of this season's series at Nassau Coliseum. The Bruins are 21-11-4-1 overall and are 9-6-2-1 on the road thus far this season. The Islanders are 16-16-5-0 overall with a 9-10-2-0 record on home ice thus far this season. The Bruins are 4-1-1-0 vs. Atlantic Division opponents this season and are 15-8-3-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Islanders are 3-5-1-0 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 11-11-4-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 57-38-17-1 lifetime vs. the Islanders with a 400-347 scoring advantage in those 113 games. On the road, the Bruins are 27-23-7-0 lifetime vs. New York with a 189-188 scoring edge in those 57 games. The Bruins won the first game of this season's series with a 4-1 victory in Boston on Nov. 14. The Bruins are unbeaten in their last three visits to Nassau Coliseum at 2-0-1-0 with their last loss at the Islanders a 4-2 setback on Oct. 31, 2000.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins are even over their last five games at 2-2-1-0 with a 3-3 tie with Florida on Dec. 21, a 5-2 win over San Jose on Dec. 23, a 5-2 loss in Tampa Bay on Dec. 27, a 1-0 victory in Atlanta on Dec. 28 and a 1-0 loss to New Jersey on Dec. 30. That followed a five-game losing stretch from Dec. 10-19 and they are now 2-7-1-0 in their last ten games and are 10-8-1-0 in their last 19 contests.

Recent Islanders Games
The Islanders have won their last four games, including the last two in overtime, with a 3-1 victory over Montreal on Dec. 23, a 3-0 win vs. Carolina on Dec. 28, a 2-1 overtime victory over Florida on Dec. 30 and a 1-0 overtime win in Buffalo on Dec. 31. They are 5-3-2-0 in their last ten games.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins next return home to host Carolina on Jan. 4 (7:00 p.m.) and then face a two-game road trip in Toronto on Jan. 7 (7:30 p.m.) and in Buffalo on Jan. 10 (7:00 p.m.). All games are broadcast on NESN and WBZ Radio.

Upcoming Islanders Games
The Islanders next face the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Jan. 4 and then return home for a three-game home stand, hosting Pittsburgh on Jan. 7, Philadelphia on Jan. 9 and Atlanta on Jan. 11.

Bruins Injuries
Ivan Huml: Bruised ribs suffered Dec. 27 in Tampa Bay; day-to-day.
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.
P. J. Stock: Strained oblique muscle suffered Dec. 18 in Buffalo; day-to-day.

Bruins December Transactions
Dec. 2: Joe Thornton signed to one-year contract extension (through 2003-04).
Dec. 13: Andy Hilbert recalled from Providence/AHL.
Dec. 15: Andy Hilbert returned to Providence/AHL.
Dec. 19: Andy Hilbert recalled from Providence/AHL; returned to Providence/AHL after the game.
Dec. 21: Lee Goren and Shaone Morrisonn recalled from Providence/AHL.
Dec. 23: Tim Thomas recalled from Providence/AHL; returned to Providence/AHL after the game.
Dec. 23: Lee Goren and Shaone Morrisonn returned to Providence/AHL.
Dec. 27: Lee Goren recalled from Providence/AHL.
Dec. 28: Andy Hilbert recalled from Providence/AHL; returned to Providence/AHL after the game.
Dec. 28: Lee Goren returned to Providence/AHL.
Dec. 30: Shaone Morrisonn recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

[the mugs]

Trends...

Trends...

Recent Trends
Boston is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 overall. (I've been gone awhile...Looks like reality has set in)
The over is 8-2 in the Bruins last 10 overall.
The Bruins are 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight meetings.
New York's last five overall have played under.
The Islanders are 6-1 ATS in their last seven overall.
The over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.

 

[the mugs]

Injuries...

Injuries...

Boston Injuries
Ivan Huml LW Ribs Ques Fri
P.J. Stock C Ribs Ques Fri
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Mid March
Kyle McLaren D Holdout Out indefinitely

N.Y. Islanders Injuries
Kevin Haller D Groin Out indefinitely
Steven Webb D Back Ques Fri
Shawn Bates C Groin Ques Fri

 

[the mugs]

Date Home Away Line ATS

11/14/2002 Bos. 4 NYI 1 -0.5,-150/6 Bos./U ('02-'03)

4/4/2002 Bos. 1 NYI 2 0,-220/5.5 NYI/U ('01-'02)
2/26/2002 NYI 3 Bos. 3 0,-130/5.5 P/O
1/12/2002 Bos. 4 NYI 5 0,-185/5 NYI/O
12/22/2001 NYI 2 Bos. 4 0,-150/5 Bos./O

4/7/2001 Bos. 4 NYI 2 0,-200/5.5 Bos./O ('00-'01)
3/31/2001 Bos. 4 NYI 2 0,-260/5.5 Bos./O
12/27/2000 NYI 2 Bos. 5 0,110/5.5 Bos./O
10/31/2000 NYI 4 Bos. 2 0,-115/5.5 NYI/O

1/8/2000 Bos. 2 NYI 5 0,-220/5.5 NYI/O ('99-'00)

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 1/3/03

Boston Globe 1/3/03

Thornton's goal: Get back on track

WILMINGTON - The Bruins wrapped up their practice yesterday by playing an interesting form of hockey before flying to New York for tonight's game with the Islanders.

Robbie Ftorek had the nets pulled to one side of the rink and set them up on the sideboards. Then on the short ice he had three-man teams scrimmage.

Players with quick feet and quicker hands clearly had an advantage of securing the puck and getting off shots. It was a nightmare for the goalies.

Joe Thornton netted countless shots during the practice, something he would like to see more of tonight at Nassau Coliseum.

The Bruins' captain has been in a three-game funk and when opponents shut out Thornton, the Bruins are in trouble.

Closing in on the midway point of the season, Thornton has been held scoreless 11 times, and the Bruins are 3-7-1 in those games.

This is not an aberration: In 2000-01, Thornton was held scoreless 25 times and the Bruins went 6-17-2 in those games. Last year, opponents blanked Thornton 25 times again. The Bruins were a dismal 6-15-4 during his pointless games.

Still, nobody is pushing the panic button.

''It doesn't bother me if I go a few games without scoring,'' said Thornton, who is tied for second in the NHL with 48 points (20 goals) in 37 games. ''It's a long year. I've learned that you can't force it. Obviously, you'd like to score every game, but that's not going to happen.''

Ftorek isn't worried about Thornton's recent lack of scoring, either. ''Joe has been getting good chances,'' said Ftorek. ''I'm not concerned because I see him work in practice. Joey works harder than anybody.''

However, Ftorek agrees that Thornton sets the standard for the team. ''Every time he steps on the ice, he sets the tone,'' said Ftorek. ''He's been going hard for us all year. He went hard for us all of last year. Just because he doesn't have the production that everybody feels he should have, it doesn't mean that he isn't working hard on or off the ice.''

Thornton, in his sixth year in the NHL, says it is the usual ebb and flow of the season. ''It's a long year,'' said Thornton. ''You got to take it as it comes. You can't get too high or low out there. Right now, we're in one of our low peaks. You got to take it as it comes and just keep working hard.''

The only points Ftorek is concerned with are the 2 that come with wins. They didn't come as easily in December as they did in October and November, when the Bruins ran off to a 16-3-3-1 start. In December, the Bruins were 5-8-1, including a six-game (0-5-1) winless stretch.

Still, Ftorek says he likes the team's work ethic. ''Maybe we don't execute as well as we'd like every night, but the effort is there. Sometimes it just doesn't happen. But I really like the way the guys are playing.''

Ftorek, however, doesn't say it's the ebb and flow of the season. He says that the best teams in the league avoid extended slumps. ''The best teams have a consistency,'' he said. ''Through it all, we've been in our games. As long as the work ethic is there and the guys stay focused, we'll do OK.''

Islanders thumbnails

When, where: Tonight, 7, at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y.

TV, radio: NESN, WBZ (1030).

Records: Boston is 21-11-4-1 (second in the Northeast Division with 47 points); New York is 16-16-5-0 (fourth in the Atlantic Division with 37 points).

Goals: Mark Parrish 13, Alexei Yashin 9, Jason Blake 9, Brad Isbister 9, Dave Scatchard 9.

Assists: Yashin 23, Roman Hamrlik 16, Shawn Bates 15.

Goaltending: Chris Osgood (13-10-4, 2.75 GAA), Garth Snow (2-5-1, 2.52).

Head to head

This is the second of four meetings this season. The Bruins won, 4-1, Nov. 14 at the FleetCenter.

Miscellany

Former Bruin Bates has missed five games with a groin injury and is questionable for tonight ... The Islanders' penalty-killing unit is ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference at 84.6 percent; their power play is 12th, converting at 13.9 percent ... The Islanders are below .500 at home (9-10-2-0) and above it on the road (7-6-3-0) ... The Islanders are riding a four-game winning streak, their longest of the season ... During the winning streak, Osgood has shut out the Sabres (1-0) and Hurricanes (3-0).

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 1/3/03

Boston Herald 1/3/03

Grahame's in `zone'

WILMINGTON - You can tell when an athlete like Tiger Woods has found ``the zone.'' He wears it on his face.

But how do fans know when Bruins goaltender John Grahame is in the zone? You can't see his face because it's covered by a mask. Presumably, Grahame, who has allowed just one goal in his last two games (a 1-0 shutout win in Atlanta on Saturday and a 1-0 loss to New Jersey at the FleetCenter on Monday) is smack in the middle of that zone of excellence.

``When you're feeling good out there everything is kind of in slow motion,'' Grahame said after practice yesterday at Ristuccia Arena. ``The puck just seems like it's coming at you slow and everything is flowing smoothly. There aren't really any hitches. Your positioning (is good). You're reading the plays well and that compounds into everything going smoothly.

``I think (I'm in the zone). I'm trying to stay square to the shooters, play big, not too aggressive, play the puck smartly and when all those things add up it feels good when you're playing like that.''

Tropical Islanders

Islanders coach Peter Laviolette, a former Bruins assistant, challenged his players to get to the .500 mark by the end of 2002. On the strength of winning five of their last six games before the calendar turned, the Islanders bring a 16-16-5-0 mark into tonight's game vs. the Bruins in Uniondale, N.Y.

New York goalie Chris Osgood, who has posted two shutouts in his last three games, was 6-1-2 in December with a 1.41 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage.

``They've got tremendous energy and they go out and work hard for 60 minutes,'' said Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek. ``They do that every single game. They've been getting the goaltending and Alexei Yashin is starting to score and when he starts to score that's dangerous.

``They're a very good hockey team right now.''


It is about the money

Several Bruins players seemed incredulous at the news that the Ottawa Senators failed to meet payroll this week. The Senators players were asked to be patient for a couple of weeks.

``I don't know how patient I'd be,'' said B's captain Joe Thornton.

In the unlikely event the Eastern Conference-leading Senators are not paid by Jan. 14, the players could be auctioned off.


Not half bad

The Bruins conducted a 10-minute practice drill with the nets placed along the boards for a cross-rink round of scrimmaging.

``You get a lot of things done,'' Ftorek said. ``You get quick passes, you get quickness, shots, positioning, transition. There's a lot of things there that give you a good work load and skill level and positioning without going the full length of the ice.''

Was the drill Ftorek's way of getting back to fundamentals?

``It can be, but that's not the reason we do it,'' Ftorek said. ``We do it so we get quick sticks, quick movement. You do things faster in a smaller area and we feel that's important.'' . . .

P.J. Stock and Michal Grosek, both hampered by oblique muscle strains, practiced, as did Ivan Huml, who has missed two games with sore ribs.