Monday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

Early afternoon game today...

EDMONTON OILERS at
BOSTON BRUINS
Monday, November 11, 2002
FleetCenter; Boston, Massachusetts
1:00 pm (ET) - Gametime
12:30 pm (ET) - Boston Globe Pre-Game Report
NESN
Tonight's Game
The Bruins host the Oilers tonight in the second and final game between these clubs this season and the Oilers' lone appearance of the season at the FleetCenter. The Bruins are 8-2-2-1 overall and are 3-1-1-0 on home ice thus far this season. The Oilers are 4-6-3-1 overall with a 3-4-1-0 record on the road thus far this season. The Bruins are 3-1-1-0 vs. Northwest Division opponents this season and are 3-2-1-1 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Oilers are 0-1-1-0 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 1-3-2-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 34-17-6-0 lifetime vs. the Oilers with a 209-171 scoring advantage in those 57 games. On home ice, the Bruins are 19-6-3-0 lifetime vs. Edmonton with a 116-76 scoring edge in those 28 games. The Bruins have won the last two games between these teams, including a 4-3 win in Edmonton on Oct. 19 in the first game of this season's series, with their last loss to the Oilers a 6-1 setback in Edmonton on Oct. 17, 2000. The Bruins are unbeaten in their last three home games vs. Edmonton at 2-0-1-0 with their last loss to the Oilers in Boston a 6-0 loss on Nov. 7, 1996.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins are 2-0-0-1 in their last three games with a 3-2 victory over the NY Rangers on Nov. 2 as Bryan Berard netted the game-winning goal at 19:21 of the third period, a 2-1 overtime loss in Detroit on Nov. 7 and a 7-1 win over Ottawa on Nov. 9. The Bruins have taken points out of 11 of their last 12 games at 8-1-2-1, including an eight-game unbeaten streak at 6-0-2-0 from Oct. 14-30. Their lone loss regulation loss in that span was a 4-1 setback to Anaheim on Oct. 31.

Recent Oilers Games
The Oilers are 2-2-0-0 thus far on their current six-game road trip with a 4-1 win in Chicago on Nov. 3, a 5-2 loss at NY Rangers on Nov. 5, a 4-2 setback at NY Islanders on Nov. 8 and a 6-3 win in New Jersey on Nov. 9. The Oilers are 3-5-2-0 in their last ten games.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins will next travel to Buffalo to face the Sabres on Nov. 12 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio). They will return home to host the NY Islanders on Nov. 14 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio) and will face the Flyers in Philadelphia on Nov. 16 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio).

Upcoming Oilers Games
The Oilers conclude their current six-game road trip in Minnesota on Nov. 12 and will thren return home for a three-game home stand, hosting St. Louis on Nov. 15, Los Angeles on Nov. 16 and Chicago on Nov. 19.

Bruins Injuries
Martin Lapointe: Fractured foot suffered Oct. 17 in Calgary; out indefinitely.
Sergei Samsonov: Wrist sprain; day-to-day.

Bruins Recent Transactions
Oct. 27: Jarno Kultanen assigned to Providence/AHL on a conditioning assignment.
Oct. 28: Jarno Kultanen recalled from Providence/AHL.
Oct. 31: Tim Thomas returned to Providence/AHL.
Nov. 1: Jarno Kultanen assigned to Providence/AHL on a conditioning assignment.
Nov. 3: Peter Hamerlik returned to his junior team in Kingston/OHL from Providence/AHL.
Nov. 5: Jarno Kultanen recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

[the mugs]

Edmonton Injuries
No Injuries Listed

Boston Injuries
Sean O'Donnell D Elbow day-to-day
Sergei Samsonov RW Wrist day-to-day
Martin Lapointe LW Foot Out indefinitely
Kyle McLaren D Holdout Out indefinitely

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
10/19/2002 Edm. 3 Bos. 4 -0.5,-130/5.5 Bos./O (02-03)

11/6/2001 Bos. 1 Edm. 0 0,-130/5 Bos./U (01-02)

10/17/2000 Edm. 6 Bos. 1 0,-170/5.5 Edm./O (00-01)

2/23/2000 Edm. 4 Bos. 2 0,-210/5.5 Edm./O (99-00)
12/9/1999 Bos. 2 Edm. 2 0,-230/5 P/U

2/9/1999 Edm. 0 Bos. 2 -0.5,105/5.5 Bos./U (98-99)

11/1/1997 Bos. 3 Edm. 1 -0.5,-105/5.5 Bos./U (97-98)
10/21/1997 Edm. 1 Bos. 2 -0.5,-110/5.5 Bos./U

2/12/1997 Edm. 4 Bos. 3 -0.5,-160/6 Edm./O (96-97)
11/7/1996 Bos. 0 Edm. 6 -0.5,125/6.5 Edm./U

 

[the mugs]

Recent Trends

The over is 7-2-1 in EDM's last 10 games overall.
EDM is 9-2 ATS last 3 years when revenging a home loss.
The over is 5-1 in EDM road games against the puck line.
Boston is scoring 3.46 goals per game.
BOS is 5-2-1 SU/ATS in the past eight meetings.
BOS is 5-2 ATS when playing a team with a losing record.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 11/11/02

Boston Globe 11/11/02

Samsonov to have another wrist exam

No more timetables.

Bruins left wing Sergei Samsonov is scheduled to be examined by specialist Dr. Jesse Jupiter at Massachusetts General Hospital again this morning and he said he won't hazard a guess as to when he'll return to the lineup. He had been targeting Saturday's game against Ottawa, but after a hard practice Friday when he put his sprained right wrist to the test, he woke up Saturday knowing he wouldn't be able to go.

''I felt pretty good on the ice,'' said Samsonov. ''It's still sore, but there wasn't anything I couldn't do. When I got up in the morning, it was really bothering me and we figured it wasn't good enough to go. It would've been worse to go out and play and [risk] aggravating it. It's getting there, but it's not good enough to play. I'm not going to make any prognosis now. It wasn't fun reading the paper on Saturday morning where everyone was saying you're back and you're thinking, `Uh, oh, I don't think I'm going to be back today.'''

Samsonov suffered the injury during overtime against Calgary Oct. 17. He has definitely ruled himself out for today's matinee against Edmonton and is very doubtful for tomorrow night's contest in Buffalo. He said he doesn't feel it's a major setback.

''I feel better than [Saturday],'' said Samsonov. ''It's just a matter of time, I guess. For the past three weeks, we've been shooting for every next game. Now, I think we're just going to let it go and whenever it's ready, it's ready. It's disappointing. The way I look at it is there's not much you can do. You can go out and play a couple of games and then wind up sitting for another two or three weeks, which is not worth it.''

Samsonov was sure he'd be able to return against the Senators and he told coach Robbie Ftorek he'd be ready. The hard part was telling him he wasn't.

''I felt pretty good at the practice and I came up to him afterward and he kind of looked at me like, `What's going on?''' said Samsonov. ''He told me if I thought I was ready, I was ready. The next morning, I was the one who was in his office ... trying to explain what happened. I wanted to play, but I didn't know how it was going to work out. Between the doctors and coaches, we decided that wasn't the way to go.''

=====

The Bruins held an optional skate at the FleetCenter yesterday, but the entire team was in attendance. Ftorek said it had nothing to do with peer pressure. ''Optional is optional,'' said Ftorek. ''I always hated it when a coach said `optional' and someone chooses not to show and they give him grief the next day. It really bothered me, so I really made a point of saying if it was optional, they don't have to be here. Those guys know their bodies better than we do.'' From a morale standpoint, Ftorek said it shows the closeness of the group, and their division-best record of 8-2-2-1 has fueled the enthusiasm. ''It's a good thing,'' he said. ''The thing is with an optional skate, you really can't do too much with it. We just did some things so the goalies could see some pucks. Just a little bit of a skate and then they could do whatever they want. When you're winning, everybody likes to come to the rink. That has a lot to do with it and it's nice to see.''

=====

Defenseman Sean O'Donnell left Saturday's game after one period because of a slightly hyperextended elbow. He skated yesterday and said he'll be back in the lineup today. ''There was a play there with a bouncing puck in front of our bench and I ended up falling,'' said O'Donnell. ''I put my hand up to try to stop me and I just hyperextended. It was just precautionary.'' ...

Left wing P.J. Axelsson, who took a shot off the foot in Saturday's game, left practice a little early, but said he's fine. He said no X-rays were needed and the bruise won't prevent him from suiting up this afternoon.

 

[the mugs]

Listening to the game on the internet here at work...

End of 1

Bos - 1
Edm - 0

 

[the mugs]

End of second

End of second

4-1 Bruins

 

[Sports Junkie]

This Oil team is in complete dissarray. 4 goals on 19 shots I think. Can't make up their mind on a starter in goal, no scoring beyond the 1st line, soft defense, etc. Is McTavish on the way out maybe? Lowe indicated last week that big changes might be forthcoming. Glad to have Grier from them though for a 2nd and 3rd round pick!

 

[ddubs]

Should have hopped on the Bruins money train, damn! Need one more goal to hit my over.

Samsonov and Allison are killing my fantasy hockey team. Was hoping he'd be back today

Good luck today, Mugs.!!

 

[the mugs]

ddubs - You just got your over buddy. 5-1 B's

Sammy has gone back for more doc appts for his wrist. After practice Friday, he was a "go" for Saturday vs. Ottawa but woke up with swelling in the wrist. With them playing so well, I'd hold him out until I knew he was 100%

 

[ddubs]

CHEERS!!:toast: :spotting:

 

[prospector]

Hey Mugs!

while i was loafing on the couch during Saturday nites games, i was channel surfing and caught the tail-end of a conversation that seemed to be that Defoe was gone to Atlanta ....

yet there is still no news out that i can find.

whta's the rumours in Beantown ?

 

[Celyas]

One of big problems for Oilers is that beside having just one scoring line, their no.1 line is giving up too many goals. First 3 goals that Bruins scored today, were all scored while Oilers top line was on the ice.

 

[the mugs]

Prospector,

I heard that rumour too and was going post something. All I could find was that ATL has spoken with DaSieve (funny how nicknames change) and nothing about dollars. ATL is claiming that they want to see what their kids can do before they shell out a big chunk of change for him.

He'd be perfect down there. He would keep them in games and there would be no pressure to win a playoff series just yet.