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BOSTON BRUINS (22-15-4-1)
vs PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (17-18-3-5)

Overview: The Bruins snapped their five-game losing streak on Saturday with a 6-2 win over the Maple Leafs. They face a struggling Penguins team that has lost their last three games. This is the second of four meetings between the clubs, with the Bruins grabbing a 3-2 victory in Pittsburgh on Nov. 30.

View from the ice: Bruins forward Mike Knuble says that the key to breaking out of the team?s current slump about playing smarter, not harder.

?It just comes down to winning the little battles,? said Knuble. ?The stuff that doesn?t show up on the scoresheet.?

?You can run into a brick wall all day, but until you realize, ?Hey, I can go around it,? you are working a lot harder by running into it and trying to knock it over than figuring out another way to go around it. That?s where we?re at. We need to find a way to get up-and-over that wall.?

Top scorers:
Boston
Joe Thornton - 21-31-52
Glen Murray - 23-24-47

Toronto
Mario Lemieux - 20-48-68
Alexei Kovalev - 19-33-52

Goaltenders:
Boston
Steve Shields - 9-7-2, 2.70 GAA
John Grahame - 11-9-2, 2.71 GAA

Toronto
J. Hedberg - 12-10-3, 2.82 GAA
J. Aubin - 5-13-0, 3.13 GAA

Injuries
Boston
Joe Thornton; infected elbow. Day-to-day.
Sergei Samsonov; Dec. 24 right wrist surgery. Out indefinitely.
Rob Zamuner; broken foot. Out indefinitely.

 

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Game Notes
BOSTON BRUINS vs. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Monday, January 13, 2003
FleetCenter; Boston MA
7:00 PM (ET) ? Gametime
6:30 PM (ET) ? Boston Globe Pre-Game Report
NESN

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins host the Penguins tonight in the second of four games between these clubs this season and the first of two games of this season's series at FleetCenter. The Bruins are 22-15-4-1 overall and are 13-6-2-0 on home ice thus far this season. The Penguins are 17-18-3-5 overall with a 6-10-2-3 record on the road thus far this season. The Bruins are 4-2-1-0 vs. Atlantic Division opponents this season and are 16-12-3-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Penguins are 6-4-1-2 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 15-13-2-4 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 85-45-21-0 lifetime vs. the Penguins with a 607-475 scoring advantage in those 151 games. On home ice, the Bruins are 54-14-6-0 lifetime vs. Pittsburgh with a 332-209 scoring edge in those 74 games. The Bruins have won the last four games between these teams, including the first game of this season's series with a 3-2 victory in Pittsburgh on Nov. 30. Their last loss to the Penguins was a 4-1 setback in Boston on Dec, 6, 2001 in the first game of last season's series.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins snapped their five-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over Toronto on Jan. 11. That followed a 1-0 loss to New Jersey on Dec. 30, an 8-4 loss at NY Islanders on Jan. 3, a 4-2 setback to Carolina on Jan. 4, a 5-2 loss in Toronto on Jan. 7 and a 4-2 loss in Buffalo on Jan. 10 with their previous victory a 1-0 win in Atlanta on Dec. 28. They are 3-6-1-0 in their last ten games and are 3-11-1-0 in their last 15 contests overall.

Recent Penguins Games
The Penguins have lost their last three games with a 6-3 loss at NY Islanders on Jan. 7, a 4-2 setback to Toronto on Jan. 9 and a 3-1 loss to NY Rangers on Jan. 11. They are 6-4-0-1 in their last 11 games following a ten-game losing stretch at 0-9-0-1 from Nov. 30-Dec. 19.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins next face a two-game road trip, playing in Florida on Jan. 15 (7:30 p.m.) and in Atlanta on Jan. 17 (7:30 p.m.). They will return home to host Columbus on Jan. 18 (7:00 p.m.) and Washington on Jan. 20 (1:00 p.m.). All games are broadcast on NESN and WBZ Radio.

Upcoming Penguins Games
The Penguins open a five-game road trip in Boston tonight. They will continue the trip in Carolina on Jan. 15, in Tampa Bay on Jan. 17, in Florida on Jan. 18 and in Buffalo on Jan. 21 before returning home to host Boston on Jan. 23.

Bruins Injuries
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.
Joe Thornton: Elbow infection; day-to-day.
Rob Zamuner: Broken right foot suffered Jan. 7 in Toronto; out indefinitely.

Bruins January Transactions
Jan. 6: Shaone Morrisonn returned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 6: Ivan Huml assigned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 6: Krzysztof Oliwa acquired from NY Rangers for 2004 ninth round draft pick.
Jan. 9: Andy Hilbert recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

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Pittsburgh Injuries
Johan Hedberg G Shoulder Out indefinitely
Mario Lemieux C Groin Doub Mon
Janne Laukkanen D Hip Out indefinitely
Kris Beech C Appendectomy I-R
Aleksey Morozov LW Wrist Late Jan
Josef Melichar D Forearm Out indefinitely

Boston Injuries
Rob Zamuner LW Foot Out indefinitely
Joe Thornton C Elbow Ques Mon
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Mid March
Kyle McLaren D Holdout Out indefinitely

 

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Recent Trends
The Penguins have lost their last three overall ATS.
The over is 4-1 in the Penguins last five on the road.
Pittsburgh is first on the PP with 25.75 %.
Boston's last five overall have played over.
The Bruins are 1-5 ATS in their last six overall.
Boston is 8-1-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

 

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Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
11/30/2002 Pit. 2 Bos. 3 0.5,-140/6 Bos./U (02-03)

4/13/2002 Bos. 7 Pit. 1 -1.5,-110/5.5 Bos./O (01-02)
1/8/2002 Pit. 2 Bos. 3 0,130/5.5 Bos./U
12/12/2001 Pit. 2 Bos. 4 0,-110/5 Bos./O
12/6/2001 Bos. 1 Pit. 4 0,-220/5 Pit./P

3/20/2001 Pit. 2 Bos. 2 0,-200/7 P/U (00-01)
1/9/2001 Bos. 5 Pit. 2 0,130/6 Bos./O
12/6/2000 Pit. 2 Bos. 3 0,-220/5.5 Bos./U
11/28/2000 Bos. 3 Pit. 1 0,145/5.5 Bos./U

4/9/2000 Bos. 3 Pit. 1 0,115/5.5 Bos./U (99-00)

 

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Boston Globe 1.13.03

Boston Globe 1.13.03

Bruins: Solid satisfaction from win

WILMINGTON - Breaking a five-game losing streak without Joe Thornton Saturday night was one thing. But can the Bruins, who host Pittsburgh tonight, continue their newfound winning ways without their best offensive catalyst?

''Obviously, Joe's one of the best players in this league,'' said defenseman Sean O'Donnell after yesterday's practice at Ristuccia Center without Thornton, who is recovering from an infected left elbow and will not play against the Penguins.

''He's a guy we miss, but every team goes through it. Toronto had a nice run without [Mats] Sundin and we still believe that without Joe in the lineup we have 20 solid guys we can put on the ice. After that, it's not so much a matter of effort, but of execution.''

After losing their fifth straight, in Buffalo Friday, and relinquishing a 2-0 third-period lead in the process, the Bruins came from behind the next night against the Maple Leafs at the FleetCenter and scored four unanswered third-period goals for a 6-2 win.

''The guys talked and said that's enough. They went out and played really hard and intelligently and made the most of their 60 minutes,'' said coach Robbie Ftorek, who was planning to visit Thornton yesterday. ''Joe's starting to get better, but with this type of thing, it can be better today, but bad tomorrow. The doctors are right on top of it. We'll see. He may be around tomorrow, but not on steel.''

One of those players making the most of his minutes was winger Michal Grosek, inserted at center in Thornton's absence and responding with a pair of assists against Toronto.

''Grosek played center last year in Hartford. He's a wing, but he's played center before,'' said Ftorek. ''Other than having to work on his faceoffs, he's played two good games at that position. We're doing a lot of things because we have guys out of the lineup, something every team has to do.''

Grosek wasn't surprised by the assignment but said he's adjusting to center again after playing the entire season on the flank. ''Faceoffs have been the hardest thing for me. But I try to play physical every game and if I can put the points up, too, that's a plus,'' he said.

''We have three strong guys on our line [with Martin Lapointe and Mike Knuble] and if we get it down low, we can be hard to handle.''

Ftorek said Grosek has the speed and size to contribute offensively and that ''he has good hockey sense. He makes nice passes, which you saw [Saturday] night. When he puts his whole game together, he does a very good job.''

Ftorek also likes Grosek's penchant for shooting the puck, adding, ''I love shots. Shots are a great thing. Shots force the other goaltender to make a save. If he doesn't make a save, guess what? We're going to center ice.''

Ftorek said his own most important contribution during the team's monthlong dip has been to stay on an even keel. ''You just keep your composure and make sure the players are aware of what we're not doing right and how we're going to beat the team we're playing against,'' he said. ''So you do your normal scouting preparation and try to make the right matchups, shorten the bench at times if necessary, and just cover all the bases.

''I wasn't happy about [the losing streak], but you have to keep going and keep positive and keep the guys focused. Hey, the only thing that's going to rectify the situation are the guys in this room and we've got to do it for 60 minutes. It's repetitious and it's redundant, but it's a fact.''

O'Donnell said the bottom line is that hockey is a simple game, but it can become a bit complicated when you're trying to end a losing streak.

''You try to become too cute or make the perfect play,'' he said, ''when really what you should be doing is simplifying things. Try and play mistake-free hockey even if it's just firing the puck off the glass and getting it out of your end. Don't give the other team anything for free. But when you're losing, sometimes you run around. You can be in position and all of a sudden you see one of their guys with the puck in the corner and you think, `I'm gonna go get him,' or `I have to make a great play,' and then the puck ends up going where you're supposed to be and they get a good scoring chance.''

However, O'Donnell said the Bruins' great start to the season is a reminder of what could be.

''We had a couple of games where we didn't play for 60 minutes and got beaten late and a couple of games where we didn't play well ... period. But we're definitely a good team. There's a fine line between winning and losing. How we suddenly exploded against Toronto in the third period, I can't explain why. But we played a solid third period and played to win, whereas in Buffalo we started running around and gave up three goals.''

O'Donnell said yesterday's practice was ''much more fun. I think guys slept better last night. When you're not doing well at the rink, it's hard ... the winning was nice, but more important, we put 60 solid minutes together against Toronto. But we're back to work tomorrow, so you don't get to enjoy it for too long.''

 

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From AP & ESPN

From AP & ESPN

Bruin released after having treatment for infection

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services

BOSTON -- Bruins center Joe Thornton was released from Massachusetts General Hospital on Saturday after a two-day stay to undergo intravenous antibiotic treatment for an infection in his left elbow.

Thornton, the NHL's third-leading scorer (52 points -- 21 goals and 31 assists), has missed three straight games because of the problem and is expected to return to the hospital Sunday to be re-evaluated, the Boston Globe reported.

It is unlikely that he would play Monday night against the Penguins in Boston. Thornton hasn't skated since last Monday.

Thornton fell on the elbow in a game against San Jose on Dec. 23. One week later, he awoke to find it swollen and sore Monday.

Thornton entered the hospital Thursday to receive intravenous antibiotics. He missed the Bruins' 5-2 loss at Toronto on Tuesday and missed games Friday night at Buffalo and Saturday against Toronto.