Monday's Bruins...

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BOSTON BRUINS vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Monday, January 20, 2003
FleetCenter; Boston MA
1:00 PM (ET) - Gametime
12:30 PM (ET) - Boston Globe Pre-Game Report
NESN

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins host the Capitals tonight in the third of four games between these clubs this season and the first of two games of this season's series at FleetCenter. The Bruins are 23-18-4-1 overall and are 14-7-2-0 on home ice thus far this season. The Capitals are 21-18-5-3 overall with an 8-12-4-1 record on the road thus far this season. The Bruins are 6-5-1-0 vs. Southeast Division opponents this season and are 16-15-3-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Capitals are 2-6-0-0 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 17-11-2-2 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 55-30-19-1 lifetime vs. the Capitals with a 378-287 scoring advantage in those 105 games. On home ice, the Bruins are 30-15-7-0 lifetime vs. Washington with a 195-139 scoring edge in those 52 contests. These teams have split this season's series thus far with Boston winning a 7-2 decision in Washington on Oct. 30 and the Capitals winning the rematch in Washington with a 5-3 victory on Dec. 19.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins snapped their three-game losing streak with a 7-2 win over Columbus on Jan. 18, which followed a 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Jan. 13, a 3-0 loss in Florida on Jan. 15 and a 3-1 setback in Atlanta on Jan. 17 and a 6-2 win over Toronto on Jan. 11. They are 2-3-0-0 in their last five games, are 3-8-0-0 in their last 11 games and are 4-9-1-0 in their last 14 contests.

Recent Capitals Games
The Capitals have lost their last three games at 0-2-0-1 with a 2-1 overtime loss to NY Rangers on Jan. 15, a 4-1 setback to Toronto on Jan. 17 and a 5-2 loss in Ottawa on Jan. 18. That followed a five-game unbeaten streak at 3-0-2-0 with their last win a 4-3 overtime win over NY Islanders on Jan. 13. The loss to Toronto on Jan. 17 snapped a stretch of 14 straight games in which Washington had garnered a point dating from Dec. 16-Jan. 15 at 8-0-3-3.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins will next face the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Jan. 23 (8:00 p.m.; ESPN & WBZ Radio). They will then return home for a six-game home stand, hosting Philadelphia on Jan. 25 (7:00 p.m.; NESN), Nashville on Jan. 28 (7:00 p.m.; NESN), Chicago on Jan. 30 (8:00 p.m.; ESPN), Colorado on Feb. 4 (7:00 p.m.; NESN), Montreal on Feb. 6 (7:00 p.m.; NESN), and Pittsburgh on Feb. 8 (3:00 p.m.; ABC). All of the home games will also be broadcast on WBZ Radio.

Upcoming Capitals Games
The Capitals will return home to host Carolina on Jan. 22 and will then face the Canadiens in Montreal on Jan. 25.

Bruins Injuries
Michal Grosek: Ankle sprain suffered Jan. 15 in Florida; out indefinitely.
Martin Lapointe: Groin strain suffered Jan. 18 vs. Columbus; out indefinitely.
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.
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.
Jan. 13: John Grahame traded to Tampa Bay for 2004 fourth round draft pick.
Jan. 13: Andrew Raycroft recalled from Providence/AHL.
Jan. 14: Martin Samuelsson and Rich Brennan recalled from Providence/AHL.
Jan. 17: Jay Henderson traded to NY Rangers for Boston's 2004 ninth round draft pick (traded to New York in Krzysztof Oliwa deal on Jan. 6).
Jan. 18: Andy Hilbert returned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 19: Lee Goren recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

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Trends

Trends

The under is 15-8 when WAS is on a day of rest.
The Caps have lost their last three overall ATS.
WAS is 26th on the PK with 80.50%.
The under is 3-1 in the last four meetings in BOS.
BOS is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 overall.
The over is 3-1 in the Bruins last four at home.

 

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Injuries

Injuries

Washington Injuries
Jaromir Jagr RW Groin day-to-day
Dainius Zuburs RW Concussion day-to-day
Stephen Peat RW Hand I-R

Boston Injuries
Martin Lapointe RW Groin day-to-day
Rob Zamuner LW Foot Out indefinitely
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Mid March
Kyle McLaren D Holdout Out indefinitely

 

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Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
12/19/2002 Wash. 5 Bos. 3 0.5,-150/5.5 Wash./O (02-03)
10/30/2002 Wash. 2 Bos. 7 -0.5,110/5.5 Bos./O

1/14/2002 Wash. 1 Bos. 0 N,N/N -/- (01-02)
1/5/2002 Bos. 7 Wash. 4 0,-175/5.5 Bos./O
12/13/2001 Wash. 2 Bos. 1 0,-140/5.5 Wash./U
10/8/2001 Bos. 4 Wash. 0 0,105/5.5 Bos./U

1/5/2001 Wash. 1 Bos. 1 0,-185/5.5 P/U (00-01)
12/2/2000 Bos. 0 Wash. 2 0,-130/5.5 Wash./U
12/1/2000 Wash. 3 Bos. 2 0,-170/5.5 Wash./U
10/26/2000 Bos. 4 Wash. 1 0,-115/5.5 Bos./U

 

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Boston Globe 1.20.03

Boston Globe 1.20.03

BRUINS NOTEBOOK

Groin sidelines Lapointe

WILMINGTON - If it wasn't for bad luck, Bruins right wing Martin Lapointe would have none at all this season.

First, there was the fractured foot in the fourth game of the year that sidelined him for 17 games. He returned Nov. 29 but struggled to find his scoring touch. In the 24 games since coming back, he had no goals and four assists. His latest setback came Saturday night at the FleetCenter against the Columbus Blue Jackets when he suffered a groin pull that will keep him out of today's matinee against Washington and beyond.

''It was innocent,'' said Lapointe. ''It was during the second period with about six minutes left. I took the puck and I curled back in the zone and I tried to pass it to [ P. J. Axelsson] and ... I just pulled it there. I went for a walk after that to try to stretch it. It was sore. I said to [coach Robbie Ftorek], `I'm going to try again.' So I went out there another time. The puck came around and I tried to cross over to get it and it felt like a knife in my groin. It was sore and I knew I couldn't go anymore. So I just went off and started treatments.''

Lapointe said he expects to be out for about two weeks.

''Just time and ice,'' he said when asked what the remedy was. ''I don't like timelines. I'll just go day by day. I've never been out with a groin pull. It's always been hamstrings. But my hamstrings are fine.''

His first broken bone, his first groin pull, his first season of discontent. Lapointe said he's doing everything he can to keep it all in perspective.

''That's stuff that you can't control,'' he said. ''You go out there and try to help the team and all of a sudden, you get hurt. It gets frustrating at times, but there's nothing you can do. You've got to keep your head up and work with it.

''It can be tough, but I can't feel sorry for myself. I have to make sure I'm ready to go, and that's going to take time, and we'll go from there.''

Lapointe believed he was just starting to get his game on track.

''[Saturday] I played on the power play with Joe[ Thornton and Glen Murray] and I felt good and I was getting involved in front of the net,'' said Lapointe. ''Those types of games you want to be part of. When you're out after the second period, it [expletive] but the bottom line is we got two points and it's a step in the right direction.''

Nagging injuries

Center Jozef Stumpel missed yesterday's workout because of what Ftorek termed ''some nagging things.'' Added the coach, ''Hopefully, he'll be all right [today]. I think he'll be all right.'' ... Center Andy Hilbert was reassigned to Providence and winger Lee Goren was called up. Ftorek said he thought Hilbert played well but wanted to change things up. ''He played some good games,'' said Ftorek. ''But it was time to get some other people in for us to see how they're doing.'' Ftorek said he wasn't expecting any of the call-ups to come in and blow away the coaching staff. ''They've got to go play, that's all, just go play and be the best you can be,'' he said. ''That's why they're here, because they've been doing well and we need help. I noticed [defenseman Rich] Brennan right away, the first game [he played in Florida last Wednesday]. It happened to be because he had given the puck away, but it doesn't matter. The rest of his game was very good. But you can't make mistakes consistently because if you do that, anybody will be sitting out or sitting down.'' ... Forward Michal Grosek(ankle sprain) didn't skate.

Early warning system

Jaromir Jagr, who left Washington's game Saturday night against Ottawa in the second period because of a groin strain, is listed as day-to-day. But Ftorek said the Capitals have plenty of other weapons. ''They've got really great people on their power play,'' said the Bruins' coach. ''It's not probably as effective as they want it to be, just like ours isn't as effective as we want it to be, but they are dangerous on it. Their [penalty killing], they're pretty helter-skelter on it in that they'll attack you sometimes and they won't attack you other times. You really have to be aware when they're on it because you really have to be ready to move the puck quickly. [ Olaf] Kolzig is big and good and will go out and challenge you if you don't challenge him. He can be very effective against you. They're always a dangerous team.''

 

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Boston Herald 1.19.03

Boston Herald 1.19.03

Code red: O'Connell has to find some real solutions

Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell knows it's time for him to fix what's broke with his team. Beating Columbus last night didn't take the team off life support just yet. All it did was end the string of embarrassing losses to inferior teams. O'Connell knows he still has to make a major move, be it a substantial deal involving unsigned free agent Kyle McLaren or the canning of coach Robbie Ftorek, should the club continue sputtering.

The slump had reached the code-red stage. In fact, the term ``slump'' might be sugarcoating what seems more like a fact of life on Causeway Street. The Bruins haven't been able to beat the good teams or bad teams for nearly two months, last night's 7-2 victory notwithstanding.

They've gone from front-runners in the Eastern Conference to a team likely to miss the playoffs. That means O'Connell has to push a button someplace soon or risk another postseason on the sidelines.

Six NHL teams already have made coaching changes. The Montreal Canadiens, who have won just two of their past 12 games, pulled the plug on Michel Therrien Friday after a loss in Atlanta.

The Bruins entered last night's game against Columbus having won just three of their previous 18 games. They lost to the lowly Florida Panthers Wednesday and the even-lower Thrashers on Friday.

Fire Ftorek, the current rumor circulating?

That would heap a healthy amount of egg on O'Connell's face given the fact he dumped a perfectly good coach - Mike Keenan - after barely a season because he wanted to have a coach he felt more comfortable bonding with. Handing Ftorek a pink slip also would mean hiring a fifth coach in six seasons dating to Steve Kasper.

Many were leery about Ftorek after he was replaced by highlyrespected GM Lou Lamoriello in New Jersey with eight games to play and the club in first place. Ftorek's case wasn't helped by the Bruins' playoff flop last season after finishing with the best record in the conference.

To be fair, most experts actually projected a B's slide after the losses of Bill Guerin, Byron Dafoe and McLaren, arguably three of the club's best five players. Add Sergei Samsonov's wrist surgery and the five games captain Joe Thornton just missed, and the skid is not all that shocking.

What's alarming are games such as the Florida loss, when a desperate team didn't show desperation. Or the Atlanta game, where the club was called for having too many men on the ice three times in one period. The team certainly is flawed, but there are no excuses for that.

Even Ftorek's simpatico with O'Connell might not save him in the end, but the GM ultimately needs to look in the mirror. He misjudged the ability of his goaltenders, and he's waited too long to deal McLaren.

He's going to have to pull off a great deal with no leverage. That will be some trick, but it has to be done. It should be his first order of business, as opposed to firing Ftorek.

Some of the players admitted yesterday that while it shouldn't matter, waiting for the trade or other help has impacted their focus. O'Connell needs to clean up that situation, see how it plays out, and go from there.

But knowing Bruins history and reading into some of O'Connell's recent lukewarm remarks toward his coach, it's more likely that Ftorek will be toast if the losing continues.

 

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Herald 1.20.03

Herald 1.20.03

B's eager to claim Capital gains

WILMINGTON - To say the Bruins desperately needed the win they got Saturday night against Columbus would be a gross understatement.

``The guys are just sick of losing,'' said B's winger Mike Knuble yesterday at the team's Ristuccia Arena practice facility. ``You can only take so much. The guys are just sick of feeling that way. I mean, you can tell the mood just walking into the room. It's been like a morgue almost. (Saturday) morning, (Rob) Zamuner, who hasn't been around the team day-to-day because of his injury, came in and he was like, `Man, this is awful in here. I've never seen everybody so down.' ''

A 3-14-1 record covering a dreadful seven-week slump will have that effect on a team.

So the B's 7-2 victory over the Blue Jackets at the FleetCenter, while hardly a thing of beauty, was very important. Of course, the marginal improvement in the team's emotional state will vanish if the B's can't come back with another strong - and winning - effort this afternoon at the FleetCenter against an erratic Washington Capitals club that has lost three straight after an 8-0-3-2 unbeaten streak. The Capitals also may not have the services of star Jaromir Jagr, who has been battling a groin injury.

Nine days ago, the B's also delivered a strong Saturday night performance in beating Toronto, and badly wanted to believe they had turned a corner and were back on a winning track. The B's, however, proceeded to lose to Pittsburgh, Florida and Atlanta before beating Columbus.

``We enjoyed the game (Saturday) night but nobody is getting ahead of ourselves,'' Knuble said. ``We had a great game against Toronto - and a crappy one against Pittsburgh right after. But we've played well before and we can do it again. It's a slow climb. You're not going to get it all back at once. You've got to build some momentum and rebuild the good feeling in your room. Not that's it's all gone. But when you're losing, it wears on you, it knocks you down a few notches in confidence level.

``So let's get a couple of good wins, get our confidence back and anything is possible. All that good work in October and November, you kind of blow through those early games maybe thinking they don't mean that much. But obviously they meant a ton for us, keeping us up there now.''

If the Bruins hope to avoid having to scramble for a playoff spot in the final months of the season, they have to start earning points on a whole lot more consistent basis than they have since the start of December.

``It's an important step forward,'' said B's coach Robbie Ftorek of the win over Columbus. ``But we've got to keep going. We did this last week against Toronto. You've got to come out and do it again and do it again.

``We sure hope to be (back on track). The guys played with a lot of intensity (Saturday). There were some things that didn't go quite our way, but they kept working. The game wasn't a great game. It was a great win, not a great game. So now we've got to make a few corrections on some of the things we didn't do quite right, add on a few things, and see what we do against Washington.''

What they better do, if they don't want the morgue-like atmosphere to return, is win.

``I don't think we played very well (Saturday), but it doesn't matter when you win,'' said B's defenseman Nick Boynton. ``It's good for the confidence anyway. Hopefully we can get on a roll here.

``Confidence is everything.''

 

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They suck