Monday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

Well, this is THE week. All of the shitty hockey since December 8 can be "erased" with a solid week here. It's not gonna be easy. They get the Canucks, Islanders & Caps at home and a quick trip to Carolina tomorrow- which should be a win. The 'Canes are playing worse than the B's...

The Rangers have home games tonight and Friday against the Islanders & Flyers.

B's must take advantage of the games in hand this week.

BOSTON BRUINS vs. VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Monday, March 3, 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 Canucks tonight in the second of two games between these clubs this season and the Canucks' only visit of the season to the FleetCenter. The Bruins are 28-25-8-3 overall and are 17-9-4-2 on home ice thus far this season. The Canucks are 38-17-10-0 overall with a 20-7-5-0 record on the road thus far this season. The Bruins are 5-1-1-1 vs. Northwest Division opponents this season and they are 8-5-2-2 overall vs. Western Conference foes. The Canucks are 3-2-2-0 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 11-3-2-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 64-22-15-0 lifetime vs. the Canucks with a 420-283 scoring edge in those 101 games. On home ice, the Bruins are 37-6-7-0 lifetime vs. Vancouver with a 211-117 scoring advantage in those 50 contests. The Bruins are unbeaten in their last four games vs. the Canucks at 3-0-1-0, with their last loss to the Canucks a 5-2 setback in Vancouver on Feb. 21, 2000. They are unbeaten in their last four home games vs. the Canucks at 1-0-3-0 with their last home loss to Vancouver a 5-2 loss on Nov. 28, 1997. The Bruins won the first game of this season's series with a 6-3 victory in Vancouver on Oct. 16.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins are winless in their last eight games at 0-4-3-1 with a 5-2 loss in Tampa Bay on Feb. 15, a 5-1 setback in Nashville on Feb. 17, a 1-1 tie in Carolina on Feb. 19, a 3-2 loss in New Jersey on Feb. 21, a 4-4 tie at NY Islanders on Feb. 23, a 5-5 tie with Dallas on Feb. 25, a 4-1 loss at NY Rangers on Feb. 27 and a 3-2 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Mar. 1. It is their longest winless stretch since an eight-game winless streak (0-6-2-0) from Mar. 23-Apr. 8, 2000. Their last win was a 6-5 overtime victory in Florida on Feb. 14. They have taken points out of 12 of their last 19 games at 6-7-4-2.

Recent Canucks Games
The Canucks are winless in their last two games at 0-1-1-0 with a 3-2 loss to San Jose on Feb. 27 and a 1-1 tie in Montreal on Mar. 1. That follows a 14-game unbeaten streak (10-0-4-0) from Jan. 26-Feb. 25. During that streak, they earned wins over Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Chicago, Colorado, Detroit, St. Louis, Edmonton, Columbus and Atlanta and recorded ties with Minnesota, Edmonton, Columbus and Calgary.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins will next travel to Carolina to face the Hurricanes on Mar. 4 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio). They will return home to host the NY Islanders on Mar. 6 (8:00 p.m.; ESPN & WBZ Radio) and the Washington Capitals on Mar. 8 (1:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio).

Upcoming Canucks Games
The Canucks play game two of their current five-game road trip tonight. They will continue the trip at Philadelphia on Mar. 4, in Columbus on Mar. 6 and in Toronto on Mar. 8 before returning home to host NY Islanders on Mar. 11.

Bruins Injuries
Richard Brennan: Right ankle bruise and fractured foot suffered Jan. 28 vs. Nashville; out indefinitely.
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.

Bruins Recent Transactions
Feb. 17: Ivan Huml recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 21: Shaone Morrisonn recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 22: Zdenek Kutlak returned to Providence/AHL.
Feb. 26: Ivan Huml returned to Providence/AHL.
Feb. 26: Andy Hilbert recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 28: Andy Hilbert, Shaone Morrisonn and Kris Vernarsky returned to Providence/AHL.

 

[the mugs]

Injuries

Injuries

Vancouver Injuries
Artem Chubarov C Abdominal day-to-day
Mattias Ohlund D Knee day-to-day
Dan Cloutier G Knee day-to-day

Boston Injuries
Rich Brennan D Ankle Out indefinitely
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Mid Mar

 

[the mugs]

Recent Trends

Recent Trends

VAN is 7-2-1 in their last 10 overall.
The Canucks are 21-10-1 ATS on the road.
The under is 6-3-1 in the last 10 meetings.
BOS is 3-0 ATS in the last three meetings.
The Bruins are 8-4 ATS at home following a loss.
The over is 3-0-1 in their last four at home.

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings

Date Home Away Line ATS
10/16/2002 Van. 3 Bos. 6 -0.5,-130/5 Bos./O (02-03)

2/12/2002 Van. 1 Bos. 2 0,-150/5.5 Bos./U (01-02)
11/23/2001 Bos. 3 Van. 2 0,-170/5 Bos./P

3/15/2001 Bos. 2 Van. 2 0,-120/6 P/U (00-01)

2/21/2000 Van. 5 Bos. 2 0,-115/5.5 Van./O (99-00)
11/26/1999 Bos. 2 Van. 2 0,-175/5 P/U

2/13/1999 Van. 3 Bos. 1 0.5,-125/5.5 Van./U (98-99)
12/1/1998 Bos. 1 Van. 1 -0.5,-160/5.5 Van./U

11/28/1997 Bos. 2 Van. 5 -0.5,105/5.5 Van./O (97-98)
10/17/1997 Van. 0 Bos. 2 -0.5,-125/6 Bos./U

 

[homerh]

great post as usual
good luck tonite

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 3-3-03

Boston Globe 3-3-03

Bruins must get a grip in a hurry

Up until Saturday, using the word ''clinging,'' as in the Bruins were clinging to a playoff spot, seemed more exaggeration than fact. Not anymore. They are officially just holding on to the eighth and final postseason berth.

They have 18 games remaining, including tonight's meeting with the Vancouver Canucks at the FleetCenter, and have 67 points. They are three points up on the surging New York Rangers but have four games in hand. They are four points ahead of Montreal with two games in hand.

Going from one of the best teams in the league in the first two months of the season to just barely hanging on seems difficult to fathom. But Boston is winless in eight contests and hasn't been able to get over the hump, although it has taken points in half of those (0-4-3-1).

So far, the club has remained positive, but its schedule will be a challenge the rest of the way.

''I'd rather be in our position than New York's position,'' said forward Rob Zamuner, referring to the Rangers being in their rear-view mirror at least for the moment.

It certainly won't hurt that two of their veteran defensemen are back. Hal Gill and Sean O'Donnell will shoulder the load that was carried by Nick Boynton, Jonathan Girard, and Bryan Berard during their absence because of injuries.

O'Donnell, who missed 11 games because of a sprained knee, watched his team's struggles before his return against Philadelphia Saturday (3-2 overtime loss) and said it wasn't a lot of fun.

''It seems very easy from up in the press box,'' said O'Donnell. ''There are some things I did [against Philadelphia] where it kind of took me by surprise. It's a lot harder when you're out there. You get tired and there are guys bearing down on you and you don't always see the whole ice like you do up in the press box.''

The Bruins, who had a rare day off yesterday, said they're trying to stay upbeat.

''I think we're close,'' said O'Donnell, when asked about what it would take to turn it around. ''It's a fine line in this league between winning and losing. I think we played a pretty good game [against the Flyers]. We certainly played well in the first two periods. We got a little loose defensively in the third. We don't want to be giving up 18 shots [in the third period], but they're a very good team. They make you earn everything you get. It was a good point for us. We're getting there.''

How they're getting there is difficult to ascertain. They've given up four or more goals in six of their last nine games. Even more eye-popping than their soaring goals-against average is how many shots they've allowed. They've given up 30 or more shots in 11 of their past 12 games.

''I don't care what kind of game we play, we just need points,'' said O'Donnell. ''There's no guarantee. There are times where you're going to play your butt off and don't get any points. There are times when you don't play well and you're going to get points. We just have to do everything we can.

''It is kind of winding down and it's definitely crunch time. We've just got to make sure we get as many points as we can and just come and give it a good effort every single night. There's definitely a sense of urgency.

''But we're still looking at what Tampa [four points ahead of Boston] and Washington [six up] and the Islanders [three up] are doing. We still believe we can get that sixth spot. Getting higher than that, I think that's pretty much not going to happen. But I still believe the guys in this room are looking more at moving up and getting seventh or sixth as opposed to worrying about the teams behind us.'' Last year, the Bruins finished first in the Eastern Conference but were drummed out of the postseason in the first round by Montreal. Part of the reason was that they stumbled into the playoffs by finishing 2-5-1 in the last eight games.

''That came back to bite us last year,'' said O'Donnell. ''We had a great start and we didn't really have a solid last 10 games. We weren't consistent.

''I think [the Philly game] was a step in the right direction. Rob Zamuner is back in the lineup and played a great game. Hal and I are back. I think we're able to have the ice time of some of the other defensemen [be] a little more realistic. Obviously, we'd like to score more. I thought it was a pretty good game. If we play like that, I think we'll be OK.''

Their next chance to break out of their malaise comes tonight.

''They're a high-energy team,'' O'Donnell said of the Canucks. ''That's the way [coach] Marc Crawford likes to have it. He likes to yell, he likes to keep his guys kind of on their toes and buzzing all the time. They've got some really good defense. They don't give up much. They're a tough team to play against and they've got that one line you really have to shut down. It's going to be a good challenge.''

Lately, aren't they all?

 

[the mugs]

Globe 3-3-03

Globe 3-3-03

Canucks thumbnails

Records: Vancouver is 38-17-10-0, second in the Western Conference. Boston is 28-25-8-3, eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Goals: Markus Naslund 41, Todd Bertuzzi 34, Brendan Morrison 19.

Assists: Naslund 43, Morrison 40, Bertuzzi 39.

Goaltenders: Dan Cloutier (31-13-6, 2.39), Peter Skudra (7-4-4, 2.25).

Head to head: This is the second and final meeting of the season. Boston won the first, 6-3, Oct. 16 in Vancouver.

Miscellany: Naslund is the NHL leader in goals and points ... The Canucks are the only team that hasn't lost an overtime game this season ... Vancouver has only one loss in its last 10 games ... Artem Chubarov (abdominal), Cloutier (groin), and Mattias Ohlund (knee) missed Saturday's tie in Montreal and are questionable for tonight.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 3-2-03

Boston Herald 3-2-03

Bruins miss the point

There was both good and bad to be found in the Bruins' 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers yesterday at the FleetCenter.

On the positive side of the ledger, the B's erased a third-period deficit to tie the game and earn the all-important point in the standings. And with defenseman Sean O'Donnell back from a knee sprain, the Bruins played much better in their own end than they had in a couple of weeks.

On the flipside, the fact of the matter is they failed to come up with a win for the eighth straight game - and it's getting harder and harder to salvage any moral victories.

A real victory is what the Bruins need right now.

``You never want to lose a game, but we'll take the point and move on,'' said B's coach Robbie Ftorek. ``There's a lot of good things to come out of the game, but there's a lot more we need to work on.''

Philadelphia got the game-winner a minute into overtime, just after Joe Thornton couldn't connect with Glen Murray on a pass on a 2-on-1 break. The play went back the other way and the Flyers' Jeremy Roenick, who scored the first goal of the game, unleashed a slap shot from the left circle that beat Bruins goalie Jeff Hackett (29 saves) to the gloveside.

``It just went top shelf. It was just a great shot,'' said Hackett, who played brilliantly in the third period, stopping all 18 shots thrown his way.

With both O'Donnell and Hal Gill, who returned Thursday from a broken finger, back in the lineup, the B's played one of their most defensively sound, if not all that entertaining, periods in a couple of weeks in a scoreless first.

That, however, did not keep the Bruins from allowing the first goal for the eighth consecutive game.

The Flyers opened the scoring at 2:27 of the second after B's blueliner Jonathan Girard turned the puck over in his own end, and then lost his stick when he ran into Roenick. The end result was Roenick teeing up a shot from just outside the left dot that beat Hackett to the shortside.

But the B's did get the goal back on a nice play at 3:35. Martin Lapointe controlled a loose puck right on the Philadelphia blue line and got it down to Jozef Stumpel in the high slot. Stumpel fed Rob Zamuner on the right side, and he made a nice move to the inside to beat Roman Cechmanek (24 saves).

The Flyers, however, grabbed the lead again at 13:56 on a goal by Donald Brashear. The tough guy took a shot from the right circle that Hackett couldn't control. Brashear then went around Sean Brown and poked home a rebound that was sitting beside the goalie.

The B's were able to tie it up again at 7:46 of the third on a great offensive play by Girard. He was stopped on a scoring chance, but regained the puck, went to the corner, then circled back toward the net before finding Brian Rolston at the top of the crease for the game-tying goal.

Just how valuable the point was would be determined last night with the Canadiens and Rangers, both four points behind the B's for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, in action. Despite the winless streak, the B's are still in control of their playoff future.

``We have a lot of hockey left, and we need to string some wins together,'' said Zamuner. ``But I'd rather be in our shoes.''

 

[the mugs]

Herald 3-2-03

Herald 3-2-03

O'Donnell's return bolsters blue line

The Bruins went a long way toward stabilizing their struggling defense yesterday when they were able to get Sean O'Donnell back in the lineup a little quicker than expected from the spained knee he suffered on Feb. 4.

O'Donnell provided a lot more than just a token presence. He played 22:11 and finished with a plus-1 in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at the FleetCenter. He reported no problems after the game.

``I didn't know what to expect, but it felt good and they were asking me how I was doing as the game was going along, and I said `It feels fine.' So it was just one of those games where I kept playing and felt good out there,'' said O'Donnell. ``There were a couple of times where I got hit and I kind of felt it a bit. You feel kind of a stinging and then it'll go away. They said that's to be expected and I was actually happy.

``It was never once in the back of my mind when I was playing out there.''

O'Donnell said the toughest part was the grinding in the corner, and the scrums. He expects to be a little sore today, which is a day off for all players.

With O'Donnell back, the B's avoided the type of horrific start that's plagued them in their eight-game winless streak. But the Flyers, who held a 32-26 edge in shots, did manage 18 shots on Jeff Hackett in the third period.

Still, O'Donnell felt it was a good effort.

``I think we're close. It's a fine line between winning and losing in this league, and I think we played a pretty good game (yesterday),'' said O'Donnell. ``We certainly played well in the first two periods. We got a little loose defensively in the third. We don't want to be giving up 18 shots, but it's a very good team over there. They've got a couple of guys out of the lineup, but they play a very good system.''

=====

Hackett works out

After making 43 saves on Thursday in a loss to the New York Rangers, Hackett continued to make strides in his effort to get back on top of his game. The Bruins goalie was excellent in the third, when he turned aside the 18 shots.

Still, Hackett was kicking himself for the second Philadelphia goal, which came after he couldn't control a Donald Brashear shot. The puck dropped out and Brashear scored on the rebound.

``I've been mad at myself a couple of times, because it's happened like three times where I've had pucks that I have and they're squirting out for some reason and I don't know exactly why,'' said Hackett. ``I'm right in my position and I'm feeling confident and feeling good. It's about four times where pucks have bobbled out and I don't have the answer why they're doing that.''

=====

Anything but powerful

The power play had another rough outing. After giving up two shorthanded goals to the Rangers on Thursday, the B's couldn't get any shots on net on three power-play chances yesterday. On the third opportunity, Mike Knuble was forced to take a penalty with Philly pressuring deep in the Boston end.

``My penalty was a bit lazy I think,'' said Knuble. ``You're coming back and you see two of your teammates and you don't think you have to work as hard . . . one guy shouldn't be causing that much havoc on two or three of our guys.''

 

[Kdogg21]

I'll give props to ya mugs. Great notes on the game for tonight.

Leaning towards Boston on this one. Good luck to you

 

[the mugs]

Just got a call - going into the Fleet tonight...Balcony, section 313

Back to back freebies!!!

Was leaning towards the 'Nucks but now I'm gonna pass and just watch the game.

Like these:

Detroit -1/2 (-145) over C'bus at C'bus
NYR -1/2 (-120) over NYI at NYR

Some interesting points made by Korn & HORNS about Florida +1/2 (+145) at Toronto...

 

[the mugs]

Thanks guys...Heading into Boston now...

Went with Detroit, NYR & Florida with the lines I posted

Good luck to all tonight

 

[ND2002HORNS]

Great stuff as always! I am leaning to your Bruins tonight.

HORNS

 

[donly1ace]

GL mugs!