New Year's Eve Bruins...

[the mugs]

BOSTON BRUINS at
DALLAS STARS
Monday, December 31, 2001
American Airlines Arena; Dallas, Texas
8:30 pm (ET) - Gametime
8:00 pm (ET) - Bruins' Digest
NESN
Tonight's Game
The Bruins visit the Stars tonight in the only game between these teams this season and the Bruins' lone appearance of the season to American Airlines Arena. The Bruins are 21-10-3-4 overall this season with an 8-6-3-1 record on the road. The Stars are 16-12-6-4 overall this season with a 6-7-4-3 record on home ice. The Bruins are 1-1-2-0 vs. Pacific Division opponents thus far this season and are 4-4-3-0 overall vs. Western Conference foes. The Stars are 1-1-0-0 vs. Northeast Division opponents thus far this season and are 2-6-2-2 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 69-25-22-1 lifetime vs. the Stars franchise (includes Minnesota) with a 466-313 scoring advantage in those 117 games. On the road, the Bruins are 29-16-13-1 lifetime vs. the Dallas franchise with a 217-173 scoring edge in those 59 games.

(Bruins SUCK recently against Dallas)

The Bruins are winless in their last seven games vs. Dallas, their longest such current streak against any opponent, at 0-4-2-1 with their last win over the Stars a 3-2 win in Boston on Jan. 4, 1997. The Bruins are winless in their last six games in Dallas at 0-3-2-1 with their last win in Dallas a 3-0 victory on Feb. 16, 1994.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have won their last five games, their longest such streak of the season, with a 5-0 win over Montreal on Dec. 20, a 4-2 win at NY Islanders on Dec. 22, a 3-2 victory over Ottawa on Dec. 26, a 7-1 win in Florida on Dec. 28 and a 5-4 overtime win at Tampa Bay on Dec. 29. The last time they won six straight games was from Oct. 23-Nov. 6, 1999.

The Bruins' 7-1 win in Florida on Dec. 28 was their most goals scored since a 7-4 victory over Phoenix on Feb. 27, 2001 and the six-goal margin of victory was their largest such margin since an 8-1 win over Nashville on Jan. 18, 1999.

The Bruins are 7-2-0-1 in their last ten games, have taken points out of 12 of their last 15 games at 10-3-0-2 and they are 14-5-0-2 in their last 21 games overall. The Bruins have taken points out of 25 of their last 33 games with an 18-8-3-4 record in that span.

The Bruins are 8-2-0-1 in their last 11 home games and are 6-1-0-1 in their last eight road games.

Recent Stars Games
The Stars have lost their last two games with a 2-0 loss to Colorado on Dec. 26 and a 3-2 overtime loss to Washington on Dec. 28. They are 2-3-0-1 in their last six games and are 5-4-0-1 in their last ten games.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins conclude their current four-game road trip in Carolina on Jan. 2 (7:00 p.m., NESN). They will next return home to host Toronto on Jan. 3 (7:00 p.m., NESN) and Washington on Jan. 5 (3:00 p.m.; ABC). All games are also broadcast on WBZ Radio.

Upcoming Stars Games
The Stars conclude their current three-game home stand hosting Atlanta on Jan. 2. They will then face a five-game road trip to St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Florida, Detroit and Minnesota.

Bruins Injuries
Kyle McLaren: Dec. 28 surgery to repair a torn right wrist ligament; out indefinitely.
Sergei Samsonov: Flu; day-to-day.
Total Man-Games Lost: 90

Bruins December Transactions
Dec. 27: Recalled Jonathan Girard from Providence/AHL.

Stars Injuries
None reported.

 

[the mugs]

ROAD TRIP!!! Bruins playing much better on the road lately...

When the Bruins departed on their annual October road swing, they hoped to turn it into a break-even proposition, at worst. Instead, they went 1-3-2 and dug themselves a hole. However, in their last eight games away from the FleetCenter, they are 6-1-0-1, and heading into tonight's matchup against the Dallas Stars, they are two games over .500 on the road (8-6-3-1) and winners of three straight away from home.

''Everybody on this team has very high goals and if we want to achieve those, we're going to have to be effective on the road,'' said Zamuner. ''We're going to have to win games on the road in the playoffs. Teams that are in the upper echelon are always good on the road. We're building on that and it's a lot of fun winning on the road.''

Forward Mike Knuble said it has taken time for the players to jell, and now it appears they have.

''We've taken some lumps on the road early in the year,'' said Knuble. ''If we're going to be a top team and contending for not only playoffs but for home ice, our away record is going to have to come around, and it has been.

''We came out right at the beginning of the season and were great at home. That's expected. And you want to play .500 or better on the road, but we were down below .500 for a long time. It's nothing we addressed in any meetings ... but guys know if we're going to be a factor in the East, you have to win on the road.''

 

[the mugs]

Samsonov & Rolston updates...

As expected, left wing Sergei Samsonov, who missed the last two games because of the flu, practiced and plans to play tonight. What's remarkable about the Bruins' wins over Florida and Tampa is that they scored 12 goals without Samsonov in the lineup. Center Joe Thornton joked that they played better without ''the deadwood'' on their line. But both Thornton and Ftorek said Samsonov's talents were sorely missed ...

Center Brian Rolston was given yesterday off to rest some bumps and bruises.