Saturday's Bruins...

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B's website hasn't updated for today yet. B's play back to back afternoon games today at home and tomorrow at the Rangers.

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
4/9/2002 Bos. 2 TB 2 0,-300/5 P/U (01-02)
3/24/2002 TB 3 Bos. 4 0,150/5 Bos./O
12/29/2001 TB 4 Bos. 5 0,110/5 Bos./O
11/27/2001 Bos. 6 TB 3 0,-220/5 Bos./O

3/1/2001 Bos. 3 TB 1 -1.5,-110/6 Bos./U (00-01)
2/15/2001 TB 3 Bos. 6 0,180/5.5 Bos./O
2/10/2001 Bos. 6 TB 2 -1.5,-115/5.5 Bos./O
12/30/2000 TB 1 Bos. 1 0,110/6 P/U

4/4/2000 TB 5 Bos. 4 0,185/6 TB/O (99-00)
3/21/2000 Bos. 4 TB 0 0,-270/6 Bos./U

 

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Injuries...

Injuries...

Tampa Bay Injuries
Dave Andreychuk LW Toe Early Jan
Jassen Cullimore D Shoulder Mid Dec

Boston Injuries
Sergei Samsonov LW Wrist Ques Sat
Kyle McLaren D Holdout Out indefinitely

 

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Recent Trends
The over is 3-0-1 in Tampa Bay's last four overall.
The Lightning is 1-4 ATS in their last five overall.
The over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
The over is 3-1 in Boston's last four at home.
Boston is 6-0-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
Boston is second on offense with 3.44 goals/game.

 

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Boston Globe 12/7

Boston Globe 12/7

Samsonov set to give it a go

WILMINGTON - When he emerged from the trainer's room after participating in an optional practice yesterday at the Ristuccia Center, Sergei Samsonov smiled ruefully at the small gathering of media awaiting him. Another day, another Samsonov medical update.

This time, though, the news was positive. Samsonov, who has been bothered by a groin strain suffered in last Saturday's game against the Penguins in Pittsburgh, said he came through Thursday's morning skate fine and felt strong during yesterday's workout, which led him to declare with confidence that he will suit up against the Tampa Bay Lightning in today's matinee at the FleetCenter.

''I skated [today] and it felt pretty good, so I'm playing,'' said Samsonov.

He wore a teal jersey on Thursday, usually reserved for fourth-line players and/or spares. Yesterday, he was wearing red. Today, it's likely he'll be back to a game uniform on the top line with Joe Thornton and Glen Murray. On the change in practice sweaters, Samsonov was hoping it would change his luck.

''I have worn pretty much every jersey besides red,'' he said, ''so I figured I'd put that on.''

One published report asserted that it was actually Samsonov's balky right wrist that kept him out of the lineup the past two games. The wrist did cause him to miss 18 contests from Oct. 19 to Nov. 29, but although he is playing in pain and hopes to avoid surgery until the offseason, Samsonov said he's fine and benefits significantly from a brace. He said there has been no attempt to mislead anybody about what is wrong.

''It was always the groin,'' he said, referring to the last week. ''There were no setbacks or anything, it was just a groin injury. Usually there's a timetable between four days to a week, and [today] it will be a week. I tried to skate [Thursday] and [yesterday] and just by telling how it feels on the ice, I can tell [it's ready].''

The way this season has gone for the talented forward, he joked he was even afraid to have anyone read he was coming back for fear of waking up sore today and having to push back the timetable.

''I think we're pretty sure I'm going [today], but I don't know if we should put anything in the papers,'' said Samsonov. ''It's frustrating. I don't know what to tell you. It's one of those [things] the last couple of months. It's just been awful.''

He said he's had to be patient and has learned the meaning of the phrase ''one day at a time.''

''That's the way it's been for a couple of months now,'' he said.

=====

A grind for Axy

P.J. Axelsson absorbed a crushing hit late in Thursday's win over Atlanta. It appeared Axelsson had suffered a head injury or whiplash when defenseman Mike Weaver checked him and knocked him backward onto the ice. ''My head is fine and my neck is fine, but I landed on my back,'' said Axelsson, whose nickname is ''Gumby'' because of how quickly he recovers. ''My leg went numb. It probably hit some nerves and stuff in there.'' Axelsson said he's been getting ice and muscle stimulation treatments since, and will decide today if he can suit up against Tampa Bay...

Popular forward P.J. Stock, who was born in Victoriaville, Quebec, said he's had to get used to Boston-area driving, especially during inclement weather. Yesterday, he got caught behind a snowplow on his way to the practice rink. ''It took me a half-hour to go 5 miles,'' said Stock. ''Whoever did the 95 and 93 [cloverleaf], they weren't thinking too well. You can't have 100 yards where people get on and get off.'' One thing Stock says he has learned is that few drivers follow the rules of the road. ''Every now and then I drive in the breakdown lane with my [hazards] on,'' he said. ''Well, I used to. It was great when I had a different-colored license plate on. Now I have a Mass. one and I can't do it anymore.''...

The Bruins are holding their annual Toys for Tots campaign today. Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy, which will then be distributed to a needy child.

Lightning

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When, where: Today, 1 p.m., at the FleetCenter.

TV/radio: NESN, WBZ (1030).

Records: Boston is 17-4-3-1, first in the Northeast Division; Tampa Bay is 13-8-3-2, tied for first in the Southeast Division.

Goals: Martin St. Louis 15, Vincent Lecavalier 12, Fredrik Modin 7, Ruslan Fedotenko 7.

Assists: Brad Richards 20, Vaclav Prospal 19, Dan Boyle 17.

Goaltenders: Nikolai Khabibulin (13-9-2, 2.63 GAA), Kevin Hodson (0-1-1, 2.88).

Head to head

This is the first of four meetings. The Bruins were 3-0-1, including two wins in overtime, against the Lightning last season.

Miscellany

The Lightning bolted to a 7-1-2-0 start in October, surprising early leaders in the division, considering they have made the playoffs once (1995-96) since the franchise's inception in 1992 ... Both ends covered: Khabibulin is fourth in the league in wins and the Lightning are averaging 3.2 goals per game, tied for fourth in the league ... Former Bruin Dave Andreychuk, who has eight goals, was placed on the injury list Thursday for 4-6 weeks with a hairline fracture of the right big toe ... Defenseman Jassen Cullimore is out after surgery to repair a torn left rotator cuff.

 

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Boston Herald 12/7

Boston Herald 12/7

WILMINGTON - Not many folks would have expected the Bruins to be leading the Eastern Conference by a wide margin at this point of the season.

Even fewer people would have imagined the Tampa Bay Lighting as one of the B's closest pursuers. But there the Lightning are, in third place in the East entering the weekend, suddenly a respected and feared team.

``They're for real,'' said Glen Murray of the Bruins' opponent for today's matinee performance at the FleetCenter. ``They're a team to be reckoned with.''

The Bolts, who've made the playoffs only once (1996) in their 10-year existence, have cooled off slightly in recent weeks. They come to town 1-3-1 in their last five games and 4-5-1 in their last 10. But the Bruins, whose play has slipped slightly recently even as they kept piling up points, know they face a stiff test this afternoon.

``They're a good hockey club,'' said Bruins assistant coach Wayne Cashman, who spent four years in the mid-1990s in the same capacity with Tampa Bay. ``If you watch them play, they do a lot of things really well and they've got good people now. This is a good test for us.''

When talking about the Lightning's good people, the place to start is Nikolai Khabibulin - considered by many to be the finest goaltender in the world.

``I would think he's the best goalie in the game,'' said Murray. ``I played against him a lot when I was in LA and he was on Phoenix. He's big, he's quick and he doesn't really give you a lot. I would say if he is not No. 1, he's in the top two.''

Cashman, too, sees Khabibulin, acquired by Tampa Bay from the Coyotes in March 2001, as the key to the Bolts' emergence. But he also sees a more stable and patient franchise.

``The main thing that establishd the team was that they got a No. 1 goalie - a big-time No. 1 goalie,'' said Cashman. ``Also, they've held on to some of their key draft picks. They were more patient with their kids than they were in other years. And they've brought in some veterans who are good support people. The franchise has real good ownership now. That's important.

``I'm glad to see them doing well, because it's a real good franchise, it really is. The people down in Tampa love hockey and they support the team well.''

The Bruins, of course, have not exactly been receiving overwhelming support from their fans. Most estimates of the crowd on hand for Thursday night's 4-3 overtime win against Atlanta were that no more than 8,000 people were actually in the arena (the announced total was 10,444). Those who did show up saw a fairly entertaining game - but not the sort of game the B's want to play.

``The last couple of games we haven't played the way we were playing 2-3 weeks ago,'' said Murray, who scored twice against Atlanta, including the game-winner in OT, to move into a tie for first in the NHL in goals.

``We were lucky to get a win (Thursday) and obviously we didn't play well (in Tuesday's 4-0 loss) against St. Louis. We have to just get back to the way we were playing. That's easy to say; it's harder to do.''

The game the B's recreated many times throughout October and November was built on high-pressure team defense.

``The other teams didn't have a chance,'' said Murray. ``We're good at pressuring teams, not giving them room to make plays - just force, force, force. It makes the other teams make mistakes. We just have to keep that pressure up.

``We know what we have to do. You've just got to keep working hard and go do it.'''

Bruins notes

Barring any last-minute change in plans, top-line winger Sergei Samsonov will play against Tampa Bay. Samsonov, who skated in practice at Ristuccia Arena, missed the last two games because of a strained groin muscle and soreness in his right wrist.

``I skated (Thursday and yesterday), I'm feeling pretty good,'' he said. ``I'm playing.''

Most likely, Samsonov will not play tomorrow afternoon in New York against the Rangers, the staff hoping not to tax his wrist with back-to-back games until it's had more time to stabilize. . . .

Winger P.J. Axelsson is questionable for today, after falling awkwardly onto his back after being hit by Atlanta's Mike Weaver.

``My head and neck are fine, it's my back,'' said Axelsson. ``I landed on my back and and got a bone bruise. My leg went numb. I probably hit some nerves. I hope to play (today). We'll probably see before the game.'' . . .

P.J. Stock, who has punched a few too many hard plastic helmets, has some sore hands, but insisted he's fine - and still determined not to reach 100 games between regular-season goals. He has three games left to get one. . . .

Murray, on a pace to score 52 goals, admits he has dreamed of delivering a 50-goal campaign.

``Oh yeah, everyone wants to score 50 goals,'' he said. ``But it's a long season and it's a long way away. We'll see in February or March. . . . But the way the game is now - there was only one guy with 50 last year (Jarome Iginla) - it's very, very tough.