Saturday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

Getting started early for this one boys. Game starts at noontime here...How cool is it to live on the left coast and have a NHL hockey game with breakfast? Now that I think about it, the way Cooz parties, he might be getting up just in time for this one to start. :lol2 :Yep:


B's playoff push continues with a very winnable game vs. the Panthers.

BOSTON BRUINS vs. FLORIDA PANTHERS
Saturday, March 15, 2003
FleetCenter; Boston MA
12:00 PM (ET) - Gametime

Today?s Game
The Bruins host the Panthers tonight in the fourth and final game between these clubs this season and the second of two games of this season's series at the FleetCenter. The Bruins are 32-27-8-4 overall and are 20-10-4-2 on home ice thus far this season. The Panthers are 22-28-12-9 overall with a 15-11-5-4 record on the road thus far this season. The Bruins are 9-6-3-0 vs. Southeast Division opponents this season and they are 24-20-6-2 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Panthers are 6-6-3-2 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 18-18-8-7 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 17-16-4-1 lifetime vs. the Panthers with each team scoring 107 goals over those 38 games. On home ice, the Bruins are 7-8-4-0 lifetime vs. Florida with the Panthers holding a 52-51 scoring edge in those 19 contests. The Bruins are 1-1-1-0 vs. Florida in this season's series thus far with a 3-3 tie in Boston on Dec. 21, a 3-0 loss in Florida on Jan. 15 and a 6-5 overtime victory in Florida on Feb. 14.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have taken points out of five of their last six games at 4-1-0-1 with a 4-2 win in Carolina on Mar. 4, a 4-1 victory over NY Islanders on Mar. 6, a 5-4 overtime win over Washington on Mar. 8, an 8-5 loss in Chicago on Mar. 9, a 4-3 overtime loss in Ottawa on Mar. 11 and a 4-3 win over New Jersey on Mar. 13. They have taken points out of eight of their last 11 games at 4-3-2-2 and they are 10-9-4-3 in their last 26 contests.

Recent Panthers Games
The Panthers are even over their last six games at 3-3-0-0 with a 2-1 win in Toronto on Mar. 3, a 3-1 loss vs. Colorado on Mar. 5, a 2-1 win in Atlanta on Mar. 7, a 4-0 setback to Buffalo on Mar. 8, a 2-1 victory at NY Rangers on Mar. 10 and a 4-0 loss to Montreal on Mar. 12. They are 3-6-1 in their last ten games and are 6-10-3-1 in their last 20 contests.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins will next face a three-game road trip to Phoenix on Mar. 18 (9:00 p.m. ET), to San Jose on Mar. 21 (10:30 p.m. ET) and to Los Angeles on Mar. 22 (10:30 p.m. ET). They will return home to host Toronto on Mar. 24 (7:00 p.m.)

Upcoming Panthers Games
The Panthers will next face the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Mar. 16 before returning home to host Minnesota on Mar. 19, Ottawa on Mar. 22 and New Jersey on Mar. 24.

Bruins Injuries
Richard Brennan: Right ankle bruise and fractured foot suffered Jan. 28 vs. Nashville; out indefinitely.
Dan McGillis: Day-to-day after taking an elbow to the head Mar. 8 vs. Phoenix while with San Jose.
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.
Rob Zamuner: Groin strain suffered Mar. 9 in Chicago; out indefinitely.

Bruins Recent Transactions
Mar. 11: Ian Moran acquired from Pittsburgh for 2003 fourth round draft pick.
Mar. 11: Dan McGillis acquired from San Jose for 2003 second round draft pick.

 

[the mugs]

Injuries...

Injuries...

Florida Injuries
Peter Worrell LW Concussion day-to-day
Branislav Mezei D Foot Out indefinitely
Paul Laus D Wrist Out indefinitely

Boston Injuries
Rob Zamuner LW Groin day-to-day
Richard Brennan D Ankle day-to-day
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Late Mar

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
2/14/2003 Fla. 5 Bos. 6 0.5,-110/5.5 Bos./O (02-03)
1/15/2003 Fla. 3 Bos. 0 0.5,-125/5 Fla./U
12/21/2002 Bos. 3 Fla. 3 -0.5,-220/5.5 Fla./O

3/23/2002 Fla. 1 Bos. 3 0,240/5.5 Bos./U (01-02)
2/9/2002 Bos. 4 Fla. 1 -1.5,-105/5.5 Bos./U
1/26/2002 Bos. 4 Fla. 2 -1.5,-110/5.5 Bos./O
12/28/2001 Fla. 1 Bos. 7 0,135/5 Bos./O

2/16/2001 Fla. 2 Bos. 1 0,105/5.5 Fla./U (00-01)
1/22/2001 Bos. 2 Fla. 3 0,-240/5.5 Fla./U
12/29/2000 Fla. 3 Bos. 0 0,115/5.5 Fla./U

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 3/14/03

Boston Globe 3/14/03

New guys halfway there

Moran debuts but McGillis sits out

Only one of the Bruins' latest acquisitions was in the lineup last night, but the other could be available soon. Defenseman Ian Moran, traded here Tuesday from Pittsburgh for a fourth-round draft pick this June, made his Boston debut against the New Jersey Devils and picked up an assist.

Defenseman Dan McGillis, who joined the Bruins from San Jose for a second-round pick in June, could possibly suit up tomorrow afternoon against the Florida Panthers at the FleetCenter.

McGillis was held out last night because he has had two concussions in the last two months. The first was Jan. 16 and the latest came March 8, when he was clocked in the first period by Phoenix forward Andrei Nazarov, a former Bruin. Nazarov, who was assessed a match penalty for intent to injure, was tagged with a two-game suspension.

McGillis had neuro-psych tests, the most recent of which was yesterday, and passed. He's been cleared to play but he won't be rushed into action.

''Everything passed,'' said general manager Mike O'Connell. ''Everything is fine. We'll see how he feels after his workout. We'll make sure everything is OK and we'll play it by ear and make a decision. You just have to make sure everything is clear. He feels fine, so we'll see.''

With Moran in the lineup, coach Robbie Ftorek had to sit out one of his blue liners. The choice was Bryan Berard, who was a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. Berard has been struggling with turnovers of late and has been on the minus side in five of eight games.

Moran, at 6 feet, 212 pounds, will help move some bodies from in front of the net, an area the Bruins need to improve. When McGillis joins the team, his 6-2, 230-pound frame will help keep the coast clear for goalies Jeff Hackett and Steve Shields.

''Well, we have a little more size now,'' said Ftorek. ''We've been a little short on the back end - stature-wise, not heart-wise but stature-wise. Some teams have been going to the net pretty hard on us and hopefully this will help.''

Paired with Don Sweeney, Moran played 17 minutes 55 seconds over 24 shifts. He had one shot and finished at plus-1.

''It was nice playing with Donny because he's very vocal,'' said Moran. ''He's an older guy who's played a long, long time and that makes a transition to a different system a lot easier.''

 

[the mugs]

Globe 3/14

Globe 3/14

Presence worth waiting for

Lapointe finally shows some spark

Welcome to the Hub of Hockey, Martin Lapointe.

Wow. Nearly $10 million into his tour de frustration, played out in often-painful 60-minute episodes the last two seasons, Lapointe showed up in full force in last night's 4-3 Bruins win over the Devils. He scored not once, not twice, but three times, all in a span of 5 minutes 15 seconds in the second period.

Please note: the above paragraph contains not an ounce of hyperbole, and no [known] typographical errors, or even a hint of mistaken identity. Three shots, three goals. All credited to Martin Lapointe. There are natural hat tricks and then there are the supernatural, and in a season in which Lapointe had scored only 10 points and fell to a mummifying minus-23, a five-minute hat trick rates as a near-mystical experience.

March 13, 2003: Marty's Magical Mystery Tour.

''You can't feel like a fat cat,'' said Lapointe, whose cheshire smile as he left the ice was bright enough to light all of what remains of the dank West End. ''You have to remember, there's been some struggles this year, and it could happen again.''

Vin Baker, wherever you are in the six-state region, New England now turns its eyes solely to you, big fella. Prior to last night, Lapointe was your partner in our city's sports penthouse of pain. But with those three shots, each one finding a home in the New Jersey net behind all-world goalie Martin Brodeur, Lapointe, at least for a night, escaped the torture chamber of talk radio and angry e-mailers everywhere.

He nailed home his first one with a slapper from above the left circle, a shot that threaded its way through a crowd.

''It had eyes,'' said Lapointe, his own eyes this year often glazed in frustration.

No. 2 came off the rush, a steaming slapper that the spider-like Brodeur, perhaps the best goalie in today's game, typically gloves with his eyes closed. Only 3:55 after his first goal, Lapointe had his second, matching his entire goal output of his previous 47 games.

''He should have had that,'' noted Lapointe, referring to his fellow favorite son of Quebec. ''That doesn't happen to him.''

When he nailed in No. 3, off a neat feed in front by Michal Grosek, Lapointe's hat trick was enough for former Bruins coach Pat Burns to cashier Brodeur and bring in backup Corey Schwab. Meanwhile, the Garden-sized crowd of 14,598 on FleetStreet coronated Lapointe with a rain forest of hats.

''The next game,'' said Lapointe, ''I just have to visualize what I did this game - and then go out and play the same way. It's been a very strange season, and a long time since I've been able to visualize this feeling.''

Only the day before, Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell, asked once more about the underperforming Lapointe, refused to say it was nearing the time to consider drastic options. To wit: (1) look to trade Lapointe (following the season) or (2) buy him out. Trade deadline rumors had the Bruins interested in acquiring Coyote (now Flyer) Tony Amonte, but wouldn't take on Amonte's hefty contract unless they could dish the two years, $11 million remaining on Lapointe's deal.

''We think he can get better,'' said O'Connell, unaware how telling his words would be. ''We're not giving up on Marty Lapointe, if that's really the question you want to ask. We're not ready to give up on him yet.''

But O'Connell also noted that Lapointe's leadership and presence has been spotty his two years here, and added, ''I really hope for Marty's sake, and for the Bruins' sake, his luck is better and things go better for the final two years.''

For too many nights, in stretches that have lasted weeks, Lapointe's presence and leadership simply haven't been there. When the Bruins shocked the league with the offer to pry Lapointe from the Red Wings, they weren't counting on hat tricks, or even more than, say, 100 goals for his four years of guaranteed employment. However, they wanted him to show up night to night with two red laser beams darting out of his pupils, infusing the Bruins once more with the ornery spirit that for decades made them one of the hardest teams to face in the NHL.

Will three goals get it all back for Lapointe, prop him back up on the presence-and-leadership pedestal? Perhaps. A little luck around the net can be that kind of elixir. The right cologne made Barney Fife believe he could woo the Mayberry homecoming queen. Anything's possible.

''A lot of things go through your mind,'' said Lapointe, trying to sort out a season gone so sour. ''After a while, I stopped thinking.''

One hat trick, no matter how fast, doesn't make a season. No time to dwell on those laurels, said Lapointe. The stat sheet now reads 48 games and five goals, hardly a season in the sun.

''Never,'' said Lapointe, asked if he ever had to endure a season so bad. ''Never anything like this.''

It's back to work tomorrow, a matinee with the Panthers. Roll on, Marty's Magical Mystery Tour.

 

[the mugs]

Globe 3/14

Globe 3/14

Samsonov says he's right on schedule

Nearly 12 weeks after having his fractured right wrist surgically repaired, Bruins winger Sergei Samsonov was back on the ice yesterday at the FleetCenter. The Magical Muscovite collected passes, took shots, and kept alive his dream to return to the lineup at the end of the month.

''It's nice to be back on the ice,'' said Samsonov, ''and at least touch the puck once in a while. I'm probably still two or three weeks away.''

In short, Samsonov remains on track to play in the final two or three games of the regular season, what could be a tremendous booster shot to the offense. Clubs scrambled frantically Tuesday, the NHL trading deadline, to add shooters and shot blockers to their lineups. If Samsonov comes back, as anticipated, he will be the biggest addition of the entire Original 30.

''Everything is on schedule,'' said Samsonov, who underwent a bone graft just before Christmas, repairing a fracture that reopened some 10 years after he was initially hurt as a teenager in Russia. ''No setbacks. I'll leave it up to the doctors now.''

Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell said earlier in the week that Samsonov, among the NHL's most dynamic wingers, remained on course for a late-March return. Doctors earlier this week told Samsonov that X-rays showed the graft was secure, clearing him to practice.

''I took a few shots,'' said Samsonov. ''So it's getting there. It feels pretty good, still a little sore, but they told me to expect that. There's some scar tissue from the surgery, and some muscle soreness, but there's nothing wrong structurally. ''

As he adds stickhandling and shooting drills to his training sessions, Samsonov expects the pain will abate, the wrist's range of motion will improve. Nonetheless, he is now wearing the same brace under his glove that he was wearing in the weeks leading up the surgery, and he expects he'll keep the brace in place when he suits up for his next game.

''I'll probably keep it until the end of the year,'' said Samsonov. ''It's to keep it protected, and give some added reassurance. The brace is designed for the wrist not to have as much motion.''

Upon his return, Samsonov likely will be reunited on the No. 1 line with Joe Thornton and Glen Murray. In his absence, Mike Knuble has filled in beyond anyone's expectations, and fellow winger P.J. Axelsson also has provided valuable, often timely, offense.

''Mike's done a great job,'' said Samsonov, hours before Knuble scored his career-high 22d goal this season. ''He's been one of the team's biggest surprises this year. He's played great, and I'm happy for him. He's had a couple of tough years. To see the way he and [Axelsson] have put up the numbers, it's been great.'

Following tomorrow's matinee here against the Panthers, the Bruins will hit the road for games in Phoenix, San Jose, and Los Angeles. When they return, only seven games will remain in the regular season. If his wrist comes around as expected, Samsonov could suit up for the March 29 Causeway matinee against the Rangers, followed by the final three games against Ottawa, New Jersey, and Buffalo.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 3/14

Boston Herald 3/14

Ftorek fingers Berard for scratch

With the additions of two new defensemen in Dan McGillis and Ian Moran just prior to Tuesday's trade deadline, it was obvious that Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek would have to sit a couple of blueliners.

Most of the speculation centered around veteran Don Sweeney and first-year player Jonathan Girard, but, in a mild surprise, Ftorek chose to make Bryan Berard the healthy scratch last night for what turned out to be a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils at the FleetCenter.

A gifted offensive performer who's made an otherwise inspiring comeback from a career-threatening eye injury he suffered in 2000, Berard has struggled lately in his own end. Since a solid three-point, plus-three performance in an overtime win in Florida, Berard has been minus-10 in his last 14 games, dropping him to minus-6 for the year. He was also on the ice for the Senators' overtime game-winner in Ottawa on Tuesday night.

If the coach meant to get the player's attention, it worked.

``Obviously, probably the last 10 games, I haven't been playing as well as I would have liked and it's probably a little bit of a confidence thing,'' Berard said. ``I think that's part of the type of player I am. When we're losing, I may try to do too much. Robbie said he wants me to sit out a game, watch from upstairs and see how simple the game is.

``I'm (ticked) off. I am. But the most important thing for us is to get on track with the playoffs coming and I want to make it and go deep in the playoffs. The guys in this locker room are important, so I want to take it as best as I can, work hard and see what happens.''

Without speaking specifically about Berard, Ftorek said after the morning skate, ``We've just got to let some guys watch and get a little bit of a breather. Sometimes you watch the game and you come back and you can see it a little bit clearer and we'll go from there.''

Berard said Ftorek hasn't been shy about expressing his displeasure with the defenseman's play of late.

``I don't know if it's a personal thing or what it is. But it just seems like he's been on me a little bit and it definitely hasn't helped my confidence at all. But that's my fault,'' said Berard. ``I've got to battle through that and get my confidence to where it's got to be so I can go out and perform.

``It's just defensively. Offensively I feel good, handling the puck and things like that, but he said I've been a little erratic in the defensive zone and I think all of us have been. But it's something I just have to fight through and get back on track.''

=====

McGillis sits out

Moran was in the lineup against the Devils, but McGillis was not yet ready to play after suffering a concussion last week at the hands of Phoenix' Andrei Nazarov. The ex-Bruin was suspended for his hit on the then-San Jose blueliner McGillis.

McGillis took a neuro-psych test yesterday and GM Mike O'Connell said the ex-Shark was medically cleared to play. O'Connell also said the team would still wait to see how he felt after today's practice to determine his availability for tomorrow's matinee at the FleetCenter against Florida.

``I spoke with a neurological doctor (on Wednesday) and he kind of put me through a small little test after he looked at me,'' McGillis said. ``He said I was fine and to take the test (yesterday). He said it would probably be good to take a couple of days rest.''

McGillis had suffered a previous concussion prior to the All-Star break on a freak play, and also tore the medial collateral ligament in his knee at the time. He skated hard through the morning skate and felt that was a good sign.

``Going around in circles, I guess that's the best test for you,'' McGillis said with a laugh.

=====

Cashman behind bench

Bruins assistant coach Wayne Cashman, who'd spent virtually all of the last two seasons working from the press box, traded places for the second consecutive game with fellow assistant Jim Hughes and manned the bench. Cashman handled the forwards; Ftorek the defense.

``We're just trying some different stuff,'' Ftorek said. ``Nothing is laid in stone, but that's the way we're going right now. We're just trying to get everybody to be a little bit stronger in the defensive zone, and if I'm back there a little more I can have more of a thought process on it . . . in terms of getting the forwards to be doing what they're supposed to be doing down low.'' . . .

=====

Sergei Samsonov, working his way back from wrist surgery, both shot the puck and stickhandled a bit in the morning. He said there was some expected soreness that he was told would last several more months.

 

[the mugs]

Herald 3/14

Herald 3/14

Moran realizes childhood dream

Ian Moran could sneak into the old Boston Garden as easily as the wise guys who did the Brinks job could crack a safe.

The new Bruins defenseman grew up in Acton fantasizing about playing for the Bruins. A product of the Belmont Hill School and Boston College, Moran spent the past eight seasons playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins before the Bruins acquired him Tuesday for a fourth-round draft pick.

Moran said when his flight arrived in Boston and he looked down at the city of his youth, he knew his dream had come true. He was home. But it wasn't until last night, when he played his first game in a Bruins uniform, that he really felt the impact.

``As a kid you always dream about playing for the Bruins. That's what you think about. To tell you the truth I don't think it really sunk in that I was traded here until I put the sweater on for the first time and went out. It was awesome,'' said Moran, who played 17:55 on a defensive pairing with veteran Don Sweeney and had one shot and a plus-one rating in a 4-3 win over the powerful New Jersey Devils.

``It feels good because in Pitt we hadn't won in nine (games). It was nice to be on the winning side,'' said Moran, who put a hit on former BU star Jay Pandolfo on his first shift as a member of the Bruins.

``That's just how it worked out. I just wanted to get into the game and play and it was nice to get a hit out of the way,'' he added, downplaying any hint of the BU-BC rivalry.

Moran, who said he sings the national anthem as loud as he can before every game, was pleased that he was paired with Sweeney, a former Harvard defenseman who Moran had met during previous offseasons.

``Starting (Thursday) in practice and through (yesterday morning) I got a lot of input about what was expected in different situations. From there I was just trying to sort things out,'' Moran said. ``It was nice playing with Donnie because he's very vocal and he's an older guy who's played a long, long time and that made the transition to a different system a lot easier.''

Moran said he had an idea of what the Bruins were all about from having played against them. But you don't really know new teammates until you've been to battle with them.

``It's pretty much what I thought from advance scouting and playing against them. The forwards are skilled guys, big guys who go to the net and battle. The defense (has) mobile guys who get the puck out. They can carry it and join the rush and obviously (Jeff) Hackett is a great goaltender,'' Moran said.

``The big thing (when) a guy comes into a new team - although for me I've never been traded before - is you get to see how the guys interact in the locker room as far as their character,'' he added.

``There was a lot of intensity in the room, a lot of passion from everybody about getting a win.''

 

[Chenker]

I like the B's but three things bother me-

price will be high
Bost defense/goaltending has been horrible times
Florida has played very well on the road

 

[Vicc Inzagio]

---= - - =---

---= - - =---

Agree with u Chenker, & the over is not gonna be easy, Florida r doin' good on def in road games............. GL in this one Mugs

 

[grooven]

Totally agree florida has been an excellent road dog.Winning ats at col early in the year ottawa ats and detroit

 

[cooz3]

MUGS..CANT GET YOUR E-MAIL?????:shrug: ....JUST TRIED..


GOOD LUCK ON SAT....I LIKE FLORIDA IN THIS SPOT..THINK WE MAY GET A GOAL LOCAL

COOZ

 

[Chenker]

Mugs- what are you thinking on this one?

 

[ddubs]

Good luck, mugs. I'm on the B's, too.

 

[rc conditioner]

good luck muggs

little worried about panthers success on the road. + the keenen factor.

but bruins need this one

 

[cooz3]

mugs you have mail..

cooz