Saturday's Ruins...

[the mugs]

Wow...I feel as I should apologize to the whole board for the way those jokers played last night.

B's in a b2b - 3/4 situation, all on the road tonight...Outlook bleak. Maybe O'Connell will light a fire under their a$$es. Oh, that was supposed to be last night, that's right.

Oh yeah, B's haven't beaten the Kings on the left coast since 1997

Anyway...

BOSTON BRUINS at LOS ANGELES KINGS
Saturday, March 22, 2003
Staples Center; Los Angeles CA
10:30 PM (ET) - Gametime

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins visit the Kings tonight in the first and only game between these clubs this season and the Bruins' lone visit of the season to Staples Center. The Bruins are 33-29-8-4 overall and are 12-19-4-2 on the road thus far this season. The Kings are 30-34-6-4 overall with an 18-17-2-0 record on home ice thus far this season. The Bruins are 1-3-1-0 vs. Pacific Division opponents this season and they are 8-9-2-2 overall vs. Western Conference foes. The Kings are 4-1-0-1 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 12-6-2-1 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 75-32-13-0 lifetime vs. the Kings with a 503-371 scoring advantage in those 120 games. On the road, the Bruins are 31-21-7-0 lifetime vs. Los Angeles with a 216-204 scoring edge in those 59 contests. The Bruins are unbeaten in their last two games vs. the Kings at 1-0-1-0 with their last loss to the Kings a 5-0 setback in Los Angeles on Oct. 13, 2000. The Bruins are winless in their last three games in Los Angeles at 0-2-1-0 with their last victory in Los Angeles a 5-3 win on Oct. 15, 1997.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins are 2-2-0-0 in their last four games with a 4-3 win over New Jersey on Mar. 13, a 4-1 victory over Florida on Mar. 15, a 2-1 loss in Phoenix on Mar. 18 and a 3-2 setback in San Jose on Mar. 21. They have taken points out of six of their last nine games at 5-3-0-1 and they are 11-11-4-3 in their last 29 contests.

Recent Kings Games
The Kings are winless in their last three games at 0-1-2-0 with a 0-0 tie in Carolina on Mar. 15, a 4-1 loss to Calgary on Mar. 18 and a 2-2 tie with Tampa Bay on Mar. 20. They are 2-5-2-0 in their last nine games overall.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins next return home to host Toronto on Mar. 24. They will then face the Flyers in Philadelphia on Mar. 27 (8:00 p.m.; ESPN).

Upcoming Kings Games
The Kings conclude their current four-game home stand hosting Columbus on Mar. 25. They will then face the Avalanche in Colorado on Mar. 27.

Bruins Injuries
Richard Brennan: Right ankle bruise and fractured foot suffered Jan. 28 vs. Nashville; day-to-day.
Jeff Hackett: Finger injury suffered Mar. 15 vs. Florida; day-to-day.
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.

Bruins March 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.
Mar. 16: Andrew Raycroft recalled from Providence/AHL.
Mar. 19: Robbie Ftorek and Jim Hughes relieved of their coaching duties; Mike O'Connell named interim head coach; Mike Sullivan named assistant coach.

 

[the mugs]

Injuries

Injuries

Boston Injuries
Jeff Hackett G Finger Doub Sat
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Late Mar

Los Angeles Injuries
Maxim Kuznetsov D Knee Ques Sat
Chris Schmidt C Groin Ques Sat
Steve Heinze RW Head Out Sat
Chris McAlpine D Hernia Out Sat
Mike Cammalleri C Concussion Out Sat
Felix Potvin G Knee I-R
Jason Allison C Neck out for season
Ken Belanger LW Concussion Out indefinitely
Adam Deadmarsh LW Head out for season

 

[the mugs]

Recent Trends

Recent Trends

The Bruins have lost their last four on the road ATS.
The under is 4-2-1 in the past seven meetings.
Boston is 26th in defense at 2.91 gls/gm.
The under is 5-0-2 in LA's last seven at home.
The Kings have scored 1.6 gls/gm in last five overall.
LA is 0-33 on the PP in their last nine overall.

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings

Date Home Away Line ATS
1/10/2002 Bos. 5 LA 0 0,-175/5 Bos./P (01-02)

11/26/2000 Bos. 4 LA 4 0,130/5.5 P/O (00-01)
10/13/2000 LA 5 Bos. 0 0,-150/5.5 LA/U

3/25/2000 Bos. 4 LA 4 0,120/5.5 P/O (99-00)
10/20/1999 LA 2 Bos. 2 0,-170/5 P/U

3/30/1999 Bos. 1 LA 2 -0.5,-140/5 LA/U (98-99)
10/16/1998 LA 2 Bos. 1 -0.5,-110/5.5 LA/U

10/15/1997 LA 3 Bos. 5 -0.5,-120/6 Bos./O (97-98)
10/2/1997 Bos. 6 LA 5 -0.5,-110/6 Bos./O

11/4/1996 Bos. 4 LA 4 -0.5,-110/6 LA/O (96-97)

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 3/22/03

Boston Globe 3/22/03

Change is no help

Bruins stumble in O'Connell's debut

SAN JOSE, Calif. - A new coach, a new attitude, a new approach.

When general manager Mike O'Connell decided to fire Robbie Ftorek and assistant Jim Hughes Wednesday and take over behind the bench, he said he felt he knew what was wrong with his frustratingly inconsistent club. There were several areas O'Connell targeted for improvement - effort, intensity, and hitting.

Sure, the Bruins were better in O'Connell's debut, certainly better than they were Tuesday night during a lackluster effort in Phoenix. But the result was the same - a 3-2 defeat to the Sharks as the Bruins continue to be a work in progress.

Vincent Damphousse scored his second of the game, capping three straight scores by the Sharks, at 15:27 of the third period on San Jose's first - and only - shot of the period.

Everything went Boston's way in the opening period as it took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The lone score came on the power play, Glen Murray converting his 39th goal of the season. With San Jose forward Mike Ricci off for hooking at 14:19, the Bruins wasted little time making the Sharks pay.

Joe Thornton, positioned in the right circle, fired a hard cross-ice pass onto Murray's tape. Murray, who was deep in the left circle, snapped a quick shot past goaltender Vesa Toskala at 14:40 to put the Bruins on the board.

The Bruins made it a two-goal advantage early in the second period when forward Rob Zamuner potted his ninth goal of the season just 1:29 in. The Bruins appeared to be in command, but as we've seen many times this season, it didn't last.

The Sharks were awarded a penalty shot when defenseman Dan McGillis was called for covering the puck in the crease at 10:14. Patrick Marleau, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1997 draft - right after Thornton - tried to beat goalie Steve Shields with a forehand bid but was denied.

The Sharks picked up momentum despite the failed attempt and kept on coming. At 13:42, Marco Sturm pulled San Jose to within one with his 25th of the season.

Brian Rolston was whistled for high-sticking at 17:17, giving the Sharks their third power play of the period (and fourth of the game). They tied the game with 1:09 left when Damphousse cashed in for his 21st tally of the season.

Murray came close 54 seconds in when he rang one off the goal post, kicking off a strong period for the Bruins.

Halfway through the third, the Bruins had an 8-0 shot advantage but Toskala denied them all.

But Damphousse put it away with 4:33 left in regulation. He beat Thornton on a faceoff in the left circle. Sturm got the puck and Damphousse went to the net. Sturm found him and beat Shields for the winner.

 

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Globe 3/22

Globe 3/22

Turn up the volume

O'Connell wants Bruins dialed in

SAN JOSE, Calif. - After being behind the bench for two practices and a morning skate, new coach Mike O'Connell took the first step in putting his stamp on the Bruins last night when they took on the Sharks.

The general manager, who dismissed Robbie Ftorek and assistant Jim Hughes Wednesday, said he felt some butterflies - his first stint behind the bench since 1994, when he served as an assistant.

''I'm nervous, sure,'' said O'Connell. ''As a player, I was nervous before every game. That's why you play it, it's that buzz you get. Even when I was sitting upstairs, I'd get nervous. The only time that will change is when I don't have any involvement anymore.''

O'Connell has attempted to ratchet up the intensity level and wants his players to be more aggressive.

''When you sign up to play hockey, part of it is hitting and getting hit,'' he said. ''You can't avoid it. You just can't play hockey without it. I think we can get better at that as we can get better in a lot of areas. They all told me they want to win, so ...''

The players said they were very receptive to the message O'Connell was sending.

''It's going to be good,'' said defenseman Nick Boynton. ''He obviously wants what's best for us and we're getting close to playoff time here and we want to get playing a game that will get us into the playoffs and hopefully win us a bunch of games. He wants us to work hard and get together and play the same game and I think that's the key to success.''

O'Connell ran the team through two long practices in Phoenix before arriving here Thursday afternoon. Boynton said it was necessary for the players to understand the difference in coaching philosophies.

''I think they were long just because he had a lot of stuff to explain,'' said Boynton. ''It was all new drills and that takes some time to get used to. It was definitely high intensity and that's good. I don't think they'll always be that long, but he's got to get the way he wants us to play across in a short period of time. They were important days for that.''

So what is the key difference between Ftorek and O'Connell?

''You can't really change everything at this point in the year but there are little differences [O'Connell] wants everyone to get on board with,'' said Boynton.

One of which is the emergence of a physical presence, which has been absent when the Bruins have struggled.

''It's not so much fighting all the time, it's finishing every check and making it miserable for other teams who play us,'' said Boynton. ''I can see where we have to pick it up in that part of the game. We've got guys who can do it, but for some reason [the absence of physicality] has just crept into our game. It's not one guy, it's everybody and you can't have that.

''Mike has said something to us about it and we've tried to change it. We've just got to realize the opportunity that we have and get going. We've got to pick it up. Once the playoffs start, it's a whole different game. We want to get playing well going in instead of stumbling in like we did last year and then trying to all of a sudden pick your game up. It doesn't work that way. We've got to pick it up now and get rolling.''

According to assistant GM Jeff Gorton, goaltender Jeff Hackett (bruised finger on his right hand) and left wing Sergei Samsonov (out since wrist surgery in December) skated yesterday and both are expected to begin workouts with their teammates next week. Gorton said Hackett could be back by late next week or the weekend. Once Samsonov begins skating with the club, they'll be able to gauge his return ... Defenseman Dan McGillis was back for the first time since being traded from the Sharks at the deadline March 11. He said he wasn't sentimental since he only played 37 games for San Jose after being traded from Philadelphia.

''I wasn't here all that long,'' said McGillis. ''I got to know some of the guys pretty good but it's pretty much a different locker room over there right now. I'm really fortunate to be back in Boston. I'm really happy. It's very exciting for me to be there.''

McGillis said he was like everyone on the team - stunned - when Ftorek and Hughes were let go. ''It was certainly a shock to me,'' he said. ''I was only here a week. I don't know if there was any inclination that it was going to happen. Obviously we hadn't discussed that. That was a big surprise and to see them go the way they did, coming up and shaking hands [outside the team bus] and saying `We're done.' I thought they were joking to be honest. I guess that's part of the game unfortunately, where sometimes coaches take the fall if a team is struggling.''...

The Bruins wrap up their three-game swing tonight in Los Angeles.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 3/22

Boston Herald 3/22

Change can't save B's: San Jose spoils O'Connell debut

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Mike O'Connell says he knows what's wrong with the Bruins and how to fix them. He began the repair job last night, and learned he still has work to do.

The general manager sent coach Robbie Ftorek packing Wednesday and was behind the bench coaching his first NHL game. The Bruins started well but could not protect a two-goal lead and dropped a 3-2 decision to the lowly Sharks.

Glen Murray scored his 39th goal of the season and Rob Zamuner had his ninth. Steve Shields had 15 saves, including one on a penalty shot, but the Bruins were hurt by penalties and gave up two goals in the second period and then the winner by Vincent Damphousse with 4:33 left in regulation.

``I'm disappointed, but it happens,'' O'Connell said. ``The team worked hard. We took the ice away and we put pressure on the puck. Some nights, no matter how hard you work, it's not going to go your way.''

``The players absorbed quite a bit over the last couple of days. For the most part, they did a pretty good job. We gave ourselves a chance to win with our effort.''

It was a simple play by Damphousse. He cleanly beat Joe Thornton on a faceoff, got to the net and tipped in a Marco Sturm shot.

The loss hurts the Bruins' grip on a playoff spot with eight games left in the regular season. Boston remain tied with the New York Islanders for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, six points ahead of the ninth-place New York Rangers.

The Bruins close this quick three-game trip in Los Angeles tonight against the Kings.

The night started well, with the Thornton-Murray combination hooking up on a power play at 14:40 of the first period. Murray one-timed a cross-ice feed from Thornton low in the left circle, a short-side blast that Sharks goalie Vesa Toskala could not stop.

Zamuner made it 2-0 early in the second period when he drove to the net and punched in a rebound. Everything was working well for the Bruins, but the penalties started to pile up.

The B's took three penalties in the period and faced a penalty shot when defenseman Dan McGillis covered the puck with his hand in the crease on a power play. Shields kicked out Patrick Marleau's forehand bid.

But Sturm knocked in a rebound to make it 2-1 at 13:42, and the Sharks tied the game on a power play at 18:51 when Damphousse's pass hit the skates of Nick Boynton and deflected past Shields.