Saturday's Ruins...

[the mugs]

One point and it's loose the razor time...Let's get the playoff beards growing boys

Another one for national TV

BOSTON BRUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS
Saturday, March 29, 2003
FleetCenter; Boston MA
1:30 PM (ET) - Gametime
ABC

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins host the Rangers tonight in the fourth and final game between these clubs this season and the second of two games of this season's series at FleetCenter. The Bruins are 35-29-9-4 overall and are 22-10-4-2 on home ice thus far this season. The Rangers are 31-34-9-3 overall with a 14-17-5-2 record on the road thus far this season. The Bruins are 8-6-3-1 vs. Atlantic Division opponents this season and they are 26-20-7-2 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Rangers are 5-11-1-1 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 20-27-6-2 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 273-224-97-1 lifetime vs. the Rangers with a 1914-1734 scoring advantage in those 595 games. On home ice, the Bruins are 158-94-42-1 lifetime vs. New York with a 1067-828 scoring edge in those 295 contests. The Bruins are 2-1-0-0 vs. the Rangers in this season's series thus far with a 3-2 win in Boston on Nov. 2, a 4-1 win in New York on Dec. 8 and a 4-1 loss in New York on Feb. 27.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins are unbeaten in their last three games at 2-0-1-0 with a 4-3 overtime victory in Los Angeles on Mar. 22, a 3-2 win vs. Toronto on Mar. 24 and a 2-2 tie in Philadelphia on Mar. 27. They are 4-2-1-0 in their last seven games and are 7-3-1-1 in their last 12 contests. They are 2-1-1-0 in the four games since Mike O'Connell replaced Robbie Ftorek behind the bench on Mar. 19.

Recent Rangers Games
The Rangers had their three-game win streak snapped with a 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Mar. 26. That followed a 1-0 win vs. NY Islanders on Mar. 17, a 3-0 win vs. Buffalo on Mar. 19 and a 2-1 victory in Philadelphia on Mar. 22. They are 6-3-2-1 in their last 12 games.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins will host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Mar. 31 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio). They will then face a two-game road trip, playing in Ottawa on Apr. 1 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio) and in New Jersey on Apr. 3 (7:30 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio) before returning home to close out the regular season hosting Buffalo on Apr. 5 (1:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio).

Upcoming Rangers Games
The Rangers next return home to host Atlanta on Mar. 31. They will play at the NY Islanders on Apr. 1, host New Jersey on Apr. 4 and close out their regular season in Montreal on Apr. 5.

Bruins Injuries
Jeff Hackett: Finger injury suffered Mar. 15 vs. Florida; out indefinitely.
Ian Moran: Back bruise suffered Mar. 21 in San Jose; day-to-day.
Andrew Raycroft: Groin strain suffered Mar. 22 in Los Angeles; 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.
Mar. 19: Mike O'Connell named interim coach and Mike Sullivan named assistant coach.
Mar. 24: Tim Thomas recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

[the mugs]

Injuries

Injuries

N.Y. Rangers Injuries
Mike Dunham G Groin day-to-day
Pavel Bure RW Knee day-to-day
Sylvain Lefebvre D Finger Out indefinitely
Mike Richter G Head out for season

Boston Injuries
Ian Moran D Back day-to-day
Andrew Raycroft G Groin day-to-day
Jeff Hackett G Finger Early Apr
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Late Mar

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings

Date Home Away Line ATS
2/27/2003 NYR 4 Bos. 1 -0.5,-105/5.5 NYR/U (02-03)
12/8/2002 NYR 1 Bos. 4 0.5,-125/6 Bos./U
11/2/2002 Bos. 3 NYR 2 -0.5,-110/6 Bos./U

4/6/2002 Bos. 4 NYR 6 0,-220/6 NYR/O (01-02)
3/13/2002 NYR 1 Bos. 3 0,110/5.5 Bos./U
1/23/2002 NYR 8 Bos. 4 0,120/5.5 NYR/O
10/27/2001 Bos. 1 NYR 2 0,-175/5.5 NYR/U

3/25/2001 NYR 2 Bos. 3 0,155/6 Bos./U (00-01)
1/13/2001 Bos. 4 NYR 1 0,-155/6 Bos./U
12/9/2000 Bos. 6 NYR 4 0,100/6 Bos./O

 

[rc conditioner]

good luck muggs

thx for the info

 

[the mugs]

Recent Trends

Recent Trends

The under is 7-2 in the last nine meetings.
NYR's last seven overall have played under.
NYR is 3-1 ATS in their last four overall.
BOS has won their last three overall ATS.
The under is 5-1 in BOS's last six overall.
The Bruins score 3.37 gls/gm when home.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 3-29-03

Boston Globe 3-29-03

Taking Stock of Rangers

WILMINGTON -- As the Bruins pick up steam down the stretch, this afternoon's opponents, the Rangers, are barely hanging onto hopes for a postseason berth. At least a couple of Bruins won't be sorry to see New York eliminated from playoff contention for a franchise-record sixth straight year.

P.J. Stock, one of seven ex-Rangers on the Boston roster, said he hopes his team can help clinch another early tee time for the Broadway Blueshirts.

''I love it, I absolutely love it,'' said Stock. ''We had an opportunity there and a lot of these guys had an opportunity there. They were never satisfied with guys they had in the organization. They always wanted the bigger and the better names. The biggest name in hockey they always thought was going to win them the hockey game.

''What's it, six years since they made it? Hopefully, things work out again. I started there and I thank [former coach] Colin Campbell for bringing me in. After that first year, it was kind of tough sticking around.''

Stock said when he looks at the Rangers' $80 million roster, he is impressed with the names but would much rather be a member of the Bruins and have ex-Rangers for teammates, such as Bryan Berard, Michal Grosek, Mike Knuble, Rob Zamuner, Krzysztof Oliwa, and Rich Brennan.

''We have a great hockey team right now and for some reason, none of these guys could play on that team and everyone on this team is still pretty young,'' said Stock, referring to the Rangers' aging talent. ''You want to beat the Rangers. It's great to see Tampa make the playoffs, and Anaheim and teams like the Rangers not make the playoffs. I was there last year and they promised me the world, and I was sent to the minors after two days of training camp after playing the whole year up in the NHL [the year before in Montreal and Philadelphia].''

Knuble, who is having a career year (27 goals, 28 assists), was more diplomatic in his assessment, but couldn't explain the Rangers' lack of success.

''You'd think they'd find a way to get it together somehow,'' he said. ''But I think they're a team that if they do make the playoffs, I think they could be pretty dangerous with their talent alone.''

Part of the Rangers' problem is that they have a great many players who would normally play on the first and second lines, and with only six available spots, some are forced into uncomfortable roles.

''It seems like maybe they'd have some guys who would thrive in a spot where they would get more ice time,'' said Knuble. ''A guy like Anson Carter, he wants to be the go-to guy, and they have other guys who are going to be the go-to guys like [Pavel] Bure, so you're not going to get the most out of a guy like him. But I wouldn't want to face them if they made the playoffs.''

=====

A good start?

Jeff Hackett has doctored his stick and other parts of his equipment in the hopes his fractured finger will be protected enough to allow him to get a start Thursday against the Devils in New Jersey or against Buffalo in the season finale next Saturday. ''It's been very frustrating,'' said the netminder, who was rounding into form when he was struck in the hand during warmups two weeks ago against Florida. Despite a badly swollen digit, he turned in a strong performance in a 4-1 win. ''It's just really whether he can tolerate the pain,'' said general manager/coach Mike O'Connell. ''When he's ready to play, he'll play.''...

One of the many things O'Connell has noticed since moving down from the press box to the bench has been how much other teams obstruct Joe Thornton. ''I knew he was being held and hooked almost every [game], but when you get down on the ice, you realize how extensive it is,'' said O'Connell. ''It kind of amazed me how much he gets held every shift.'' One tactic Thornton can use to free himself is to keep his legs moving. ''If he can make sure he gives and goes and moves [the puck, it will help] because he's so hard to handle when he's moving,'' said O'Connell. ''But that's something we're going to have to develop and hopefully help him with.''...

Today's game (Channel 5, 1:30 p.m.) would be moved to ESPN2 in the event of breaking ABC News coverage of the war in Iraq.

 

[the mugs]

Rangers thumbnails

By Globe Staff, 3/29/2003

Where: Today, 1:30, at the FleetCenter.

TV/ radio: ABC, WBZ (1030).

Records: New York is 31-34-9-3 (ninth in the Eastern Conference); Boston is 35-29-9-4 (seventh in the Eastern Conference).

Goals: Alexei Kovalev 33, Anson Carter 26, Petr Nedved 25.

Assists: Kovalev 40, Tom Poti 35, Carter 34.

Goaltenders: Mike Dunham (20-24-6, 2.53 GAA), Dan Blackburn (8-15-4, 3.14).

Head to Head: This is the fourth and final meeting. Boston leads the series, 2-1.

Miscellany: After a 3-1 loss to the lowly Penguins Wednesday, the Rangers were nearly eliminated from playoff contention, needing to gain 6 points on the eighth-place Islanders. New York has missed the playoffs in each of the last five seasons...

Dunham, who strained his hamstring last Saturday, has resumed practicing and is questionable ... The Rangers are 3-1 since March 17.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 3-29-01

Boston Herald 3-29-01

Bruins seek playoff form

The Bruins think they are closing in on the defensive intensity that could make them a viable playoff team.

They are 2-1-1 in the four games since general manager Mike O'Connell replaced Robbie Ftorek as coach and have five games left in the regular season including today's FleetCenter tilt with the New York Rangers. They continue to hope the improving chemistry will bring the edge they'll need in the postseason.

``To go far in the playoffs, where they are all one-goal games - 2-1, 1-0, and stuff like that - you have to play like we've played lately,'' defenseman Nick Boynton said. ``We know that . . . and it's unfortunate we've let it get this late in the season, but it's the way we've got to play if we have any hopes of getting anywhere in the playoffs.''

The Bruins have allowed 10 goals in their past four games, eight of those goals coming in three road contests including Thursday's 2-2 overtime draw at Philadelphia.

``There's no secret to it,'' O'Connell said. ``You have to apply yourself to your checking game. Everyone does. You have to continue to stress the importance of it and try to make sure we are structurally sound and have a good defensive posture. They both go with each other, offense and defense, and you have to be able to play both at all times on the ice.

``When you are on the ice there's a place to be both available offensively and defensively on the ice and that's the place where we are trying to get these players to be so they help themselves offensively and don't hurt themselves defensively,'' he added. ``If you lean one way or another, you don't get the total game.''

Boynton thinks the team's recent success has been related to attitude, and said the defense is moving the puck more efficiently out of its zone.

``It's not a whole lot different,'' he said. ``I guess we've just been bearing down and getting the puck out. . . . It just seems that everybody from the goalie out seems to be playing a better overall game.''

Boynton indicated the team's past two games - a 3-2 win against Toronto Tuesday and the tie in Philadelphia - have the B's back on the right track.

``We've been playing better of late and they are two really good teams,'' he said. ``We know in here we can play against them. It's disappointing, actually, not to get the win (Thursday) night. But on the road you'll take the point. It's all good down the stretch.''

=====

Bruins notes

O'Connell acknowledged that goaltender Jeff Hackett fractured his right index finger in warmups before the team's March 15 game at Florida. Hackett played the entire game and earned a 4-1 victory.

``Just go by what the X-ray says,'' O'Connell said. ``They revealed there's a little minor fracture. We'll go from there. When he's ready to play, he'll play.'' . . .

Ian Moran, who has a bruised lower back, remains out.

 

[the mugs]

NHL.com

NHL.com

GAME:
New York Rangers (31-34-9-3) at Boston Bruins (35-29-9-4).

TIME: Saturday, 1:30 p.m. EST.

The Boston Bruins look to clinch a playoff spot and deal a severe blow to the New York Rangers' postseason hopes when the teams meet at the FleetCenter.

The Bruins, who need just one point to qualify for the playoffs, have rebounded from a 2-6-3-1 February by going 7-4-0-3 in March, including their current three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1).

Boston, which is solidly in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with 83 points, leads the New York Islanders by three points with five games to play.

The Bruins helped their cause with a 2-2 tie at Philadelphia on Thursday.

"I thought we played well tonight, no question," Boston forward Brian Rolston said. "It was like a playoff game out there. There was tight checking.

We both had opportunities here and there, but both goalies made some big saves." Steve Shields stopped 24 shots in place of Jeff Hackett, who is out with a broken right index finger. It is unknown at this point when Hackett will be able to return to the lineup.

The Bruins are 2-1-1 since general manager Mike O'Connell replaced Robbie Ftorek as head coach.

Beginning with this game, the Bruins play three of their final five at home, where they have won five straight.

The Rangers, who also have five games remaining, trail the Islanders by six points in the East.

Their hope of avoiding a sixth straight season without making the postseason was dealt a severe blow on Thursday, as they dropped a 3-1 decision to Pittsburgh, which had been winless in its previous 16 games.

"Time isn't on our side," center Eric Lindros said. "Every game is important and we blew it." The loss was especially costly, considering the Islanders lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Friday.

Rangers goaltender Mike Dunham, who was hurt in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia on March 22, is expected to be back in net against the Bruins. He is 4-1 with a stellar 1.85 goals-against average in his career against Boston.

STANDINGS:
Rangers - 74 points, 4th place, 27 PB, Atlantic Division.
Bruins - 83 points, 3rd place, 22 PB, Northeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS:
Rangers - Alexei Kovalev, 33 goals, 40 assists and 73 points; Dale Purinton, 144 PIM.
Bruins - Glen Murray, 41 goals; Joe Thornton, 61 assists and 95 points; P.J. Stock, 158 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through March 27):
Rangers
Power play: 16.2 percent (52 for 321), 16th in NHL.
Penalty killing: 81.4 percent (302 for 371), 27th.

Bruins
Power play: 18.6 percent (57 for 307), 7th.
Penalty killing: 82.4 percent (291 for 353), 21st.

GOALTENDERS:
Rangers - Dunham (20-24-6, 5 SO, 2.53 GAA)
Dan Blackburn (8-15-4, 1, 3.14)

Bruins
Shields (12-12-7, 2.81)
Tim Thomas (2-0-0, 2.50).

SEASON SERIES: Bruins, 2-1.

LAST MEETING: Feb. 27; Rangers, 4-1. At New York, Ronald Petrovicky and Mark Messier scored short-handed goals, and Kovalev and Pavel Bure also scored to lead the Rangers.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS:
Rangers - 14-17-5-2 on the road
Bruins - 22-10-4-2 at home