Sunday (bloody Sunday) Bruins...

[the mugs]

Well, this road trip sucked. Three points out of a possible 12 to this point. As a fan, it's pretty tough to get up for this one. Isles playing real well and the B's...not so well. Like I said before the Carolina game, don't waste your $$$ on this team.

Having said that - Go B's!!!

BOSTON BRUINS vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Sunday, February 23, 2003
Nassau Coliseum; Uniondale NY
1:00 PM (ET) - Gametime
12:30 PM (ET) - Boaton Globe Pre-Game Report
NESN

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins visit the Islanders tonight in the third of four games between these clubs this season and the second of two games of this season's series at Nassau Coliseum. The Bruins are 28-24-6-2 overall and are 11-15-3-1 on the road thus far this season. The Islanders are 29-23-6-2 overall with a 17-13-2-0 record on home ice thus far this season. The Bruins are 6-4-1-0 vs. Atlantic Division opponents this season and they are 20-19-5-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Islanders are 6-5-1-0 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 20-16-4-2 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 57-39-17-1 lifetime vs. the Islanders with a 404-355 scoring edge in those 114 games. On the road, the Bruins are 27-24-7-0 lifetime vs. New York with the Islanders holding a 196-193 scoring advantage in those 58 contests. These teams have split this season's series thus far with Boston taking a 4-1 victory in Boston on Nov. 14 and the Islanders winning the rematch in New York by an 8-4 score on Jan. 3.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins conclude their seven-game road trip today. They are 1-4-1-0 record in the first six games with a 3-1 loss in Montreal on Feb. 11, a 6-5 overtime win in Florida on Feb. 14, a 5-2 loss in Tampa Bay on Feb. 15, a 5-1 setback in Nashville on Feb. 17, a 1-1 tie in Carolina on Feb. 19 and a 3-2 loss in New Jersey on Feb. 21. They have taken points out of nine of their last 15 games at 6-6-2-1.

Recent Islanders Games
The Islanders are unbeaten in their last four games at 3-0-1-0 with a 3-2 win in Los Angeles on Feb. 15, a 2-2 tie in Anaheim on Feb. 17, a 3-0 victory in San Jose on Feb. 19 and a 4-1 win vs. Colorado on Feb. 21. They are 5-3-1-0 in their last nine games and are 10-6-1-1 in their last 18 contests.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins next return home to host Dallas on Feb. 25 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio). They will then face the Rangers in New York on Feb. 27 (8:00 p.m.; ESPN & WBZ Radio) before hosting the Philadelphia Flyers on Mar. 1 (1:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio).

Upcoming Islanders Games
The Islanders next face the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Feb. 25 before returning home to host New Jersey on Feb. 27 and Buffalo on Mar. 1.

Bruins Injuries
Richard Brennan: Right ankle bruise suffered Jan. 28 vs. Nashville; out indefinitely.
Hal Gill: Broken finger suffered Feb. 14 in Florida; out indefinitely.
Sean O'Donnell: Right knee sprain suffered Feb. 4 vs. Colorado; out indefinitely.
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.
Rob Zamuner: Right foot fracture suffered Jan. 7 in Toronto; out indefinitely.

Bruins February Transactions
Feb. 5: Kris Vernarsky and Shaone Morrisonn recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 10: Shaone Morrisonn returned to Providence/AHL.
Feb. 10: Zdenek Kutlak recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 17: Ivan Huml recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 21: Shaone Morrisonn recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

[the mugs]

Who's hurting...

Who's hurting...

Boston Injuries
Krzysztof Oliwa LW Hand day-to-day
Hal Gill D Finger Out indefinitely
Sean O'Donnell D Knee Mid Mar
Rich Brennan D Ankle Late Feb
Rob Zamuner LW Foot day-to-day
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Mid Mar

N.Y. Islanders Injuries
Eric Cairns D Shoulder Early Mar
Chris Osgood G Knee day-to-day

 

[the mugs]

Trends...

Trends...

The Bruins are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 away.
The over is 5-2-1 in BOS's last eight overall.
The over is 8-2 in the past 10 meetings.
The Isle's are 3-1-1 ATS in the past five meetings.
NYI are 6-1 ATS in their last seven overall.
The under is 12-2-2 in New York's last 16 overall.

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
1/3/2003 NYI 8 Bos. 4 -0.5,125/5.5 NYI/O (02-03)
11/14/2002 Bos. 4 NYI 1 -0.5,-150/6 Bos./U

4/4/2002 Bos. 1 NYI 2 0,-220/5.5 NYI/U (01-02)
2/26/2002 NYI 3 Bos. 3 0,-130/5.5 P/O
1/12/2002 Bos. 4 NYI 5 0,-185/5 NYI/O
12/22/2001 NYI 2 Bos. 4 0,-150/5 Bos./O

4/7/2001 Bos. 4 NYI 2 0,-200/5.5 Bos./O (00-01)
3/31/2001 Bos. 4 NYI 2 0,-260/5.5 Bos./O
12/27/2000 NYI 2 Bos. 5 0,110/5.5 Bos./O
10/31/2000 NYI 4 Bos. 2 0,-115/5.5 NYI/O

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 2-23-03

Boston Globe 2-23-03

O'Donnell hopes he'll come into play soon

The Bruins' crucial seven-game road trip ends with a game against the Islanders in New York this afternoon and so far, it's been a complete train wreck. They are 1-4-1 so far. After being on cloud nine for the first two months of the season, the team is in danger of disappearing into the fog.

The good news - and the club certainly could use some - is that defenseman Sean O'Donnell is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a sprained right knee. He suffered the injury Feb. 4 against Colorado. He's now skating and could return to the lineup next week.

''It's going well, it's going very well,'' said O'Donnell, who skated yesterday for the fourth time since the injury and is getting used to a brace. ''[Tomorrow] I'll skate before the team for about a half an hour with full equipment and kind of see how it goes. It's still too early to say, but we'll keep progressing until it's finally stable enough to take contact in practice and then it will be ready to go.

''Things are improving very quickly. It hasn't even been three weeks yet. They said four to six weeks but I think four will be the max that I'm out. Just looking at the schedule now, I don't think I'll play [this week] but sometime next week, I'll play one of those games.''

O'Donnell has been watching his team's struggles, even handling some in-studio duties for NESN, and he said it hasn't been easy.

''I don't know what's going on,'' he said. ''It's tough. From what I've seen, there have been a couple of games where we've played well and a couple of games where we haven't played well.''

The Bruins tend to play their best hockey against the league's top clubs and not so well against the lesser lights.

''That's been our problem for a couple of years, or since I've been here,'' said O'Donnell. ''We play to our competition a little bit too much. It's amazing how we've gone from where we were to scoreboard-watching to make the playoffs. It's tough to watch. I haven't been injured like this in a long time so it's not fun.''

With O'Donnell and Hal Gill (broken finger) out of the mix and veteran Don Sweeney playing with bruised ribs, general manager Mike O'Connell said he didn't want to hurry 22-year-old defenseman Jeff Jillson, who was acquired in the three-team deal that brought Boston goaltender Jeff Hackett. Jillson, a Rhode Island native who was taken by San Jose with the No. 14 overall pick in the 1999 draft, said he's pleased with how everything is going in Providence.

''Obviously, any time you make a switch like that, there's going to be some adjustment you have to make,'' said Jillson. ''It's been pretty smooth. The team is made up of a great bunch of guys and there's so much chemistry on the team. It's just a great situation to come into. Everything is always better when you're winning but it's just been a lot of fun.''

The Bruins believed that the Sharks put Jillson into their lineup before he was ready for the NHL, and they don't want to see that happen here. Jillson said he wasn't sure if that was the case.

''It's tough to say,'' he said. ''When I was up with the big team, I really didn't play all that much so it's tough to get a read on the whole situation. When I was up there, they were kind of working me in slowly so it wasn't like they threw me to the wolves. Everybody has their different opinion on it, but for me, it was all about going out and playing the game and not worrying about all the other things and distractions.''

The Bruins want him to play a lot of minutes in the minors, bolster his confidence, and learn the Boston system. Then they'll give him a shot with the big team, whether it's this year or next.

''I never lost confidence in myself,'' said Jillson. ''I just felt that the coaches [in San Jose] didn't really have confidence in me to put me out there. So sometimes you're afraid to make mistakes, and as a young defenseman, you're going to make mistakes in the NHL. But as far as confidence in myself, I always believed in myself. When the team was struggling a little bit, everything is magnified and all the mistakes are looked at even more intensely. That's the way it is and it's all a learning process.''

Jillson has seen former defense partner Zdenek Kutlak recalled to Boston, as well as Shaone Morrisonn, who has been back and forth. But he's not concerned about being passed over to this point.

''I was thrilled when I got the news I was getting traded here and I'm thrilled to be part of the Providence situation and hopefully we can keep this going and make a big playoff run,'' he said. ''I'm having tons of fun. It's not a race to get to the NHL. From my point of view, when you do get your chance you want to stay there. Whatever it takes to do that, I'm willing to.

''My No. 1 goal is to be in the NHL and not to be satisfied staying in the AHL. Not that there's anything wrong with the AHL, it's the top feeder system for the NHL. I just want to take the necessary steps that are going to take me to where I want to go.''






...41 days to the end of the season.

 

[the mugs]

Globe 2-23

Globe 2-23

Hackett getting it together

MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- His intensity beginning to work against him and his mind overrun by personal dissatisfaction with his play, Bruins goalie Jeff Hackett is turning to the one source he believes can help: his wife, Cheryl.

Hackett's wife, who has remained at the family home in London, Ontario, since the beginning of training camp in September, will join him in Boston today for at least the next three weeks and possibly until the conclusion of the regular season. The netminder can count on one hand the number of times the two have been together since the summer.

''The All-Star break, Christmas, the beginning of December, and before that the end of October,'' Hackett said. ''That's it.''

Hackett, who played in Montreal until his Jan. 23 trade to Boston via San Jose, did not bring his wife of nine years and two sons, ages 3 and 6, with him at the start of the season because he presumed he would be traded quickly. His $3.5 million salary, plus the $5 million the Canadiens promised starting goalie Jose Theodore, made Hackett a luxury too expensive to keep.

That was until Theodore struggled mightily and Hackett shone. When finally dealt, he figured he could continue on solo. No longer.

''She's a big part of my support system,'' said Hackett, who brooded for some time following Friday night's 3-2 loss, when he could not come up with a stoppable Jeff Friesen slapper that proved decisive. ''She's always been there for me. She's going to help me mentally. It's been a long and trying year mentally.''

Of late especially. While Hackett compiled a 2.54 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in Montreal, those numbers have ballooned to 3.20 and .892 in nine games with Boston (4-5-0).

Whether Hackett plays today vs. the Islanders remains to be seen. Coach Robbie Ftorek had made his decision by yesterday morning between Hackett and Steve Shields (who share the same hometown), but would not divulge it. Hackett believes it will not be him, given his 1-3 record on the current trip.

''I've been on a seven-month road trip,'' he said. ''It will be good to clear my head. When I'm alone, I think of hockey 24/7.''. . .

=====

General manager Mike O'Connell, who joined the club in Carolina last Wednesday, will continue to travel with the Bruins for the remainder of the season unless business brings him elsewhere.

On Thursday, he met with the coaching staff at the team hotel, then spoke with the players for upward of 90 minutes at the practice rink at Montclair State University.

''I asked the players what their goals were, if they wanted to make the playoffs,'' O'Connell said. ''They said, `Yes,' but saying something and doing it is two different things. They've got to stop the coasting. They need to block shots. They need to make a hit to make a play, take a punch in the face and not retaliate, go the difficult places where it hurts if you want to accomplish what you say you want to accomplish.

''I'm not out to assign blame. I'm just trying to find a solution to why this team is not playing 60 minutes. And I don't think that's an unreasonable thing to ask. We need some good saves, some timely goals. People are missing open nets. We need to be prepared.''

O'Connell said he is not opposed to dealing a regular. . .

=====

Down one enforcer in Krzysztof Oliwa, who bruised his left hand during a Friday night fight with New Jersey's Jim McKenzie, the Bruins welcomed a recuperated P.J. Stock to practice yesterday. Stock suffered flulike symptoms overnight Thursday and missed Friday's game. Oliwa is day-to-day . . .

=====

Sergei Samsonov plans to skate tomorrow but without a stick. O'Connell said there remains no timetable for the Russian winger, who has appeared in only seven games this season and none since Dec. 24 surgery to repair his right wrist . . .

=====

Hand specialist Jesse Jupiter's analysis of X-rays and an MRI of defenseman Hal Gill's broken left ring finger confirmed that Gill will not require surgery.

 

[ddubs]

Good luck today, mugs. I'm on the BB's.

 

[the mugs]

Sinking feeling: B's collapse shocks GM

MONTCLAIR, N.J. - Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell stood in the lobby of Montclair State's ice arena yesterday, a sea of youth hockey players and their families flowing around him, and talked about the B's stunning collapse and diminishing playoff chances.

Since Dec. 8, when the B's led the NHL with a 19-4-3-1 record, the team has staggered to a 9-20-3-1 mark and is on the verge of dropping out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference.

``It's incredible, it's mind-boggling,'' said O'Connell, his team 1-4-1 during a poor trip that concludes today against the Islanders on Long Island. ``We do have some key injuries right now, but still, it's incredible what's happened. It just seems like every time we may be getting out of it, we spring a leak someplace new.''

The leak that sunk the B's Friday night in the Meadowlands, putting an otherwise strong showing to waste, was weak goaltending from the struggling Jeff Hackett. The winning goal in the Devils' 3-2 triumph was a true stinker, and the first Jersey goal wasn't much better.

``(Friday), it was the goaltending,'' said O'Connell. ``We've got to get those saves. That's the difference between winning and losing. But if it was the goaltending (Friday) night, other nights maybe it was a bad defensive play, or a forward missing an open net, or a guy missing a check. We just spring leaks.''

O'Connell expressed confidence Hackett, who has lost four of his last five games, will find himself soon.

``I'm sure he's down, but he's been through these things before, every goalie goes through things like this,'' said O'Connell. ``It's confidence - he's got to get it boosted up. There have been times he played well and we didn't play well in front of him. He's part of the team. We all have to do our best to support each other and get out of this.''

The Bruins clearly outplayed Pat Burns' Devils Friday, but were killed by three fluky or soft goals.

``That's the way things are going right now,'' said Bruin P.J. Stock. ``Out of 10 things, we'll do nine of them right. On the 10th, we make a little mistake and it ends up in our net. When is this going to end?''

The Bruins are 1-5-1 in their last seven outings and seem to have so much negative momentum going right now, it could be tough to get straightened out. A hypothetical was presented to O'Connell yesterday: If the losses keep piling up - and in the Islanders today and Dallas Tuesday, that could easily occur - is there a chance he'd dump coach Robbie Ftorek?cw0

``I don't think so,'' said O'Connell. ``I don't think that's the thing to do. I'm not looking to change there.

``It's got to come from what we have here. We've proven we can do it. Are we a 19-4 team? Are we as good as we were when everything was clicking and going our way? Probably not. But we're sure not this team, either. We're not a 9-20 team. We saw so much good early, now we're not good. But there has to be a middle ground for us.

``We have to put together 60 minutes and be solid in every way, get solid team play. And even that doesn't guarantee a win. You've got to go one game at a time, one period at a time, one shift at a time. You have to realize that every shift is critical. We have to string a few wins together so the mindset of the team will start to change.''

And stop springing those leaks that can wreck a good effort.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 2-23

Boston Herald 2-23

Bad moves look even worse now

Since the first week of December, the Bruins have looked like one of worst teams in the NHL - a fairly incredible turnaround for the team that was unquestionably the best during October and November.

It's not too late, of course, for the Bruins to get their act together again, earn a spot in the playoffs and have considerable postseason success. The return of the injured Sean O'Donnell, Hal Gill and, maybe, Sergei Samsonov will certainly help.

But the fact remains that the B's have not looked like a playoff team for more than two months now, prompting a major re-evaluation of this team - from management to ice level.

When the team was off to its 19-4-3-1 start, GM Mike O'Connell looked like a certifiable genius, a guy with a two-year run of successful manpower moves that every GM in the league had to envy. This season, it seemed, he had really performed a feat of magic: Losing three of the best players from last year's 101-point Eastern Conference regular-season champion and cutting salary by some $10 million - and getting better.

Now though, as the B's stagger to the end of a losing road trip, we have seen how disastrous the B's offseason moves really were. With the perfect vision of hindsight, it's easy to see several things that O'Connell should have done:

He should have made a genuine, early effort to keep Bill Guerin in Boston, where the winger badly wanted to stay. Instead, the B's simply assumed Guerin would be too expensive - as he eventually proved to be - and would be gone.

He should have made some effort to keep Byron Dafoe, instead of blaming the goalie for the teamwide collapse against Montreal in last year's playoffs and basically writing him off as no good. Yes, Dafoe created his own problems by demanding too much money initially. But the B's should have recognized the guy was their best hope in goal and tried to work with him on a more reasonable contract. Instead, they made him the public scapegoat.

They compounded the mistake by dumping John Grahame for next to nothing, and now seem unlikely to re-sign Jeff Hackett unless the deadly-serious veteran can settle down and finish very, very well.

He should not have made that incomprehensible two-way contract offer to defenseman Kyle McLaren, a move with no rationale other than to embarrass the veteran. He was never going to be sent to the AHL - he'd have had to pass through waivers to go down - so why make such an offer? There may have been personal, off-ice factors in McLaren's weird demand to be traded, but he has made it very clear the real catalyst was the two-way qualifying offer.

McLaren's trade, which brought Hackett and defenseman Jeff Jillson to the B's, could yet work out well, though the early returns on Hackett aren't great and Jillson isn't NHL-ready.

The net result? A year ago, for the first time in decades, there was hope the Stanley Cup might return to Boston. Now, a wonderful opportunity has been tossed away for the same old reason - to save money - and it looks like the B's will be lucky just to make the playoffs. The victim, along with the B's fans, could be hard-working coach Robbie Ftorek, who probably needs a strong playoff run to keep his job.

 

[TORONTO-VIGILANTE]

good luck today.

not even TOUCHING THAT GAME.

 

[no all]

good luck