Thursday's Bruins - Playoff Edition...

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Frogy - If you have anything you want to include in today's stuff from the Canadien side - feel free to post it here.

MONTREAL CANADIENS at
BOSTON BRUINS
Thursday, April 18, 2002
FleetCenter; Boston MA
7:00 pm (ET) - Gametime
6:30 pm (ET) - Bruins Digest
NESN
Tonight's Game
The Bruins host the Canadiens tonight in the first game of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarter-Final series. The Bruins are making their 60th post-season appearance in their 78-year history, while the Canadiens are making their 78th post-season appearance in their 85-year history. This marks a return to the playoffs for both the Bruins and Canadiens, as the Bruins' prior playoff appearance was in 1999 and the Canadiens' was in 1998.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins and Canadiens have met more times in post-season play than any other two NHL opponents, as they are playing their 29th lifetime series. The Bruins are 7-21 in playoff series vs. the Canadiens as these teams split their first four series, Montreal won the next 18 series between these teams, and the Bruins have won five of the last six series including the last four straight. These teams have played 139 lifetime playoff games with Montreal holding an 87-52 advantage in those contests. The Bruins are 36-31-0 in games vs. the Canadiens on home playoff ice with a 186-179 scoring advantage in those 67 games.

The Bruins finished the regular season with a 3-2-0-0 record vs. Montreal in their season series. The Bruins won a 5-3 game in Boston on Nov. 13, a 5-0 win in Boston on Dec. 20 and a 4-3 overtime victory in Montreal on Jan. 30. The Canadiens won a 3-2 decision in Montreal on Nov. 20 and a 5-3 decision in Montreal on Mar. 6.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins finished their regular season with a 43-24-6-9 record, 23-11-2-5 at home and 20-13-4-4 on the road. The Bruins won 40+ games for the 22nd time in their history and the first time since they compiled a 40-31-11 record in 1995-96 and their 43 wins were their highest total since they went 51-26-7 in 1992-93. They won 20 road games for the 15th time in their history and finished with a winning record on the road for the first time since they compiled a 20-14-7 road mark in 1997-98. The Bruins hit the 100-point plateau for the 16th time in their history and the first time since a 109-point season in 1992-93. The Bruins finished first in their Division for the first time since the 1992-93 season when they won the Adams Division title with a 51-26-7 record. It was their 23rd Division title. The Bruins finished first in their Conference for the first time since the 1990-91 season when they took the Prince of Wales Conference crown with a 44-24-12 record and 100 points.

Recent Canadiens Games
The Canadiens finished their regular season with a 36-31-12-3 record, 21-13-6-1 at home and 15-18-6-2 on the road.

Upcoming Series Games
G2 Sunday, April 21 @ Boston - 7:00 p.m. - UPN38/WBZ Radio
G3 Tuesday, April 23 @ Montreal - 7:00 p.m. - UPN38/WBZ Radio
G4 Thursday, April 25 @ Montreal - 7:00 p.m. - NESN/WBZ Radio
G5 Saturday, April 27 @ Boston - 1:00 p.m. - ABC/WBZ Radio (If Necessary)
G6 Monday, April 29 @ Montreal - 7:00 p.m. - UPN38/WBZ Radio (If Necessary)
G7 Tuesday, April 30 @ Boston - 7:00 p.m. - NESN/WBZ Radio (If Necessary)

Bruins Injuries
Jarno Kultanen: April 1 knee surgery; out indefinitely.

Bruins Recent Transactions
Apr. 17: Ivan Huml, Jonathan Girard, Zdenek Kutlak, Chris Kelleher, Andrew Raycroft and Andy Hilbert recalled from Providence/AHL on standby for the playoffs.

Canadiens Injuries
Jeff Hackett: Shoulder injury; out indefinitely.
Benoit Gratton LW Ankle Out indefinitely

 

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This year's games, trends & records

This year's games, trends & records

Bruins are 3-2 SU this year against Montreal. The Bruin home record is 2-0 and they are 1-2 up north.

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
3/6/2002 Mtl. 5 Bos. 3 0,110/5 Mtl./O
1/30/2002 Mtl. 3 Bos. 4 0,105/5 Bos./O
12/20/2001 Bos. 5 Mtl. 0 0,-200/5 Bos./P
11/20/2001 Mtl. 3 Bos. 2 0,100/5 Mtl./P
11/13/2001 Bos. 5 Mtl. 3 0,-200/5 Bos./O


Recent Trends
The under is 7-2-1 in the Habs last nine overall.
Montreal is 7-2 ATS in their last nine overall.
The over is 3-0-2 in the mast five meetings.
The Bruins have the best PK at 87.1%.
BOS have won the past four meetings in Boston.
Boston is 7-1-1 ATS when on three days rest.

Records...

Bruins are fairly strong at home posting a 23-16-2 record while the visiting Canadiens are under .500 on the road for the season at 15-20-6

 

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Bruins focus on special teams for playoffs

Bruins focus on special teams for playoffs

Three factors more than likely will determine whether the Bruins succeed in the playoffs: goaltending, special teams, and mental toughness. The 82-game regular season is over and it's a whole new challenge beginning Thursday night when the Bruins open their best-of-seven first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens at the FleetCenter.

The most pivotal position is in the net, and Byron Dafoe said he's looking forward to his first postseason in three years.

''It's a position I like to be in,'' said Dafoe, who wrapped up the year with a career high in victories with 35 and a 2.21 goals-against average. ''It's like being a pitcher or quarterback, it's kind of like the go-to guy. Goaltending doesn't win you games but you need it to be successful. I need 19 other guys to go 100 percent in order for us to win this series. It's important, but by no means can a goaltender win a series. Teams that win Stanley Cups have four great lines, six great defensemen, and a great goaltender, and those are the key ingredients.''

The club's penalty killing has been among the best in the NHL all season. On the flip side, the power play has been a bigger liability than an asset on too many nights. If Boston is going to go anywhere, it needs to turn that around. Dafoe said the Bruins have the personnel to make it work.

''We have had the best penalty killing in the league,'' he said. ''We have three lines that can score on any given night and a very solid defensive corps. The only blemish has been the power play. If we can get that going in the playoffs, which I think we can because we're focusing in on one penalty-killing unit in a seven-game series, look out. We're all set up for success and what it's going to come down to is that third ingredient, the heart and what's inside. If we come out and play with the passion and determination I know we have in this dressing room, I think we'll be successful.''

Center Brian Rolston, the Bruins' biggest scoring threat on the penalty kill, said the team is going to have to be disciplined in order to thwart the hard-working Habs.

''We're going to have to have discipline in our system, discipline on the ice, and we can't take bad penalties,'' he said. ''I think goaltending is huge in the playoffs. Byron has been great for us all year. Depth is going to be a key. A lot of times in series, you see the first two lines on either team, they always get their goals. It's the third and fourth line a lot of times that can make the difference.''

That was certainly true in 1995 when Rolston was playing for the New Jersey Devils. The fourth line of Randy McKay, Bobby Holik, and Mike Peluso made a valuable contribution in the Devils' run to the Cup.

''It was the fourth line that really pushed us over the top,'' said Rolston. ''With the Red Wings, when Marty [Lapointe] was playing on the third line, those guys like him and Kris Draper and Darren McCarty, they made a difference.''

Lapointe, who signed with the Bruins as a free agent last summer, has won two Cups with Detroit and his experience will help some of the younger players who haven't faced that kind of pressure.

''You've got to pick it up a notch,'' said Lapointe. ''There's a different level of intensity. Guys have to understand that every game is important and every shift you go out there is like a seventh game. Obviously, I've been there before. All I can do is make sure I lead by example and share my experiences with my teammates and go from there.''

For those who have been deep into the postseason, there's an understanding of just how much more demanding it is than the rigors of the regular season.

''It's important to show everyone how to turn it up, how to get into that next gear,'' said Dafoe. ''It's so different than the regular season, especially with Montreal coming in. The media is going to be unbelievable. The veterans have to show everyone else that you have to stay focused, you can't get caught up in it. It's just the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, it's an amazing experience, but it's just the start of a long road ahead of us. Everyone has to stay grounded and realize what's at hand.''

The Bruins routed the undermanned Penguins in the final contest of the year, clinching the Eastern Conference crown. That was their first win in six games. There is no worry among the players that the way they were playing then will have any impact on how they'll play once the puck drops Thursday night.

''It is tough when there isn't anything on the line for the other team,'' said Dafoe. ''I think it's human nature sometimes to fall into their type of game, and we did that on occasion. But it all doesn't matter because we got the job done.

''We had a goal at the start of the year and it was to win the East and we did that. Now that's over with, we got home ice, and a brand new season starts. The whole slate is wiped clean, everyone is back to zero, and we have a job to get 16 victories the next two months and that's all we're focusing on.''

 

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The net may yield answers

The net may yield answers

When the Bruins' first-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens opens tomorrow night at the FleetCenter, it will match two of the best goaltenders in the league.

Byron Dafoe was the ninth-ranked netminder in goals-against average (2.21) and Montreal's Jose Theodore was No. 4 (2.11). Dafoe was fourth in victories with 35 and Theodore finished No. 1 in save percentage (.931, compared with .907 for Dafoe). Dafoe is part of the reason the Bruins led the league in penalty killing.

Coach Robbie Ftorek said both teams have plenty of other weapons, but the goalies are pivotal in their teams' success.

''[Theodore] is arguably one of the best goaltenders in the league, there's no question about that,'' said Ftorek. ''Byron has been playing well this year, which is a great thing for us. So it should be a good competition between the goaltenders but there's a lot of other things that happen out there besides just the goaltenders. It's nice to know on our side that we've got a good goaltender and I know they're happy that they've got a great goaltender on their side.''

Ftorek said he has had discussions with Dafoe leading up to this series, but the goalie's job is straightforward.

''He knows what he has to do, and he's going to go out and do the best he can,'' said Ftorek.

====

A No. 1 priority

P.J. Axelsson is expected to begin the series on the top line with Joe Thornton and Bill Guerin. It might alter Ftorek's penalty killing plans since Axelsson and Brian Rolston normally play together, but the coach said they'll make adjustments as they go. ''P.J.'s got energy and he's a guy who goes in and does some good serious forechecking, and he is sound defensively, and we want good minutes from him,'' said Ftorek. ''He'll try to get pucks to people and when he gets scoring opportunities [he'll try] to bury them. It's not much more than we ask from anybody else.'' ... From an emotional standpoint, Ftorek said he expects the return of Habs' captain Saku Koivu from abdominal cancer to give the Canadiens a big lift. ''The whole league and all of hockey gets a big boost by Saku coming back,'' said Ftorek. ''It's a tremendous thing. I watched the night when he first came back and it was a tremendous ovation. The Montreal fans, as usual, were just unbelievable. I like the fact the Ottawa players were unbelievable, they were banging the boards and saluting him. They went out and banged him, too, but that was a thing above and beyond hockey that happened. I get goosebumps thinking about it because I had them when I watched it. It gives millions and millions of people a lot of hope ... hope for Saku, but hope for themselves.''

 

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Axelsson's play top of the line

Axelsson's play top of the line

WILMINGTON - An old cliche says you can't win a game without scoring goals, but an NHL playoffs axiom dictates that defense carries the day. The Bruins may be hoping to have it both ways by placing P.J. Axelsson on their top line tonight when they open the first round of the playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens at the FleetCenter.

Axelsson, a defensive specialist, had just seven goals and 17 assists while skating on the third line for most of the regular season. His numbers won't put a scare into an opponent's defenses, but his steadiness does impress.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound right winger is not afraid to take the man, and as often as not, he takes the puck. And puck possession means everything at this time of the season.

His season did not start so auspiciously. At one point Axelsson wanted to be traded, but the front office refused. Now, both player and management are no doubt happy about how things turned out.

With the team in a five-game spiral leading up to last Saturday night's regular-season finale, coach Robbie Ftorek shook up his lines and Axelsson suddenly found himself in the front row.

He picked up an assist in the 7-1 blowout of Pittsburgh, and seemed to fit in fine with winger Bill Guerin and center Joe Thornton. So the B's powers-that-be have apparently decided to keep a good thing going.

The man of the moment reacted a little sheepishly to his promotion, coming as it does at the most pivotal moment of the Bruins' season.

Asked if he felt Ftorek had new confidence in him, Axelsson grinned and replied, ``I hope he does. I'm going to go out there and do whatever I can to help.''

And he called the chance to line up with Messrs. Thornton and Guerin ``just a huge opportunity. I'm excited to play with those guys. Of course, they're two really good players and it's going to be fun.''

Axelsson is not quite as sure about becoming a scoring threat.

``Maybe I'm sometimes a little too defense-minded,'' said the five-year veteran from Kungalv, Sweden. ``You know, I like to do my job back there, but certainly I want to do a little more offensively, too.''

Guerin said Axelsson shouldn't try to change too much.

``There's no pressure on P.J.'' said Guerin, who amassed 41 goals to share the team lead with Glen Murray. ``He's just got to play his game and Joe and I will play ours. He fits in fine.''

Thornton said the addition of Axelsson has been a smooth one.

``He's such a good skater, and he sees things on the ice so well, that's been a real key for us,'' Thornton said. ``And he knows how to get the puck to us. He really has the tools.''

Axelsson's defensive play is another critical element, agreed Thornton.

``That aspect of his play is huge,'' he said. ``To know he's back there, protecting your zone, that takes a huge burden off, that's for sure.''

As far as increased scoring from his new linemate is concerned, Thornton just chuckled.

``Sure, maybe he's feeling some pressure, but he's going to get his scoring chances,'' he said.

``He's been playing really well lately. He's going to do fine.''

 

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B's-Habs: A feud renewed: The bad blood flows again in Hub, Montreal

B's-Habs: A feud renewed: The bad blood flows again in Hub, Montreal

Bruins center P.J. Stock grew up approximately 20 minutes from the Montreal Forum, and he hit serious hockey-viewing age in the mid-1980s, while the Bruins and Canadiens were still clinched in one of professional sport's greatest blood feuds.

That's right - blood.

``Half of the fun was in the stands when those two teams played,'' Stock, 26, said this week. ``You'd rather watch the fights going on in the stands than on the ice.''

Oh, yes, the fights. No wonder Stock is so good with his fists now.

Bill Guerin, Worcester-born and Wilbraham-raised, glowed at mention of Stock's description. His own take on this ancient hockey war took form some five hours from Montreal, in Boston Garden.

``Yeah, that time when Chris Nilan hit Ken Linseman as they were going off the ice,'' said Guerin. ``You had all of those John Kordic and Jay Miller fights. Things were pretty wild. Of course, it's a different game now.

``But the Garden was insane for that. It was like the Yankees coming in for a (Red Sox) series. People just wanted to beat the Canadiens so badly.''

After what might seem like an eternity, tonight's game at the FleetCenter marks the first Bruins-Canadiens playoff game since 1994.

Bruins president Harry Sinden, for one, said it's about time that Bruins Nation was reacquainted with this vital part of its heritage.

``That's what I feel good about right now,'' said Sinden. ``Rivalries and cities like this are what make the league and make the sport. And you can always benefit when you make this kind of connection with the past. For us never to again play Montreal in the playoffs would be a terrible thing.''

===

Seeing it from the inside

Their fans may be hard-pressed to remember the bitter rivalry with the Habs, but the Bruins have plenty of players who remember how it was, based on their experiences as young fans.

Concord-born Hal Gill remembers how sides used to be chosen for a game of ice or street hockey.

``In the street and on the ponds, it was Canadiens-Bruins,'' said the 27-year-old defenseman. ``It meant everything. That was Boston hockey.

``That was the one game each year that I got to go in and see,'' said Gill. ``It was just a great feeling when those two teams got together, and you saw Montreal come on the ice in those uniforms. That was always awesome.''

Fleeting moments come flying back from those games.

Guerin remembers a Garry Galley overtime goal that won a 1990 playoff game against the Canadiens.

Martin Lapointe was in front of the television as his idol, Guy Lafleur, skated to some of his greatest moments at the expense of the Bruins.

That's the odd part for Lapointe and Stock now. Both were raised in the Montreal area, and their hockey-versed families still live there. When the series moves to Montreal Tuesday for Game 3, mon dieu, both players will skate out as Bruins.

``My friends tell me that they want me to win, but they want Montreal to win, too,'' said Lapointe. ``I was young, but I remember it was pretty intense watching the two teams play. It always seemed to go seven games. You can't forget guys like Chris Nilan, Kordic and (Claude) Lemieux. It's been so long that I don't remember a lot of it so well, but I remember the overtimes.''

Sometimes the answer is to slip over to the other side.

``My parents are transformed Bruins fans now,'' said Stock. ``But growing up, there were only two games that counted if you were a Canadiens fan - the Bruins and the Nordiques. I remember when the Bruins broke that jinx in 1988. The games were just so exciting.

``You didn't have to be an Expos fan if you lived in Montreal, but you had to be a Canadiens fan,'' he said. ``All of that hoopla - you worried about your team winning the first shift, and then following it all the way from there.''

Don Sweeney became acquainted with the local brand of hockey hoopla after moving down from New Brunswick to attend Harvard in 1984, though he has been given more credit for being a local than Sweeney feels he deserves.

``I grew up in Canada, with `Hockey Night in Canada,' and you had to root for a Canadian team,'' said Sweeney. ``I didn't become a Bruins fans until I was drafted. But you get a taste of what it's all about down here with the Bruins and Canadiens pretty quickly.

``I remember watching them beat the jinx in `88,'' he said. ``Then they went on to beat (Montreal) in four straight (in 1992) with Rick Bowness as coach.

``I like to think that I understand what Boston sports is all about, whether it's beating the Yankees, or beating the Canadiens.''

A marquee matchup

Sweeney's analogy has something to do with the nervous excitement Sinden started to feel once the Bruins' playoff opponent was announced. It will never have anything in common with preparing for a series against the Thrashers or Mighty Ducks.

It's far more like the electric current that once preceded Celtics-Lakers games. It has everything in common with the passionate anticipation that leads the Yankees into Fenway.

``There's too many fans out there talking this up now for these guys not to understand what it means,'' said Bruins assistant coach Wayne Cashman, a long-time veteran of those wars. ``I just tell them, `Hey, if you grew up telling yourself you'd like to be part of this rivalry, well, it's going to happen pretty quick.' ''

None, however, are more elated than Sinden.

``I do feel it,'' Sinden said yesterday. ``I was particularly happy that we were going to play them. I think (the rivalry) had lost its edge, and this can revive it, big time.

``I think it's been distracted a bit because of the way scheduling has been set up lately in the NHL, with crossover divisional play in the playoffs,'' he said. ``Hopefully we can change it back someday. There's a lot of sentiment for returning the start of the playoffs to within your division.

``But this, now, is a great thing. I used to view a Montreal-Boston playoff as a rite of spring.''

 

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Baby B's answer the call: Providence crew joins playoff run

Baby B's answer the call: Providence crew joins playoff run

WILMINGTON - Reinforcements, which the Bruins hope not to need, arrived yesterday from Providence (AHL) in the persons of defensemen Jonathan Girard, Zdenek Kutlak and Chris Kelleher, goalie Andrew Raycroft and wingers Andy Hilbert and Ivan Huml.

``They're the players that performed down there,'' said Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell. ``They're here in case of an emergency, just in case we need them. Hopefully we go a long way, and you never know. If we did have injuries, you can't just call them up. You've got to have them here playing.

``Huml and Hilbert both had good years and they're young. We want to give them somewhat of a look at what it looks like in the playoffs. Kutlak we think has a chance to play eventually. He might be a couple of years away, but he's big and strong. Kelleher is a little older, he's more of a depth guy. And Girard is still a very important piece to us. Raycroft as well.''

For ex-Boston University captain Kelleher, a 27-year-old from Belmont who played his first NHL game this season with the Bruins, it's a thrill to join the club for the playoffs - even if he is a member of a taxi squad that will mostly skate on its own after the regular practice, often under the demanding tutelage of strength and conditioning coach Johnny Whitesides.

``It's nice to get recognized and called up here, to be involved a little bit in the playoffs,'' said Kelleher. ``They've got a great team here, so it could be a long stay, I hope. We're just here so they can keep us in shape, because you never know what can happen. But it's probably more of a little reward for the guys.''

Hilbert won't be around long. On Sunday, he'll head to Sweden to join Team USA for the World Championships.

``They asked me if I wanted to go, Boston let me go and I'm really excited,'' said Hilbert. ``It'll be a lot of fun.''

The tournament runs from April 26-May 11. It'll be even more fun for Hilbert if the Bruins are still playing when he comes back.

A Penney for the thoughts

The Bruins have beaten the Canadiens in their last four playoff encounters. That's the sort of historical reference the B's hope will apply this time around and not what occurred in 1984.

In 1983-84 the B's totalled 104 points in 80 games, sharing the Eastern Conference lead. In the first round of the playoffs they met a Habs club that had finished five games under .500 and barely made the playoffs. It was widely assumed the B's would snap their 14-series losing streak vs. Montreal. Alas, no-name goalie Steve Penney, a minor leaguer with just four games of NHL experience, stepped in and stoned the B's in a three-game sweep.

The Bruins endured three more years of playoff losses to the Habs before finally ending the jinx in 1988.

The name sounds familiar

Interesting to note that the Canadiens practice in the Martin Lapointe Rink in the Montreal suburb of Ville Ste. Pierre. Yes, it's named for the Bruins winger, who comes from that neighborhood.

``They named it that after we won the first Cup with Detroit,'' said Lapointe. ``I'm pretty lucky. Usually you have to be dead to have a rink named after you.'' . . .

Not surprisingly, coach Robbie Ftorek would not show his hand regarding possible line matchups.

``Matchups? We might and we might not,'' said Ftorek with a smile.