Thursday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

Two possible systems for tonight...

First, HORNS' teams on the road B2B
Second, Washington has a new coach behind the bench - first game as hd coach

Probably see Potvin in net helpingthat over and I'm not playing a side. Playing the over tonight is my "square central" play
I wasn't around yesterday but with knuckleheads that post chit like that, I can see why Horny split. Anyway, on to the good stuff

BOSTON BRUINS vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Thursday, December 11, 2003
MCI Center; Washington DC
Game Time: 7:00 p.m.

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins visit the Capitals tonight in the second of four games between these teams this season and the first of two games of this season?s series at MCI Center. The Bruins are 12-5-7-4 thus far this season with an 8-2-2-3 road record. The Capitals are 8-18-1-1 thus far this season with a 3-6-0-1 home record. The Bruins are 2-2-2-1 this season vs. Southeast Division opponents and are 4-4-5-3 vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Capitals are 0-6-1-0 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and are 6-10-1-1 vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 57-30-20-1 lifetime vs. Washington with a 389-296 scoring advantage in those 108 games. On the road, the Bruins are 25-15-12-1 lifetime vs. the Capitals with a 183-148 scoring edge in those 53 contests. The Bruins are unbeaten in their last three games vs. the Capitals at 2-0-1-0 with their last loss to the Capitals a 5-3 setback in Washington on Dec. 19, 2002. The Bruins defeated the Capitals by a 3-2 score in Boston on Nov. 20 in the first game of this season?s series.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have tied their last three games and are 1-1-4-0 in their last six games with a 3-3 tie with Phoenix on Nov. 30, a 6-4 win in Atlanta on Dec. 3, a 6-0 loss to Toronto on Dec. 4, a 1-1 tie with Philadelphia on Dec. 6, a 2-2 tie with Ottawa on Dec. 8 and a 1-1 tie in Florida on Dec. 10. The Bruins have taken points out of 17 of their last 20 games at 8-3-5-4 and in 23 of their 28 games overall this season at 12-5-7-4.

The Bruins have taken points out of ten of their 13 games on home ice this season at 4-3-5-1.

The Bruins have taken at least one point out of 13 of their last 14 road games at 8-1-2-3, including a ten-game point stretch (7-0-1-2) from Oct. 11-Nov. 19.

Recent Capitals Games
The Capitals have lost their last three games with a 3-0 loss in New Jersey on Dec. 4, a 7-3 loss in Los Angeles on Dec. 6 and a 4-1 setback in Colorado on Dec. 8. They are 3-6-0-1 in their last ten games. The Capitals will be playing their first game under new head coach Glen Hanlon, who replaced Bruce Cassidy on Dec. 10.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins play game two of their current four-game road trip tonight, continuing in Ottawa on Dec. 13 (7:00 p.m.) and Montreal on Dec. 16 (7:30 p.m.). They will return home to host Calgary on Dec. 18 (7:00 p.m.)

Upcoming Capitals Games
The Capitals host Detroit on Dec. 13 and will then face a two-game road trip to Atlanta on Dec. 16 and Florida on Dec. 17.

Bruins Injuries
P. J. Axelsson: Aggravated shoulder injury Nov. 28 vs. Nashville; not on trip.
Sandy McCarthy: Groin strain suffered Dec. 8 vs. Ottawa; not on trip.

Bruins Recent Transactions
Dec. 5: Ted Donato recalled from Providence/AHL.
Dec. 6: Pat Leahy recalled from Providence/AHL.
Dec. 6: Sergei Zinovjev assigned to Providence/AHL.
Dec. 9: Doug Doull recalled from Providence/AHL.

Bruins Facts

Doug Doull is expected to play his first NHL/Bruins game tonight.

The Bruins have 13 sets of back-to-back games this season. They are 3-1-1-1 in the first game of these sets and are 3-1-1-0 in game two of consecutive-night contests.

The Bruins have earned ties in each of their last three games?The last time they had three straight ties was Jan. 13-17, 2000.

The team record for consecutive ties is four straight games, which they have done on four occasions?The last time they had four straight ties was Oct. 8-15, 1960.

The Bruins have gone to overtime in each of their last three games?The last time they played four straight overtime games was Oct. 25-30, 2001.

The Bruins have three rookies on their current roster ? Patrice Bergeron, Pat Leahy and Andrew Raycroft?Bergeron is currently the youngest player in the NHL with a July 24, 1985 birthrate.

 

[the mugs]

NHL.com

NHL.com

GAME: Boston Bruins (12-5-7-4) at Washington Capitals (8-18-1-1).

TIME: Thursday, 7 p.m. EST.
Glen Hanlon will try to begin turning things around for the Washington Capitals as he makes his coaching debut when they host the Boston Bruins at the MCI Center.

The Capitals, tied for last place in the NHL, fired head coach Bruce Cassidy on Wednesday and replaced him with Hanlon.

"We are in this spiral this season, and I couldn't sit back any longer," general manager George McPhee said. "We still have every intention of making the playoffs. Ten games under .500 this time of year is dangerous. We can't lose any more ground."

Hanlon was an assist under Cassidy before getting promoted on Wednesday. He immediately promised a patient approach, a stark contrast from the in-your-face style that hindered Cassidy's tenure.

"We're not going to make a lot of system changes, but I think we can make some changes overnight in how we approach the game and how we treat ourselves," Hanlon said.

The Capitals have 18 points, tied with Pittsburgh for fewest in the NHL despite one of the highest payrolls in the league. Washington has struggled with an inexperienced defense and has had trouble scoring despite a lineup that includes Jaromir Jagr, Peter Bondra and Robert Lang.

Sergei Gonchar scored for Washington as it suffered a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. The loss was the third straight for the Capitals.

The Bruins are 1-4-4 in their last nine games. Boston, which is 8-2-2-3 on the road, has tied its last three games.

Ted Donato scored his first goal of the season as the Bruins tied the Florida Panthers 1-1 on Wednesday.

Playing his third game since being recalled from the minors, Donato scored when he took Sean O'Donnell's long pass at center ice and beat Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo on a breakaway.

"I told our guys, we've got to shoot the puck," Boston coach Mike Sullivan said. "We were looking for the perfect play, and sometimes it's not there."

 

[the mugs]

RECENT TRENDS

RECENT TRENDS

? BOS is 4-1 ATS on one days rest this year.
? Bruins are 1-3 ATS in their last four roads.
? BOS is 1-3 ATS in their last four as the fav.
? WAS is 3-7 ATS in their last ten at home.
? Over is 6-1 in WAS?s last seven at home.
? WAS is 2-5 ATS in their last seven overall.

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings

Date Home Away Line ATS
11/20/2003 Bos. 3 Wash. 2 -0.5,-150/5.5 Bos./U (03-04)

3/8/2003 Bos. 5 Wash. 4 -0.5,110/6 Bos./O (02-03)
1/20/2003 Bos. 3 Wash. 3 -0.5,-115/5.5 Wash./O
12/19/2002 Wash. 5 Bos. 3 0.5,-150/5.5 Wash./O
10/30/2002 Wash. 2 Bos. 7 -0.5,110/5.5 Bos./O

1/14/2002 Wash. 1 Bos. 0 N,N/N -/- (01-02)
1/5/2002 Bos. 7 Wash. 4 0,-175/5.5 Bos./O
12/13/2001 Wash. 2 Bos. 1 0,-140/5.5 Wash./U
10/8/2001 Bos. 4 Wash. 0 0,105/5.5 Bos./U

1/5/2001 Wash. 1 Bos. 1 0,-185/5.5 P/U (00-01)

 

[the mugs]

Injuries

Injuries

Craps are a little banged up...

Boston Injuries
Player Pos Injury Status
Sandy McCarthy F Groin Ques Thurs
P.J. Axelsson F Shoulder Ques Thurs
Jonathan Girard D Hip out for season

Washington Injuries
Player Pos Injury Status
Brendan Witt D Chest Out Thurs
Ivan Ciernik RW Ankle Ques Thurs
John Gruden D Groin Out Thurs
Sebastien Charpentier G Leg Out indefinitely
Michael Nylander C Leg Ques Thurs

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 12.11.03

Boston Globe 12.11.03

No jackpot for Jillson
Kutlak replaces him in the lineup

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Sometimes a different view of the game can alter a player's perspective. That's what Bruins coach Mike Sullivan is hoping for, anyway. Last night against the Florida Panthers, Sullivan elected to bench defenseman Jeff Jillson in favor of Zdenek Kutlak.

"As of late, [Jillson] has to be more prepared to play," said Sullivan. "You can't take anything for granted in this game and it's a competitive league. We know Jeff is a very good player and we expect he'll be a big part of this team. I think it's just sometimes players benefit from watching and maybe getting a different perspective on how the game is being played out there."

Jillson hasn't been the only inconsistent player on the roster throughout the team's nine-game malaise (1-3-4-1) but Sullivan thinks he would benefit from a break.

"Jeff's a guy who has to be prepared to play every day, not unlike any player but with young players especially, it's a bigger challenge," the coach said. "Fatigue enters into it. Mental fatigue enters into it and I think that's one of the adjustments that young players have to make, the ability to play through those situations.

"Jeff is at a point right now where I don't think he's played his best and we certainly want to get him back there and we feel this is a decision that hopefully will get him back there. I'm sure he's disappointed. It's never an easy thing to tell a player he's not in the lineup. We believe in him, we know he's capable, but we also have expectations and we expect him, just like we expect all of our players, to be prepared from the drop of the puck every night."

Jillson was clearly down about being scratched but said he'd accept it as a professional.

"I've just got to handle it the best way possible and not let it affect me in a negative way," he said. "I have to try to take the positive out of it if there is any. Whatever helps the team, whatever the coaching staff feels is what I'm willing to do. It's just one of those things. He wants me to be more consistent and I've just got to come out and play 60 minutes every night. I've got to, I guess, learn from this and never look back."

Jillson sat for the first time this season but his replacement had done nothing but sit since being called up from Providence Nov. 4. The club even had Kutlak play a game back in the minors over the weekend in an effort to get him ready to come into the lineup.

"He has good mobility, he's pretty sound defensively, and he's got a real active stick," said Sullivan. "He's a pretty good penalty killer. I think he fits into our defense corps because he has a simple game plan and that's the type of defense corps we have."

Kutlak played 14 shifts over 10:57 of ice time, even seeing a little penalty killing, and finished a minus-1.

"I thought he did pretty well for his first game in there," said Sullivan. "The pace of play is a step or two faster and that's a big adjustment."

=====

Shakeup on blue line

Sullivan altered his defense pairings, putting Kutlak with Ian Moran and teaming Moran's former partner -- Dan McGillis -- with Hal Gill. The only pair left intact was Nick Boynton and Sean O'Donnell . . .

Forward Michal Grosek, who missed two games because of a shoulder injury, was back in the lineup . . .

Rookie Patrice Bergeron, who had practice off Tuesday to rest some aches and pains, was fine to play . . .

Goalie Andrew Raycroft got his third consecutive start, opposing Roberto Luongo. It was the first time this season that either Raycroft or Felix Potvin started three in a row. Earlier in the season, Raycroft did appear in three straight, relieving Potvin in the second game of the year against Tampa Bay and then starting the next two -- in Florida and Dallas. Sullivan said not to read too much into Raycroft's run. "Razor obviously has been pretty good as of late," said the coach. "We wanted to give him an opportunity to play but we still feel as though we have two capable goalies and both guys are going to see time." Raycroft said he's not assuming anything. "Obviously, if anything it's almost a nice compliment that they've given me three starts in a row," he said. "But I don't think it really means a whole lot."

 

[the mugs]

Associated Press 12.11.03

Associated Press 12.11.03

Capitals wash hands of Cassidy

WASHINGTON -- Coach Bruce Cassidy was fired yesterday by the Washington Capitals, who play the Bruins tonight at the MCI Center and who are mired at the bottom of the NHL standings despite one of the league's highest payrolls.

Assistant coach Glen Hanlon will replace Cassidy. Hanlon joined the staff last season after spending three seasons as coach of the Portland Pirates, Washington's AHL affiliate.

Washington has struggled with an inexperienced defense and also has had trouble scoring despite a lineup that includes Jaromir Jagr, Peter Bondra, and Robert Lang. Cassidy replaced Ron Wilson in June 2002 in a hiring that was seen as a gamble by general manager George McPhee. Cassidy had no NHL coaching experience and the best line on his resume was that he was an AHL coach of the year with Grand Rapids.

Cassidy arrived to find that his in-your-face style did not always mesh with NHL players. The Capitals made the playoffs last season but were eliminated in the first round by Tampa Bay.

This season, Cassidy has clashed with players, but he also had to deal with a severe talent drain. The money-losing Capitals, looking to trim payroll, no longer have defensemen Calle Johansson (retired) and Ken Klee (departed via free agency). Captain Steve Konowalchuk was traded to Colorado early in the season.

The Capitals had some temporary success when Cassidy put Jagr, Bondra, and Lang on the same line. But teams have recently concentrated on shutting down that unit, leaving the Capitals again struggling for goals.

Cassidy went 47-47-9-7 with Washington.

Hanlon was 110-94-29-7 with the Pirates, leading the team to two playoff appearances.

 

[sashi patel]

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