Thursday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

Injury & Olympic Updates...

Samsonov - today?

WILMINGTON - Sergei Samsonov practiced with his teammates yesterday for the first time since suffering a sprained knee Dec. 4 against Atlanta. He has missed the last six games. Samsonov, who expects to wear a brace for the rest of the year, didn't rule out a return tonight against Montreal, but he'll wait to see how he feels today.

''The brace takes some time to get used to but it helps,'' said Samsonov. ''It's a big improvement in one day. I tried to skate [Tuesday] without a brace and it was noticeably sore. But today was a lot better. I like it so far and hopefully I can get used to it in a short time. I felt a lot more comfortable at the end of the practice.''

P.J. - No way

Axelsson ailing

P.J. Axelsson, who missed Tuesday's game because of a shoulder subluxation suffered last Saturday, didn't practice and won't play tonight. ''I don't think it's going to be too long,'' said Axelsson. ''Saturday might be a possibility. It depends on the swelling and I have to get the strength back in it.''

Jonathan Girard and John Emmons were reassigned to Providence (AHL) and Andy Hilbert was called up

Brian Rolston, who has a team-leading 16 goals, said he's not concerned about being named to the United States Olympic hockey team. Rolston and Hal Gill will find out if they made the cut Saturday, when the final roster is announced. Rolston said it's a win-win situation. ''It hasn't really been on my mind too much,'' said Rolston. ''First and foremost, I think about my play with the Bruins. I want to continue winning hockey games here. It would be a great honor, obviously, to play for your country. But if not, it won't be the worst thing. I could spend some time with my wife and my newborn. I feel I've played well enough and I've given myself at least a chance for them to have to look at me and that's all you can ask for.''

 

[the mugs]

Andy Hilbert called up from Providence:

WILMINGTON - He was one of the most highly-touted prospects when he arrived at his first training camp in September after two years at the University of Michigan, but Bruins management and the coaching staff felt forward Andy Hilbert needed some minor league seasoning, so the 20-year-old was sent to Providence.

Yesterday, Hilbert, who leads the Baby Bruins in scoring with 24 points in 28 games, was called up and is expected to make his NHL debut tonight against the Montreal Canadiens.

He got the news when he returned home around 11 p.m. Tuesday from seeing the movie ''Vanilla Sky'' with a couple of his teammates.

''I was excited,'' he said. ''And I was surprised.''

He said he'll always remember the call from Providence coach Bill Armstrong, but wouldn't mind forgetting the movie.

''It's not too good,'' he said. ''It's a little weird. I don't know if it's worth seeing.''

If those two hours proved a waste, Hilbert certainly has been making the most of his time on the ice. For the last couple of weeks, Hilbert, who has a lot of experience at center, said he's been playing right wing on a line with center Eric Manlow and left wing Sean Haggerty.

''It's nice to know both [positions] and be good at both,'' said Hilbert. ''There are different responsibilities. In the defensive zone, you don't have as much responsibility. It's not necessarily easier, it's just a different position.''

Hilbert said he has learned much since the beginning of the season. There are many adjustments from college to the pro ranks, and he said he's trying to improve steadily.

''Obviously, the guys are a lot bigger and faster,'' said Hilbert. ''It's still the game of hockey, but everyone is a little bit better, and you have a little bit less time to react. It's different than playing the college game. It's just taken some time to adjust, and the transition has been pretty good so far.''

Hilbert admitted he was a little downcast he didn't make the final cut at camp.

''It was my first camp and I was really excited,'' he said. ''I learned a lot of things and it was a great experience and I'll know more next year. I was a little disappointed I got sent down, but it's been fun so far. I'm trying to improve every day and just enjoy what I'm doing.''

He said it took some time in the early going to realize it might be a while before he made it up to Boston.

''It was a little bit in my thinking at the beginning of the year but after awhile, you have to just go out there and play your game and not really worry about that,'' he said. ''If you get called up, you get called up, but you still have a job to do down there and just have fun.''

Hilbert has had to adapt to the increased number of games. He said he doesn't feel it that much now, but might around mid-February and early March.

''We've already played almost 30 games in Providence and you only play maybe 40 in college, so we've played almost the whole college season,'' he said. ''You have to endure the travel and all you think about is hockey. You don't have any classes to worry about, so in some ways it's good. In other ways, sometimes you'd like to take your mind off it. But so far, it's been a lot of fun. I'm sure it's something I'll have to face down the road where I'm going to encounter a bunch of games and have to overcome playing so many games and not being used to it.''

Tonight, the only things Hilbert will be trying to overcome are the inevitable butterflies that come with a milestone day.

''I'm extremely excited I'm getting a chance,'' he said.

 

[Terryray]

Boston's Dafoe is 14-4 against Montreal, with 2.16 gga, .913 sv pct.

No clue if Montreal will start Theodore tonight or Hackett. Theodore (3-7 against Boston, 2.92 gga, .908 pct) started last night, and has been working hard. Hackett has better record against Boston (5-3, 2.60 gga, .916 pct) but been poor last two outings. Team rests for few days after tonight before taking LA on at home the 22nd. So you'd think they'd want Theodore in this important rivalry, and these records against Boston don't mean that much...

Boston has won 5 of 7 times these teams went against each other in 2001.

 

[the mugs]

MONTREAL CANADIENS at
BOSTON BRUINS
Thursday, December 20, 2001
FleetCenter; Boston, Massachusetts
7:00 pm (ET) ? Gametime
6:30 pm (ET) ? Bruins' Digest
NESN
Tonight's Game
The Bruins host the Canadiens tonight in the third of five games between these teams this season and the second of two games of this season's series at FleetCenter. The Bruins are 16-10-3-4 overall this season with an 11-4-0-3 record on home ice. The Canadiens are 15-13-5-1 overall this season with a 6-6-2-1 record on the road. The Bruins are 4-3-0-1 vs. Northeast Division opponents thus far this season and are 12-6-0-4 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Canadiens are 3-3-1-0 vs. Northeast Division opponents thus far this season and are 11-9-3-1 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 246-307-102-0 lifetime vs. the Canadiens with Montreal holding a 1993-1744 scoring advantage in those 655 games. On home ice, the Bruins are 151-121-56-0 lifetime vs. Montreal with a 968-889 scoring edge in those 328 games. These teams have split the first two games of this season's series with Boston taking a 5-3 victory in Boston on Nov. 13 and the Canadiens winning the rematch by a 3-2 score in Montreal on Nov. 20. The Bruins have won the last three games between these teams in Boston with their last home loss to the Canadiens a 3-0 setback on Feb. 1, 2001.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have lost three straight games for the first time this season with a 2-1 loss in Washington on Dec. 13, a 5-2 setback to Philadelphia on Dec. 15 and a 3-2 overtime loss to Atlanta on Dec. 18. That follows a two-game win streak with a 4-2 victory over Buffalo on Dec. 8 and 4-2 win in Pittsburgh on Dec. 12. They have taken points out of seven of their last ten games at 5-3-0-2 and they are 9-5-0-2 in their last 16 games overall. The Bruins have taken points out of 20 of their last 28 games with a 13-8-3-4 record in that span.

The Bruins are 6-2-0-1 in their last nine home games and are 3-1-0-1 in their last five road games.

Recent Canadiens Games
The Canadiens had their two-game losing streak stopped with a 3-1 win in Pittsburgh on Dec. 19. That followed a 6-4 loss in Tampa Bay on Dec. 15 and a 4-3 setback to the Lightning on Dec. 17. The Canadiens are 3-5-3-0 in their last 11 games overall.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins conclude the pre-holiday portion of their schedule at the NY Islanders on Dec. 22 (7:00 p.m.; UPN38 & WBZ Radio). They will return after the holidays to host Ottawa on Dec. 26 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio) and will then face a four-game road trip to Florida, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Carolina.

Upcoming Canadiens Games
The Canadiens next return home to host Los Angeles on Dec. 22 and then face a seven-game road trip following the holidays to Buffalo, St. Louis, NY Islanders, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Minnesota.

Bruins Injuries
P. J. Axelsson: Shoulder injury; day-to-day.
Sergei Samsonov: Leg injury suffered Dec. 4 in Atlanta; day-to-day.
Total Man-Games Lost: 83

Bruins Recent Transactions
Dec. 19: Returned Jonathan Girard to Providence/AHL and assigned John Emmons to Providence/AHL.
Dec. 19: Recalled Andy Hilbert from Providence/AHL.

Canadiens Injuries
Donald Audette: Left forearm laceration; out indefinitely.
Jan Bulis: Sprained knee; 3 weeks.
Sheldon Souray: Fractured wrist; out indefinitely.


Good luck tonight

 

[1837]

Hacket is in goal for Montreal...