Thursday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

BOSTON BRUINS at
OTTAWA SENATORS
Thursday, April 11, 2002
Corel Centre; Kanata, Ontario
7:00 pm (ET) - Gametime
UPN-38
Tonight's Game
The Bruins visit the Senators tonight in the fifth and final game between these teams this season and the third of three games of the season at the Corel Centre. The Bruins are 42-23-6-9 overall this season with a 20-12-4-4 record on the road. The Senators are 38-26-9-7 overall this season with a 20-12-3-4 record on home ice. The Bruins are 9-8-1-1 vs. Northeast Division opponents thus far this season and are 31-17-3-7 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Senators are 7-8-1-2 vs. Northeast Division opponents thus far this season and are 28-18-7-5 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 31-12-6-3 lifetime vs. Ottawa with a 189-135 scoring edge in those 52 games. On the road, the Bruins are 14-5-3-3 lifetime vs. the Senators with a 83-58 scoring advantage in those 25 contests. The Bruins are 2-1-0-1 vs. the Senators in this season's series thus far with a 2-1 overtime loss in Ottawa on Dec. 1, a 3-2 win in Boston on Dec. 26, a 5-2 win in Boston on Jan. 17 and a 4-3 loss in Ottawa on Jan. 24. They are winless in their last seven visits to Ottawa at 0-3-1-3 with their last win in Ottawa a 3-0 victory on Mar. 24, 1999.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins are winless in their last four games, but have taken points out of three of those four at 0-1-1-2, with a 2-1 overtime loss to NY Islanders on Apr. 4, a 6-4 loss to NY Rangers on Apr. 6, a 3-2 overtime loss in New Jersey on Apr. 7 and a 2-2 tie with Tampa Bay on Apr. 9. They are 7-2-1-2 in their last 12 games, including a six-game win streak from Mar. 16-26, are 10-3-1-2 in their last 16 games and are 16-8-3-2 in their last 29 contests overall.

The Bruins are 3-3-1-1 in their last eight home games and are 9-6-2-2 in their last 19 home contests. They had their seven-game road win streak snapped with the 3-2 overtime loss to New Jersey on Apr. 7 and are now 7-0-0-1 in their last eight road games, are 10-3-1-1 in their last 15 road games and are 15-6-1-3 in their last 25 road contests.

Recent Senators Games
The Senators are winless in their last three games at 0-2-1-0 with a 0-0 tie in Washington on Apr. 5, 3-1 loss to Montreal on Apr. 7 and 4-3 loss in Montreal on Apr. 9. They are 2-2-1-0 in their last five games and are 3-5-1-2 in their last 11 contests.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins will close out their regular season with Fan Appreciation Night at the FleetCenter, hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins on Apr. 13 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio). Their playoff schedule and opponent has not yet been determined.

Upcoming Senators Games
The Senators will close out their regular season hosting Toronto on Apr. 13. Their playoff schedule and opponent has not yet been determined.

Bruins Injuries
Jarno Kultanen: April 1 knee surgery; out for the season.
Total Man-Games Lost: 175

Bruins Recent Transactions
Mar. 19: Sean Brown acquired from Edmonton for Bobby Allen.
Mar. 19: Jeff Norton acquired from Florida for 2002 sixth round draft pick.
Mar. 19: Darryl Laplante acquired from Minnesota for Greg Crozier and assigned to Providence/AHL.
Mar. 19: Benoit Hogue claimed on waivers by Washington.
Mar. 19: Gord Murphy assigned to Providence/AHL (did not report).

Senators Injuries
Mike Fisher: Right shoulder injury; day-to-day.
Martin Havlat: Groin injury; 1 week.
Steve Martins: Right knee injury; 1 week.
Ricard Persson: Right leg injury; day-to-day.
Karel Rachunek: Left shoulder surgery; out for the season.
Wade Redden: Flu; day-to-day.
Sami Salo: Shoulder injury; day-to-day.
Petr Schastlivy: Torn ACL in right knee; out for the season.
Josh Langfeld F Concussion day-to-day

 

[the mugs]

This year's games & trends...

This year's games & trends...

Teams have split the season so far at 2-2 with each team 2-0 at home.

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
1/24/2002 Ott. 4 Bos. 3 0,-200/5.5 Ott./O
1/17/2002 Bos. 5 Ott. 2 0,-135/5.5 Bos./O
12/26/2001 Bos. 3 Ott. 2 0,-130/5 Bos./P
12/1/2001 Ott. 2 Bos. 1 0,-180/5 Ott./U

Road/Home Records

Teams have almost identical records when Boston is travelling and the Sens are at home...

Boston 20-16-4 SU on road
Ottawa 20-16-3 SU at home

Recent Trends
BOS is 0-3-1 ATS in their last four games overall.
Bruins rank 1st in PK% at 87.09% efficiency.
BOS is 5-1 ATS in their last six road games.
OTT is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
Sens are 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games.
OTT rank 5th in offense at 2.96 goals/gm avg.

 

[the mugs]

Axelsson's two-way play pumps up mates

Axelsson's two-way play pumps up mates

P.J. Axelsson knows he needs to work on the patented Ray Bourque celebratory roundhouse double-pump.

Axelsson got a rare opportunity to do his Bourque impersonation after scoring the Bruins' second goal in last night's 2-2 tie with Tampa Bay at the FleetCenter.

``I have to do it when I score, it's not that often I do,'' said Axelsson.

The Bruins sustained constant pressure on Tampa Bay goalie Nikolai Khabibulin throughout the second period, but they couldn't break a 1-1 deadlock. Axelsson then remedied the situation with his sixth tally of the season.

Brian Rolston picked up a loose puck behind the Lightning net and found Axelsson unattended outside the top of the right circle. Axelsson pulled back from his initial shot, skated into the high end of the slot and fired a slap shot that went untouched by Khabibulin.

``It was fun, but I don't think you saw anything marvelous - I just hit the net,'' said Axelsson.

``Someone came out at me and I had to take a step to the left.''

Axelsson has been on a mini-tear offensively down the stretch. Over the past 16 games, the veteran left winger has three goals and six assists to increase his season totals to 7-16-23.

The numbers don't place Axelsson in the same upscale neighborhood inhabited by Bill Guerin, Sergei Samsonov or Glen Murray. But they are a bonus from a winger whose primary function is to play solid defense and kill penalties.

The Bruins have the second-ranked penalty-killing team (89.9 percent) in the NHL. With Axelsson's diligent play, they fended off five Tampa Bay power plays last night.

Since Axelsson doesn't get to celebrate scoring goals very often, he makes it his business to keep the opposition from doing so.

Axelsson has a formula for the Bruins' stingy play with a man in the penalty box.

``You have to have speed all the time. You have to match their speed when they are coming up the ice,'' said Axelsson. ``You have to take away a lane, be in the way, and when you are one man down, it's pretty much hard work.''

Rolston has scored a club-record nine shorthanded goals this season. Axelsson's smart play allows Rolston to take chances he might not otherwise take. Rolston is happy to have Axelsson protecting his flank.

``P.J. is just a smart player and he's been a huge part of our penalty killing all year,'' said Rolston. ``We have a good penalty kill and he's so smart, so I feel fortunate to play with him.

``He makes things a lot easier on me out there and he's done a great job.''

 

[the mugs]

From the "bad guys"...

From the "bad guys"...

SENATORS RECALL CHRIS BALA FROM GRAND RAPIDS
Joel Kwiatkowski returned to Grand Rapids
OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators today announced forward Chris Bala has been recalled from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League (AHL) on an emergency basis and defenceman Joel Kwiatkowski has been returned to Grand Rapids. Bala has been recalled as a precaution to replace the injured Shawn McEachern, who is questionable for tomorrow?s game with a groin injury.

In three games with Grand Rapids since being sent down on April 4, Bala collected one assist. In total, he has played 70 games with Grand Rapids this season, recording 37 points (21-16), nine penalty minutes and a +11 rating.

Kwiatkowski was called up for the third time this season on April 8. He was a healthy scratch for the Senators game against Montreal on April 9. He has appeared in 11 games for the Senators this season and has collected 12 penalty minutes and a +5 rating while averaging 13:40 of ice-time.

This is Bala?s second recall of the season. He was called up for the first time on March 26 and appeared in four games, collecting one assist no penalty minutes and a +1 rating while averaging 5:13 of ice-time.

Bala will join the team in Ottawa and will be available for Thursday?s game against Boston at the Corel Centre.