Thursday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

BOSTON BRUINS vs. MONTREAL CANADIENS
Thursday, February 6, 2003
FleetCenter; Boston MA
7:00 PM (ET) - Gametime
6:30 PM (ET) - Boston Globe Pre-Game Report
NESN

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins host the Canadiens tonight in the fourth of five games between these clubs this season and the third and final game of this season's series at the FleetCenter. The Bruins are 26-19-5-2 overall and are 16-8-3-1 on home ice thus far this season. The Canadiens are 21-21-7-5 overall with a 9-12-3-3 record on the road thus far this season. The Bruins are 6-7-1-0 vs. Northeast Division opponents this season and they are 18-15-4-0 overall vs. Western Conference foes. The Canadiens are 4-6-2-1 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 14-20-3-4 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 249-310-102-0 lifetime vs. the Canadiens with Montreal holding a 2011-1764 scoring advantage in those 661 games. On home ice, the Bruins are 153-122-56-0 lifetime vs. Montreal with a 979-895 scoring edge in those 331 contests. The Bruins are 1-2-0-0 vs. Montreal in this season's series thus far with a 4-2 win in Boston on Nov. 29, a 4-2 loss in Boston on Dec. 10 and a 4-2 setback in Montreal on Dec. 14.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have taken points out of six of their last seven games at 4-1-1-1 with a 7-2 win over Columbus on Jan. 18, a 3-3 tie with Washington on Jan. 20, a 4-1 victory in Pittsburgh on Jan. 23, a 1-0 overtime win over Philadelphia on Jan. 25, a 2-1 victory vs. Nashville on Jan. 28, a 3-1 loss to Chicago on Jan. 30 and a 3-2 overtime loss to Colorado on Feb. 4. They are 5-4-1-1 in their last 11 games, are 5-9-1-1 in their last 16 games and are 7-10-2-1 in their last 20 contests.

Recent Canadiens Games
The Canadiens have lost their last two games with a 3-1 loss at NY Islanders on Jan. 30 and a 4-3 setback to Atlanta on Feb. 4. That followed a five-game unbeaten streak at 3-0-2-0 with a 3-2 win in Florida on Jan. 20, a 2-2 tie in Tampa Bay on Jan. 22, a 1-1 tie vs. Washington on Jan. 25, a 4-3 win vs. Chicago on Jan. 26 and a 6-3 victory over Florida on Jan. 28. They are 5-5-2-1 in their last 13 games and are 5-9-3-3 in their last 20 contests.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins play game five of their current six-game home stand tonight, concluding with Pittsburgh on Feb. 8 (3:00 p.m.; ABC). They will then face a seven-game road trip, playing in Montreal (Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m.), Florida (Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.), Tampa Bay (Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.), Nashville (Feb. 17, 8:00 p.m.), Carolina (Feb. 19, 7:00 p.m.), New Jersey (Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m.) and NY Islanders (Feb. 23, 1:00 p.m.). All of the road games will be telecast on NESN with all games also broadcast on WBZ Radio.

Upcoming Canadiens Games
The Canadiens conclude their current three-game road trip in Toronto on Feb. 8 and in Washington on Feb. 9. They will return home for a four-game home stand beginning with Boston on Feb. 11.

Bruins Injuries
Richard Brennan: Right ankle bruise suffered Jan. 28 vs. Nashville; out indefinitely.
Sean O'Donnell: Right ankle 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 Recent Transactions
Jan. 20: Kris Vernarsky recalled from Providence/AHL.
Jan. 23: Jeff Hackett and Jeff Jillson acquired from San Jose for Kyle McLaren and 2004 fourth round draft pick.
Jan. 24: Andrew Raycroft returned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 24: Jeff Jillson assigned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 25: Lee Goren returned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 30: Kris Vernarsky and Martin Samuelsson returned to Providence/AHL.
Feb. 5: Kris Vernarsky and Shaone Morrisonn recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

[the mugs]

Injuries

Injuries

Montreal Injuries
Yanic Perreault C Groin day-to-day
Gino Odjick LW Personal Out indefinitely
Sheldon Souray D Wrist Out indefinitely

Boston Injuries
Sean O'Donnell D Knee day-to-day
Rich Brennan D Ankle day-to-day
Rob Zamuner LW Foot Out indefinitely
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Mid March

 

[the mugs]

Recent Trends
The Canadiens are 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings.
The under is 10-1-3 in MON's last 14 away.
Montreal is 29th in PK at 78.97%.
The over is 8-2 in the past 10 meetings.
The under is 6-2-2 in BOS's last 10 overall.
The Bruins are 7-3 ATS AL when home.

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
12/14/2002 Mtl. 4 Bos. 2 0.5,-130/5.5 Mtl./O (02-03)
12/10/2002 Bos. 2 Mtl. 4 -0.5,-150/5.5 Mtl./O
11/29/2002 Bos. 4 Mtl. 2 -0.5,-160/5.5 Bos./O

4/29/2002 Mtl. 2 Bos. 1 0,110/5 Mtl./U (PLAYOFFS)
4/27/2002 Bos. 1 Mtl. 2 0,-220/5 Mtl./U
4/25/2002 Mtl. 2 Bos. 5 0,120/5 Bos./O
4/23/2002 Mtl. 5 Bos. 3 0,110/5 Mtl./O
4/21/2002 Bos. 6 Mtl. 4 0,-250/5 Bos./O
4/18/2002 Bos. 2 Mtl. 5 0,-230/5 Mtl./O

3/6/2002 Mtl. 5 Bos. 3 0,110/5 Mtl./O (01-02)

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 2-6-03

Boston Globe 2-6-03

Canadiens all too familiar

Hackett knows what's in store

WILMINGTON -- When Jeff Hackett suits up against the Montreal Canadiens tonight at the FleetCenter, he said he knows his emotions will run the gamut from nervousness to excitement to feeling the competitive fire burning in his belly.

Hackett planned to go out to dinner with a few of his former teammates last night, but will be all business today.

''It's going to be exciting, that's for sure,'' said Hackett, who will likely still be wearing his bleu, blanc, et rouge pads and mask as he awaits a new mask and breaks in new pads. ''You want to play well against them. When you get traded so quick, you don't really get a chance to tell guys how much they meant to you and how it was great playing with them. It's going to be tough but exciting at the same time. I've been fortunate to play on three Original Six teams. Montreal was just an extreme, great memory -- except for the two years I went through a lot of adversity with injuries. But I was really always proud to put on that jersey. I tried to fulfill my end of the obligation when I wore it.''

When Hackett arrived in Boston a day after the Jan. 23 trade, he estimated it would take him a couple of weeks to get acclimated to a new club.

''I'm getting there,'' said Hackett. ''I'm still not quite comfortable . . . I don't realize what's going on all the time with the little things with the team, the other guys' preparation methods or their routines, and exactly what happens in practice. Sometimes I don't realize what drills we're doing. Now, with Sean O'Donnell getting hurt [Tuesday night, sprained knee], we have another new [defenseman], and it's just a lot of adjustments. Maybe two weeks was a little bit hopeful but you just take baby strides all the time and try to go out there and compete and just realize your job is to stop the puck for the first part, and all the other stuff will fall in line once everyone gets used to each other.''

Hackett is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He said he wants Boston to be his final stop.

''My family has made a lot of sacrifices, especially this year,'' said Hackett. ''I can't ask them to do any more. Hopefully, this is it. I'm open to everything. It's not really a monetary thing to me. It's more a good fit. So far, so good.''

Hackett said when he played his first game for Boston, against Philadelphia Jan. 25, he felt like a rookie. He said he's expecting a similar anxiety today.

''It's going to be an interesting thing, playing against guys you played with so long,'' he said. ''I'd be lying if I said it was just another game. Of course it's very important. It's not only a personal vendetta but you look at the standings and everyone needs points. Maybe us winning in overtime would be the best because we'd all get points.''

The Canadiens made a commitment to Jose Theodore, relegating Hackett to a diminished role, but he said he and Theodore are friends.

''As a competitor, you want to have success,'' Hackett said. ''I'd by lying if I said I didn't want to go out there and win and make a good impression.''


=====

Walking wounded

O'Donnell used crutches to get around the locker room after practice yesterday and then headed off to have an MRI. He said he expects to know how serious the injury to his right knee is by this morning. Generally speaking, the best-case scenario for a sprained medial collateral ligament is that he'd be sidelined 7-10 days. ''It's just stiff,'' said O'Donnell, who suffered the injury in the first period of the 3-2 overtime loss to Colorado. ''It's not really painful. Straight ahead I'm fine, but side to side I can't really control it. It's probably just a sprained ligament.'' The team recalled defenseman Shaone Morrisonn and forward Kris Vernarsky from Providence. Coach Robbie Ftorek said several blue liners were in the running for a promotion, including Jeff Jillson, who was acquired from San Jose in the three-team deal that brought Hackett to town. Ftorek said they want to give Jillson a chance to get comfortable and get his confidence back, as well as learn the system. ''We'd rather have him continue to play,'' said Ftorek. ''He's just starting to get his feet wet again.'' Ftorek said Jarno Kultanen, Chris Kelleher, and Zdenek Kutlak were also considered . . .

Despite the shuffling with the big club, the Providence Bruins rolled to a franchise record last night in a 2-2 tie against Worcester. The Baby B's ran their home unbeaten streak to 14 games (11-0-3-0). Andy Hilbert, who has made cameos with the parent club, scored both goals . . .

The Bruins' matinee against the Penguins Saturday marks their last home game until Bill Guerin and the Dallas Stars come to town Feb. 25.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 2-6-03

Boston Herald 2-6-03

O'Donnell has sprain

WILMINGTON - Defenseman Sean O'Donnell limped out of the Bruins' Ristuccia Arena dressing room at midday yesterday, heading off for an MRI exam of his right knee. And based on the outcome, he won't be lacing 'em up again any time soon.

B's assistant general manager Jeff Gorton said last night that the MRI confirmed O'Donnell has a sprained knee.

``I think we're going to find out it's a second-degree sprain, although we won't know for sure what degree it is until (team physican) Bert Zarins sees the MRI and talks to Sean (today).''

O'Donnell, the B's most consistent and reliable rearguard over the course of the season, injured the knee during the 3-2 overtime loss to Colorado Tuesday.

O'Donnell experienced pain yesterday only when he moved the joint side-to-side, and had no real idea what to expect.

``I think I'll know more (today),'' he said before leaving for the exam. ``I feel no pain as long as I keep it straight and don't move it side to side. It's just stiff. I can walk on it. Straight ahead, I'm fine. I guess there's a little bit of a strain on the ligament on the inside, so it goes to the outside a little easier than it should.''

A second-degree knee sprain typically requires about a one-month rehab period.

=====

Morrisonn gets call

With defenseman Rich Brennan, who had an MRI Monday that confirmed he has only a deep bone bruise on his ankle, likely out until late next week, the Bruins summoned rookie Shaone Morrisonn from Providence. Providence insiders say Morrisonn was the clear choice, although the B's brass considered five players for the call-up.

``There were five guys there that we talked about,'' said Ftorek. ``We thought Mo was the guy. Mo can play at this level. It's been good for him being down there learning the game, and playing on the power play, penalty-killing and regular shift. Now we need a guy to step in.''

Converted defenseman Sean Brown, who had played all season as a forward, may swing back to the blueline. The B's also considered calling up newly acquired Jeff Jillson, but he has played only two AHL games since returning from injury.

``We'd rather have him stay down there and play,'' said Ftorek. ``He's just getting his feet wet, finding out what they want to do down there - which is kind of what we want to do up here. It's probably a better idea for him to stay put.''

=====

Vernarsky in line

The Bruins also recalled rookie winger Kris Vernarsky from Providence, and the big 20-year-old was on a line with Jozef Stumpel and Michal Grosek in practice yesterday. ``He just got sent back down for the (All-Star) break and we planned on bringing him back up here,'' said Ftorek. . . .

Mike Knuble, whose hard-working goalmouth knock-in earned the B's a badly needed point Tuesday against Colorado, was back on the No. 1 line with Joe Thornton and Glen Murray yesterday.

 

[the mugs]

Herald 2-6

Herald 2-6

Knuble makes point: That he's valuable

With the exception of the brilliant Peter Forsberg - who scored one goal and created the game-winner in the Colorado Avalanche's 3-2 overtime victory over the Bruins last night - no player on the ice more deserved to score a big goal than Mike Knuble.

And it was Knuble who finally managed to knock a shot past standout Colorado netminder Patrick Roy, tying the game with 3:21 left in the third period - earning the B's their third point in two matches this season with the powerful-if-underachieving Avs.

Against the tenacious and coordinated team defense of the Avalanche, who always seemed to surround B's puck-carriers with two and three defenders, Knuble was working the boards and the front of the net all evening.

``Knubs was in front of the net, he's digging, and he got the big one for us to tie it up and get us the point,'' said B's coach Robbie Ftorek.

Of course, Knuble has been doing his job in just that manner all season, and last night's matched his career-high with goal No. 15. With 30 games to go, he should go far past that total.

``He's really big and strong in front of the net,'' said B's captain Joe Thornton of Knuble. ``He's been awesome. He's the workhorse on the line. He does all the dirty work for us.''

And in this case, he made the key play that brought the B's back from a 2-0 first-period deficit. Making the goal even sweeter for Knuble was that seconds earlier, with a golden scoring opportunity near the left post, he had pushed his shot behind Roy and off the far post.

On the ensuing faceoff, Knuble shook off the check of imposing Avs defenseman Rob Blake at the goalmouth, took a puck from teammate Glen Murray with his back to Roy, and hooked a shot inside the right post.

``We spotted them a couple and did everything we could to get back,'' said Knuble, who ought to be a shoe-in for this year's 7th Player Award, which goes to the Bruin who most exceeds expectations.

``It was a good moral victory to get the point,'' said Knuble. ``But those are games we've got to pull out in the second half.''

He described his goal - and the near miss that preceded it:

``I was standing at the faceoff after I missed that one, I just wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it,'' said Knuble. ``I mean, I had the whole net there and it just kind of knuckled on me and glanced off the post.

``I was glad to get it back. I was just going to the net and Glen shot right there. I didn't know whether it hit him or what until I saw the replay. Sometimes things happen so fast, you don't even know what you've done.

``We seemed to be around the net all night, and we finally chipped one in there at the end. I was pretty happy about it, considering I missed the one right before.''

Knuble acknowledged that the Bruins, for whom goals have been hard to come by lately, had a tough time crashing the Avs checking and Roy's goaltending.

``(Roy has) played solidly for them,'' said Knuble. ``He's pulled out a lot of victories for them, and he was solid again (last night). We got some great shots. They're going to go in for us if we keep shooting as much as we are.

``They play really well as a unit. They've got a lot of talent - I mean, Forsberg, he's worth all the money you pay to watch him play. But they're one of the teams that are really hard to play against. They seem to bottle you up.''

They nearly bottled up the Bruins. But Knuble found a way, at just the right time.

 

[the mugs]

Herald 2-6

Herald 2-6

This one's pretty much the same as today's Globe

Hackett high on emotion: B's goalie braces for former mates

WILMINGTON - With the same desire for precision that he displays on the ice, Jeff Hackett searched yesterday for the proper word to describe the game he'll play in tonight at the FleetCenter.

``It's going to be strange, it's going to be exciting, it's going to be nervous,'' the Bruins goalie said of the meeting with the Montreal Canadiens. ``It's going to be a whole spectrum of feelings and emotions. It's going to be an interesting thing playing against guys you've played with for so long.''

Five seasons, to be precise, from November 1998 until two weeks ago, when he came to Boston in a multi-player deal. Hackett will still be wearing his red, white and blue Montreal gear tonight, but in a real sense he said goodbye to the Canadiens last night when he went to dinner with some of his former teammates.

``(Today) I'm going to cut off all contact,'' said Hackett. ``I'm going to go out to dinner with a few of the fellows (last night), just to get a better chance to wish them well. When you get traded, things happen so quick, you don't really get the chance to tell guys how much they meant to you and how great it was playing with them. You want them to do so well - just not against you.

``Montreal was just an extremely great memory, except for two years when I went through a lot of injuries. But I was really always proud to put on that jersey, with all that it represented. I always tried to fulfill my end of the obligation. Hopefully there will be great memories here, too.

``I really hope both teams make the playoffs. It would be a nice, fitting ending to the season. I've got a lot of friends over there in the organization and the players. I just want them to do well. I wish them all the success.''

Just not tonight, especially with the Canadiens hot on the Bruins' tails in the race for an Eastern Conference playoff position.

``It's going to be exciting, that's for sure,'' said Hackett, who is 2-1-0 as a Bruin, with a superb 1.33 goals-against average and .937 save percentage. He said he does not know whether B's GM Mike O'Connell has contacted agent Rick Curran to open talks on a contract extension.

Now he just wants to beat his old team.

``Any time you play against your old team, you sure want to play well,'' he said. ``When you play against a lot of old friends, you want to play well.''

Interestingly, Hackett said that from the Montreal perspective, the Bruins are not quite as important a rival as the Toronto Maple Leafs. But the B's, he said, are the second biggest rival. And how does he suggest the Bruins go about beating the Habs? ``Montreal is a very fast team and it all starts with Saku Koivu,'' said Hackett. ``He's the heart and soul of that hockey club. If you want to have success against Montreal, you've got to stop No. 11.

``You've got to realize he's a great talent. But as skilled as he is, his heart and courage and will to win is even bigger than his talent. A very special athlete. He's the first guy when you look at their forwards, he's the guy who makes that team click. They've got a lot of other good forwards, a great goalie and the `D' is good.

``They're a very speedy team. The closer you can get up to them in the neutral zone and take away their speed, the more chance you have to be successful. It's going to be very interesting to play against them after playing with them. I'll get a whole different appreciation of them when I play at the other end.''

They'll be plenty of appreciation, too, from B's fans if Hackett comes out on top tonight.

 

[ddubs]

Thanks for the hard work, mugs. Good luck tonite.