Thursday's Bruins...

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It doesn't get easy after this one...Philly & the Canucks come to the Fleet after this one tonight. A Bruin win tonight would be :nutkick for the Ranger playoff hopes. Coming off of a very emotional tie against Dallas on Tuesday, maybe a springboard for a playoff run? Oh yeah, it's the ESPN Thursday night "game of the week" so everyone gets to see just what's gonna happen.

BOSTON BRUINS at NEW YORK RANGERS
Thursday, February 27, 2003
Madison Square Garden; New York NY
8:00 PM (ET) - Gametime
ESPN

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins visit the Rangers tonight in the third of four games between these clubs this season and the second and final game of this season's series at Madison Square Garden. The Bruins are 28-24-8-2 overall and are 11-15-4-1 on the road thus far this season. The Rangers are 25-31-8-2 overall with a 12-15-3-1 record on home ice thus far this season. The Bruins are 6-5-2-0 vs. Atlantic Division opponents this season and they are 20-19-6-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Rangers are 3-11-1-0 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 14-24-5-1 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 273-223-97-1 lifetime vs. the Rangers with a 1913-1730 scoring edge in those 594 games. On the road, the Bruins are 115-129-55-0 lifetime vs. New York with the Rangers holding a 912-846 scoring advantage in those 299 contests. The Bruins have won both games of this season's series with a 3-2 victory in Boston on Nov. 2 and a 4-1 win in New York on Dec. 8. The Bruins have seven players on their current roster who also played for the Rangers (Bryan Berard, Rich Brennan, Michal Grosek, Mike Knuble, Krzysztof Oliwa, P. J. Stock, Rob Zamuner) in addition to coach Robbie Ftorek, who also played for the Rangers during his NHL career.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins are winless in their last six games at 0-3-3-0 with a 5-2 loss in Tampa Bay on Feb. 15, a 5-1 setback in Nashville on Feb. 17, a 1-1 tie in Carolina on Feb. 19, a 3-2 loss in New Jersey on Feb. 21, a 4-4 tie at NY Islanders on Feb. 23 and a 5-5 tie with Dallas on Feb. 25. Their last win was a 6-5 overtime victory in Florida on Feb. 14. They have taken points out of 11 of their last 17 games at 6-6-4-1.

Recent Rangers Games
The Rangers concluded their recent six-game road trip with a 2-3-1-0 record with a 5-4 loss in Buffalo on Feb. 15, a 3-2 loss in Ottawa on Feb. 17, a 4-2 win in Minnesota on Feb. 19, a 6-2 victory in Anaheim on Feb. 21, a 4-1 loss in Colorado on Feb. 23 and a 3-3 tie in New Jersey on Feb. 25. They are 4-8-2-1 in their last 15 games.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins will next return home to host the Philadelphia Flyers on Mar. 1 (1:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio) and the Vancouver Canucks on Mar. 3 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio). They will then face the Hurricanes on Carolina on Mar. 4 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio).

Upcoming Rangers Games
The Rangers continue their current five-game home stand hosting Florida on Mar. 1, NY Islanders on Mar. 3, Philadelphia on Mar. 7 and Florida on Mar. 10.

Bruins Injuries
Richard Brennan: Right ankle bruise suffered Jan. 28 vs. Nashville; out indefinitely.
Hal Gill: Broken finger suffered Feb. 14 in Florida; day-to-day.
Sean O'Donnell: Right knee 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; day-to-day.

Bruins February Transactions
Feb. 5: Kris Vernarsky and Shaone Morrisonn recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 10: Shaone Morrisonn returned to Providence/AHL.
Feb. 10: Zdenek Kutlak recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 17: Ivan Huml recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 21: Shaone Morrisonn recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 22: Zdenek Kutlak returned to Providence/AHL.
Feb. 26: Ivan Huml returned to Providence/AHL.
Feb. 26: Andy Hilbert recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

[the mugs]

from bb.com

from bb.com

Hilbert up, Huml down

The Bruins called up Andy Hilbert and reassigned Ivan Huml to Providence for tomorrow night?s game.

?It gives us maybe a little more quickness,? said coach Robbie Ftorek of the move. ?Hilly?s been shooting the puck really well down there, he?s got a lot of goals. We?re hoping he can keep shooting up here and have some luck and get some production.?

Hilbert is tied for second in the AHL with 30 goals and ninth overall on the scoring list with 30-27=50 totals, despite playing 12 games in Boston this year in six separate call-ups.

Five for fighting

The Bruins? top three lines remained pretty much the same, although it appears there is a bit of competition on the fourth line.

P.J. Stock, Krzysztof Oliwa, Michal Grosek, Rob Zamuner, and Kris Vernarsky all wore teal jerseys during the practice, rotating through the various drills.

Mike Knuble and Glen Murray remained with Joe Thornton on the first line and Brian Rolston was still skating between Marty McInnis and P.J. Axelsson. The third line did receive a bit of a change, as Hilbert took Huml?s place alongside Martin Lapointe and Jozef Stumpel.

 

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Injuries

Injuries

Boston Injuries
Hal Gill D Finger day-to-day
Sean O'Donnell D Knee Late Feb
Rich Brennan D Ankle Late Feb
Rob Zamuner LW Foot day-to-day
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Mid Mar

N.Y. Rangers Injuries
Janne Laukannen D Hip day-to-day
Sylvain Lefebvre D Finger Late Feb
Mike Richter G Head out for season

 

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Trends

Trends

Recent Trends
BOS is 8-4 ATS on the road following a win.
BOS is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 overall.
The over is 7-2-1 in BOS's last 10 overall.
The under is 6-2 in the past eight meetings.
NYR is 9-16 ATS overall following a win.
NYR is 1-4 ATS in its last five home games.

 

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Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
12/8/2002 NYR 1 Bos. 4 0.5,-125/6 Bos./U (02-03)
11/2/2002 Bos. 3 NYR 2 -0.5,-110/6 Bos./U

4/6/2002 Bos. 4 NYR 6 0,-220/6 NYR/O (01-02)
3/13/2002 NYR 1 Bos. 3 0,110/5.5 Bos./U
1/23/2002 NYR 8 Bos. 4 0,120/5.5 NYR/O
10/27/2001 Bos. 1 NYR 2 0,-175/5.5 NYR/U

3/25/2001 NYR 2 Bos. 3 0,155/6 Bos./U (00-01)
1/13/2001 Bos. 4 NYR 1 0,-155/6 Bos./U
12/9/2000 Bos. 6 NYR 4 0,100/6 Bos./O
10/29/2000 NYR 5 Bos. 1 0,-155/5.5 NYR/O

 

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Boston Globe 2-26-03

Boston Globe 2-26-03

Hot seat

Amid a whirlwind of rumors that his job is in jeopardy, Ftorek was back behind the bench, his club clinging to one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

''Got to get our game faces on,'' said the stoic coach, showing not the slightest sign of job strain after yesterday morning's workout on FleetStreet. ''We've got to get our discipline down.''

Less than 24 hours earlier, a website report had the Bruins considering bringing in Ray Bourque, their five-time Norris Trophy winner, to finish out the season as coach. Channel 7 reported the front office recently contacted Barry Melrose, the former NHL coach and now ESPN analyst, about taking Ftorek's spot. Another possibility, raised in this space yesterday, had general manager Mike O'Connell taking over the bench if the Bruins decided it was time to make a change.

However, everything remained status quo. Faced with the hard-charging Stars, the Bruins desperately needed to infuse their game with some urgency, an element dearly lacking much of the last 11 weeks.

''I believe the sense of urgency is there,'' said Rolston. ''If it's not, then that's a problem. We've got to be looking at every game now like it's a playoff game. It's got to be that way for us now right to the end.''

=====

The defense rests

Still without a win in their last six games, the Bruins have allowed five goals in four of their last seven games. The trend is troubling, despite the injuries to backliners Sean O'Donnell and Hal Gill. ''Every night we are giving up four or five goals,'' said Ftorek. ''They're not all the goaltenders' fault. We're working at it, and it's going to turn the other way, no question about it. Am I sure of that? No. But it's an area we have to improve upon.''...

Marty McInnis remained in the Boston lineup despite not scoring in his previous 30 games. In those 30 games, the former BC Eagle collected 6 hours 30 minutes and 21 seconds of ice time - reminiscent of the drought endured here by Andrei ''The Empty Tank'' Kovalenko. McInnis's average ice time in that span: just over 13 minutes, although he was trimmed to just under 10 for the last two games. Last night McInnis played 14:24, and did not pick up a point ...

Stars wingers Guerin and Scott Young, both Bay State boys, each finished with a game-high seven shots ...

A sign in the stands: ''Guerin is a traitor.'' Sign-carriers rarely make it through the turnstiles these days. How odd that that one made it through, huh?

 

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Globe 2-27-03

Globe 2-27-03

Hilbert answers the call

He'll wing it with Stumpel, Lapointe

WILMINGTON - A center by training, but a dreamer like everyone else, Andy Hilbert was back with the Bruins yesterday, his name inked in to play left wing on a line with Jozef Stumpel and Martin Lapointe when the Bruins play the Rangers tonight in New York.

''I've been mostly a wing all year down in Providence,'' said Hilbert, who swapped cities and roster spots with Ivan Huml, who was shipped back to the Baby B's. ''Yeah, it's a little different than what I'm used to, but it's easier to go from center to wing than wing to center. All I want to do is come in, have fun, do the best I can and see what happens.''

Their ever-present goaltending question mark aside, the Bruins have two main issues confronting them with 20 games left and a playoff spot slipping through their leather-palmed gloves. Up front, they desperately need consistent scoring from bodies other than their No. 1 line ( Mike Knuble - Joe Thornton - Glen Murray) and the versatile Brian Rolston. In back, where the likes of Jonathan Girard and Nick Boynton are being force-fed more minutes than they can digest, they need the injured Hal Gill and Sean O'Donnell back in a hurry.

''The deal there is pretty simple,'' said coach Robbie Ftorek, asked if his greater challenge was a handful of underperforming forwards or his thinned-out blue line corps. ''The forwards are farther away from the net.'

In other words, a challenged defense is a greater challenge than a goal-challenged offense. Witness: The Bruins have been burned for five goals in four of their last seven games. To the credit of their forwards, they've managed to go 1-2-1 in those four games.

''The defense, mentally and physically, is stressed,'' said Ftorek. ''It's a little bit more demanding on the defense, no question.''

Girard finished with 29 minutes 1 second of ice time in Tuesday's 5-5 tie with the Stars. Boynton clocked in at 28:29. In both cases, they were probably overworked by 8-12 minutes.

''They've held up tremendously well,'' said Ftorek, who should be in the players' Hall of Fame for coaches who never publicly scrutinize their employees. ''Sometimes, with all the work, they look like Zambonis out there, but they all like it.''

Hilbert now has a chance to improve the picture up front. In his other chances this season, amounting to 12 games, he has chipped in with only three assists. He will be working with an accomplished center in Stumpel, but Stumpel has been a very spotty producer this season. Lapointe, again without a point in 17-plus minutes vs. the Stars, has been nothing short of a multimillion-dollar flop. If Hilbert stepped in now and provided a spark to those two, it could prove to be a tremendous boost down the stretch.

''Maybe a little quickness,'' said Ftorek, asked what the Hilbert-for-Huml swap added to the equation. ''He's been shooting the puck really well down in Providence. We've got enough centers, so he'll be on the wing with us, and he's got good goal-scoring tools, no question.''

Only 22 years old, Hilbert turned pro prior to last season after two years at the University of Michigan. His total NHL experience now amounts to 18 games and 4 points. A savior? Hardly. But for an offense that needs to catch fire, his speed and shot offer at least the chance of a spark.

''It's not fun going down to the minors,'' said Hilbert, who has seen the south end of Interstate 95 far more than the north. ''But we've been doing really well down there, so that's made it easier. But obviously, my No. 1 goal is to be up here.''

=====

Giving twirl a whirl

Sergei Samsonov, the Bruins' Magical Muscovite, finally got back to light skating this week, and figures he has a fair chance or returning to the lineup in about a month - roughly three months after having a bone graft performed on his fracture right wrist.

''So far, so good,'' said Samsonov, who'll return to Massachusetts General Hospital today for a checkup and X-rays. ''It's just to make sure everything is in place.''

Samsonov, the season thus far a virtual writeoff, is now in stage No. 3 of the recovery process. He is wearing only a removable splint on his right forearm, after initially going from a small cast and then a bigger, elbow-covering version. When he skates, he doesn't risk lugging a stick in the recovering hand, preferring only to swish after pucks with his left hand and reacquaint his legs to the skating. If doctors approve, he'll ditch the splint in about 10 weeks and begin more serious training, perhaps allowing him to play the final 7-10 days of the regular season.

''Reasonably, we're looking at another four weeks,'' he said. ''All I can do right now is basic rehab.''

The heavy cast is so restrictive, Samsonov went about a month without being able to drive. He's back behind the wheel these days, but must handle the steering wheel gingerly.

''I'm pretty much left hand only,'' he said. ''I'm not sure I'm supposed to do that, but I've got to get around. I feel like I'm in good shape, even with the time off and everything, but nothing compares to skating.''

=====

Timely returns

Gill and Rob Zamuner both made the trip to Manhattan. There is a possibility, said Ftorek, that both will be in the lineup tonight ...

Only 13 days to go to the March 11 trade deadline. Given the help they need on defense, the Bruins could have serious interest in any of three defensemen that could be wheeled: Glen Wesley(Carolina), Teppo Numminen(Phoenix), or Aaron Miller(LA). Word around La-La land, however, is that the Kings might extend Miller's contract and keep him, especially if, as expected, they trade high-priced forward Ziggy Palffy(back to the Islanders). The Bruins will charter back to Bedford after tonight's game. Their trip home from Long Island over the weekend turned into a bus ride when their charter after the New York game had a flat tire.

Rangers thumbnails

When, where: Tonight, 8 p.m., at Madison Square Garden, New York.

TV, radio: ESPN, WBZ (1030).

Records: New York is 25-31-8-2 (10th in the Eastern Conference); Boston is 28-24-8-2 (eighth in the Eastern Conference).

Goals: Petr Nedved 22, Eric Lindros 18, Pavel Bure 16.

Assists: Tom Poti 33, Lindros 27, Nedved 23.

Goaltending: Mike Dunham (15-21-4, 2.76); Dan Blackburn (7-14-4, 3.22).

Head to head: This is the third of four meetings. The Bruins won the first two: 3-2, Nov. 2 in Boston; 4-1, in New York Dec. 8.

Miscellany: Bure returned Feb. 17 after missing two months following knee surgery ... The Rangers are 5 points behind Boston for the final Eastern playoff spot ... Poti's 43 points places him sixth among NHL defensemen in scoring ... The Rangers' 3.03 team goal-against average is third worst in the NHL ... Dunham has compiled a 13-12-3 mark for the Rangers after being acquired in a trade from Nashville Dec. 12.

 

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Boston Herald 2-27-03

Boston Herald 2-27-03

B's best must keep 'em laced

WILMINGTON - During crunch time of the Bruins-Dallas Stars game Tuesday night at the FleetCenter, the match seemed about like so: Our best five vs. your best five, back and forth in a wide-open shootout, pure passion, holding nothing back.

The resulting 5-5 tie was maybe the most entertaining game this season, the sort of game the NHL could use plenty more of.

The Bruins, too.

``Toward the end of the game and in overtime, it was all on instincts,'' said B's general manager Mike O'Connell. ``That's when we're at our best, I think. Just let your instincts go and let's go.

``We finished with the right attitude. We've got to make sure we come out with the same attitude at the start. I'd like to see us come out with the same kind of instinctual play that we had at the end. If we can play that way, I think we'll be better off. That's what it really came down to toward the end.

``Look at the way (defenseman) Bryan Berard played. He just tries so hard, he's got the heart of a lion. And he's still so young still. It's unbelievable that he's only 25 years old. You've just got to love the way he tries so, so hard. In that third period, he was just trying so hard to make a play. Muzz (Glen Murray), too. Joe (Thornton), all of them.''

For the Bruins, whose desperate struggle to hang on to a playoff spot continues tonight against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, Tuesday's game led to two obvious observations:

1. The way Thornton, Murray, Berard, Brian Rolston, Nick Boynton, et al., were laying it all out on the ice, playing with such speed and skill, the B's reminded us that their best players can compete with any team in the NHL.

2. It seemed the above-mentioned players, plus one or two others, never left the ice when the game was on the line. If it remains that way for the next five weeks, and it probably will, these could be some mighty tired guys when the playoffs arrive.

But that's a price that must be paid. The best players have to carry the load.

``Boynts (Boynton) and (Jonathan) Girard both have seen a tremendous amount of ice time, and you've got a first-year guy and a second-year guy there. Yet they're holding up tremendously well under it,'' said B's coach Robbie Ftorek. ``Berard is seeing more ice time, as well. They all like it.

``Your decision-making process and some of your crispness are lost (with excessive ice time), be it those three defensemen or some of the forwards. But it's just part of the deal right now. We've talked to them about it. They all understand it and they're all willing to go that little bit extra for us.''

Murray (25:01), Thornton (24:53) and Mike Knuble (21:40) led the B's forwards in playing time, while Girard (26:36), Berard (25:13) and Boynton (24:26) split up a big chunk of the blue line time.

``It's all right,'' said Murray of the workload. ``We're not going to say no. We want to be out there, we want to get this team in the playoffs. We have to get some breathing room between us and the teams below us. If he wants to put us out there more and more in the third period, that's fine.''

Boynton, too, welcomed the ice time, but not necessarily the wide-open style of play Tuesday.

``It wasn't a very good game, that's for sure,'' said Boynton. ``Entertaining? Yeah. The fans like it, that's what everyone was saying. But entertaining hockey doesn't always win you games. It was pretty loose. For a defenseman, it's not a fun kind of game to play. Or a goalie.''

Now the B's have to find a middle ground: Same passion and instincts, just a bit tighter defense.

=====

Bruins notes

In about two weeks, it's hoped that Sergei Samsonov will enter the final phase of his return from Dec. 24 right wrist surgery, a rehab program that could have the Bruins winger back in the lineup for the final three or four regular-season games.

``Definitely that was the plan in the beginning, and it's still the plan,'' said Samsonov. ``That's what we're shooting for.''

Samsonov has done brief, easy skating sessions each day this week, his wrist protected by only a light, removable splint.

``So far, so good,'' he said. ``Up to now, everything seems to be on schedule. Every day gives me a better idea where I am. Talking to the team doctor and (hand specialist) Dr. (Jesse) Jupiter, we're pretty optimistic about coming back probably at the end of March. But we'll see how it goes. It's still too early to say for sure.'' . . .

In a swap of young wingers, the Bruins recalled Andy Hilbert from Providence (AHL) and sent down Ivan Huml. Hilbert appears slotted to play on a line with Jozef Stumpel and Martin Lapointe. The B's hope Hilbert shows the offensive skills and intensity that have produced 30-27-57 totals in 49 AHL games.

Injured Bruins defenseman Hal Gill (broken finger) and forward Rob Zamuner (broken foot) accompanied the team on its charter flight to New York, and either or both could play tonight against the Rangers. Rearguard Sean O'Donnell (sprained knee) stayed behind and will skate today with Samsonov.

 

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Herald 2-27

Herald 2-27

Hackett needs to show up

WILMINGTON - Watching goalie Jeff Hackett take extra practice yesterday in an attempt to get him out of his recent funk, one thought came to mind - hey, pal, time's up.

Hackett has worn Bruins colors for five weeks, and we're still waiting to see the Byron Dafoe-like goalie who arrived from Montreal. Already, it's been too long. The last grain of sand slid through the hourglass. The Bruins need him to snap out of the fog. Pronto.

Hackett can no longer talk about trying to get comfortable with his new environment and new equipment. Patience doesn't apply in professional sports, especially with a struggling team in Boston.

The B's are in dire need of solid, reliable, dependable goaltending, all of which Hackett was supposed to bring when he arrived here in the three-way trade which sent defenseman Kyle McLaren from Boston to San Jose.

At the time of the trade, comparisons were made to Dafoe, and based on Hackett's statistics, they were well justified. And yet, taking into account what we've seen since Hackett's gaudy debut, a sparkling 1-0 overtime win over Philadelphia, he still has a way to go to reach even that level.

His play has clearly tailed off, with a flurry of uncharacteristic soft goals punctuating his performances. His 4-5 record, 3.19 goals against average, and uninspiring .892 save percentage won't cut it on a team fighting for its playoff lives in the season's final 20 games.

Hackett was supposed to be the guy between the pipes in most of these meaningful games, only Steve Shields' number has been the one most often called by coach Robbie Ftorek. While Shields has also been guilty of surrendering way too many bad goals, he's at least made some game-saving stops during the past two games to preserve ties. So Hackett has been left to wait his turn.

``I know I'll get my chance. I'm not concerned about that,'' Hackett said yesterday. ``They didn't bring me here to sit on the bench. It's just when I get that opportunity, to go out and play the best I can. I'm pretty level-headed. I know this game can change on a dime, especially this position. One minute you're on top of the world, the next . . . well, it's just the nature of the position.''

When asked specifically about his recent difficulties, Hackett continued to bring up all the adjustments he's had to make with equipment, even to the point of bringing up the different feel from his skate blades thanks to having someone new sharpening them.

``I switched pads and it hasn't (expletive) worked out too well,'' Hackett said about finally trading in his Canadiens-colored pads. ``I'm still trying to get comfortable, maybe I forced (the change) too quick. I just got sick of answering the same questions (about wearing the Montreal pads). I figured I'd do it now, and get it over with. So I've made the switch and I'm going to go through with it.''

The ultra-serious Hackett is dwelling on this stuff a little too much. It's not that his points aren't valid - well, the skate blades were a bit much - he's just run past the expiration date where anyone will listen. It's not like he hasn't changed teams before.

Remarked goalie consultant Gerry Cheevers, who's working overtime to help fix Hackett: ``Like a lot of us, we worry about things we shouldn't. He's just in a little funk right now. He's going to be fine. He's a terrific goaltender. Sometimes things just aren't right.''

Trouble is, they have to be right. Time's up. The Bruins need him to be their stopper. They can't wait. They're on the playoff bubble. If not him, if not Shields, don't be surprised if Andrew Raycroft (20-9-3, 2.53 GAA and .916 save percentage) gets the call from Providence.

Someone has to provide stability in goal. That someone is supposed to be Hackett.