Thursday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

Here's to hoping that McGillis & Moran can stabilize the "D" :toast:

BOSTON BRUINS vs. NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Thursday, March 13, 2003
FleetCenter; Boston MA
7:00 PM (ET) - Gametime

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins host the Devils tonight in the third of four games between these clubs this season and the second of two games of this season's series at the FleetCenter. The Bruins are 31-27-8-4 overall and are 19-10-4-2 on home ice thus far this season. The Devils are 39-18-6-5 overall with a 17-8-4-4 record on the road thus far this season. The Bruins are 7-6-2-1 vs. Atlantic Division opponents this season and they are 23-20-6-2 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Devils are 9-5-0-1 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 26-13-6-1 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 55-25-17-4 lifetime vs. the Devils franchise (includes Kansas City and Colorado) with a 370-291 scoring edge in those 101 games. On home ice, the Bruins are 30-13-7-2 lifetime vs. the New Jersey franchise with a 209-159 scoring advantage in those 52 contests. The Bruins have lost the first two games of this season's series thus far with a 1-0 loss in Boston on Dec. 30 and a 3-2 setback in New Jersey on Feb. 21.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have taken points out of four of their last five games at 3-1-0-1 with a 4-2 win in Carolina on Mar. 4, a 4-1 victory over NY Islanders on Mar. 6, a 5-4 overtime win over Washington on Mar. 8, an 8-5 loss in Chicago on Mar. 9 and a 4-3 overtime loss in Ottawa on Mar. 11. They have taken points out of seven of their last ten games at 3-3-2-2 and they are 8-9-4-3 in their last 25 contests.

Recent Devils Games
The Devils are 1-2-0-1 in their last four games with a 3-2 loss in Minnesota on Mar. 4, a 5-4 overtime loss in Calgary on Mar. 5, a 4-2 win at NY Islanders on Mar. 8 and a 3-2 loss to Atlanta on Mar. 11. They are 4-4-3-1 in their last 12 contests.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins will host the Florida Panthers on Mar. 15 (12:00 noon). They will then face a three-game road trip to Phoenix on Mar. 18 (9:00 p.m. ET), to San Jose on Mar. 21 (10:30 p.m. ET) and to Los Angeles on Mar. 22 (10:30 p.m. ET).

Upcoming Devils Games
The Devils will return home to host the NY Rangers on Mar. 15 and the Philadelphia Flyers on Mar. 17. They will then face the Canadiens in Montreal on Mar. 18.

Bruins Injuries
Richard Brennan: Right ankle bruise and fractured foot suffered Jan. 28 vs. Nashville; out indefinitely.
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.
Rob Zamuner: Groin strain suffered Mar. 9 in Chicago; out indefinitely.

Bruins Recent Transactions
Feb. 22: Zdenek Kutlak returned to Providence/AHL.
Feb. 26: Ivan Huml returned to Providence/AHL.
Feb. 26: Andy Hilbert recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 28: Andy Hilbert, Shaone Morrisonn and Kris Vernarsky returned to Providence/AHL.
Mar. 11: Ian Moran acquired from Pittsburgh for 2003 fourth round draft pick.
Mar. 11: Dan McGillis acquired from San Jose for 2003 second round draft pick.

 

[the mugs]

Injuries

Injuries

New Jersey Injuries
Sergei Brylin C Wrist Early May
Mike Danton F Suspension Out indefinitely

Boston Injuries
Rob Zamuner LW Groin day-to-day
Richard Brennan D Ankle day-to-day
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Late Mar

 

[the mugs]

Recent Trends

Recent Trends

The Devils are 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings.
NJ's last five away have played under.
New Jersey is 2-5 ATS in their last seven overall.
BOS has scores 3.34 gls/gm when home.
The over is 12-5 when BOS plays teams in own div.
The over is 5-1 in the Bruins last six overall.

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings

Date Home Away Line ATS
2/21/2003 NJ 3 Bos. 2 -0.5,-150/5 NJ/P (02-03)
12/30/2002 Bos. 0 NJ 1 -0.5,105/5 NJ/U

4/7/2002 NJ 3 Bos. 2 0,-155/5 NJ/P (01-02)
11/15/2001 Bos. 5 NJ 4 0,110/5 Bos./O
11/3/2001 NJ 1 Bos. 2 0,-230/5 Bos./U
10/30/2001 Bos. 3 NJ 4 0,110/5 NJ/O

4/6/2001 NJ 5 Bos. 2 0,-240/6 NJ/O (00-01)
1/27/2001 Bos. 4 NJ 3 0,155/5.5 Bos./O
1/16/2001 NJ 4 Bos. 5 0,-250/5.5 Bos./O
11/16/2000 Bos. 2 NJ 3 0,120/5.5 NJ/U

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 3/13/03

Boston Globe 3/13/03

New arrivals eager to ply trade

McGillis, Moran set to get started

WILMINGTON - Bruins defensemen Dan McGillis and Ian Moran, airport weary after being acquired hours before the trading deadline Tuesday, took part in a rigorous 45-minute workout at the Ristuccia Arena yesterday with their new teammates.

McGillis wore the traditional black practice jersey of a defenseman while Moran, who can also play up front, wore a red jersey, skating at forward along with Brian Rolston and Marty McInnis.

However, do not expect to see Moran playing a regular shift on the forward line. Moran, acquired from Pittsburgh, is not an offensive defenseman. In fact, he has a 110-game goal-less streak.

''We were shorthanded so he just stepped up,'' said coach Robbie Ftorek. In fact, Jozef Stumpel skated off the ice shortly after practice began. ''He was a little dinged up in the Ottawa game,'' assured Ftorek. ''That's all. He should be fine.''

Neither player expected a trade, but both have Boston connections.

''It's always a surprise when you're traded,'' said McGillis, who was acquired from San Jose for a second-round choice. ''It's great to be back in Boston. It has been a second home to me, having gone to school here.''

McGillis's stay in San Jose was brief. He started with Philadelphia, which traded him to the Sharks for Marcus Ragnarsson Dec. 6. ''It's been a little bit of a head spin, but I've been fortunate because I'm with a good organization that's going to the playoffs,'' said McGillis.

''I only heard [Tuesday] morning that there was a possibility that I might be traded, not knowing where.''

He grew up in an area that was a Montreal Canadiens (Hawkesbury, Ontario) hotbed, ''but I chose the Bruins over the Canadiens,'' said McGillis. ''Bobby Orr was my hero. I'm very excited to be here with a great organization. I hope I can help.''

Coincidentally, after Saturday's game against Florida, he will pack his bag for a road trip that will take him back to San Jose, sandwiched between stops in Phoenix and Los Angeles.

It was in Phoenix last Saturday when Andrei Nazarov slammed into him with a vicious hit that gave McGillis a slight concussion and Nazarov an NHL suspension. ''I guess they would call it a concussion, but I'm all right now,'' said McGillis. ''This is my first skate since then and it felt great to get out on the ice again. I had a bunch of tests before I left San Jose and I'm going to have another one here. But I'm OK.''

Moran, who lived in Acton since he was 12, had just sold his house in Duxbury and made Pittsburgh his year-round home.

He was playing hopscotch with his daughter Mattigan, 3, outside his new home when he found out he was coming to Boston. ''[Pittsburgh general manager] Craig Patrick called and told me I was coming to Boston. All I had was a piece of chalk so I used it to write down [Bruins general manager] Mike O'Connell's cell number on my driveway.''

Moran said if he could have picked a team to join, it would have been the Bruins. ''When he said Boston, I was sold because I have so many friends and family here,'' he said.

The newest Bruins have a couple of things in common. Both played college hockey in Boston before turning professional and both were Hockey East Rookies of the Year, McGillis for Northeastern in 1991-92 and Moran at Boston College in 1992-93.

They also were told they could not wear their usual numbers - both are hanging from the FleetCenter rafters.

McGillis, who wore No. 3 for the Sharks, will wear No. 6, and Moran, who wore No. 24 for the Penguins, will wear No. 18.

Both knew the Bruins were in need of defensive help.

''I have to be a steady guy back there, a steady defenseman,'' said McGillis, who is under contract through next season and will earn $3.2 million for 2003-04. ''I have to play my game as a physical defenseman. Just bring that to the team and be steady as possible back there for them.''

Moran is unsure what his role will be. ''When I play D, I just try to get the puck to the forwards as quickly as possible,'' said Moran, who is making $750,000 this season. ''I don't take a whole lot of chances. I'm not very risky out there. I just try to stay patient and be a good guy in the locker room.''

=====

Devils thumbnails

When, where: Tonight, 7, at the FleetCenter

TV, radio: NESN, WBZ (1030).

Records: New Jersey is 39-18-6-5, second in the Eastern Conference; Boston is 31-27-8-4, seventh in the Eastern Conference.

Goals: Jeff Friesen 21, Jamie Langenbrunner 19, Patrik Elias 18, John Madden 18.

Assists: Brian Rafalski 33, Scott Gomez 31, Langenbrunner 28.

Goaltending: Martin Brodeur (35-20-6, 2.08 GAA), Corey Schwab (4-3-0, 1.57).

Head to head

This is the third of four meetings. The Devils won the last encounter, 3-2, Feb. 21.

Miscellany

The Devils have sputtered after posting a five-game unbeaten streak, dropping three of their last four ... Brodeur leads the league in wins (35) and is tied for second in the NHL in shutouts (7) ... The Devils recently acquired defenseman Richard Smehlik from Atlanta and forward Grant Marshall from the Columbus. They will make their first appearance as Devils tonight.

 

[the mugs]

Herald 3/13/03

Herald 3/13/03

Moran chalks up his return

WILMINGTON - Blackboards throughout the NHL got a workout as Tuesday's trading deadline neared, but it's doubtful anyone had a more interesting use of chalk than did defenseman Ian Moran after he was plucked from Pittsburgh by the Bruins, who also acquired defenseman Dan McGillis from San Jose.

Moran, a product of Acton, Belmont Hill and Boston College, was playing hop scotch with 2-year-old daughter Mattigan when he got a call from Penguins general manager Craig Patrick informing him of the deal. Moran grabbed the chalk from the hop scotch game and scratched out Bruins GM Mike O'Connell's phone number on the ground.

``I was really surprised when Craig Patrick told me, but when he said Boston, I was so excited. It's great with all the family and friends that are still living here. As soon as it went across the ticker my phone kept ringing and didn't stop until I got on the plane,'' said Moran.

The real ``chalk'' on the two acquisitions remains to be seen. That assessment begins tonight when the Bruins host the New Jersey Devils, the team with the second-most points (89) in the Eastern Conference.

Certainly, the blue line corps needed help. McGillis, a four-year star at Northeastern, worked with the defensemen in yesterday's practice at Ristuccia Arena, while Moran, surprisingly, worked on a forward line with fellow BC alumnus Marty McInnis and Brian Rolston.

``(Moran) is probably going to play D. We just had short numbers up front today so we threw him up there,'' B's coach Robbie Ftorek said. ``We'll see how they progress and how the team goes with them as additions. McGillis is a big guy and strong. Ian plays a physical game as well. As long as they can find their niches in our system it should work out pretty well.''

McGillis, who was fourth in the NHL in hits with the Flyers in 2001 with 292, has already been told what's expected of him.

``Obviously I've got to be a steady guy back there, a steady and physical defenseman and play my game,'' he said. ``I've got to bring that to the team in front of the net and down low and just be as steady as possible. That's what they've told me they want me to bring to the team, and that's certainly what I'm going to try to bring.''

Moran knows the Bruins are loaded with blueliners with outstanding offensive ability. He plays a different game. ``How I play defense is just get the puck up into the forwards' hands as quickly as I possibly can,'' he said. ``I don't take a whole lot of chances. I'm not very risky out there. I try to stay patient and be good in the locker room.

``A lot of the defensemen here are offensively gifted. I'm just more of a guy who stays at home. My partners the last few years have been the guys who have taken the chances.''

McGillis, who was traded from Philadelphia to San Jose to Boston this season, was hit in the head by Andrei Nazarov in Phoenix Saturday, incurring a minor concussion. He didn't skate until yesterday's practice after taking a red-eye flight from San Jose. He also revealed he had another concussion several weeks earlier.

McGillis passed the morning portion of his physical and took some more tests yesterday afternoon, with the results expected today.

=====

Bruins notes

Ftorek and O'Connell both indicated they would sit tight with the roster for the immediate future. They are not required to trim the number of players, but only 18 skaters and two goalies dress for games.

The Bruins have 22 healthy players on the roster and three (Rob Zamuner, Rich Brennan and Sergei Samsonov) are coming back from injuries.

``When everybody gets healthy I would think the number would be (unwieldy), but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. We're not in any hurry,'' said Ftorek.

``It adds some competition and also you can put your lines together a little bit better.'' . . .

=====

Jozef Stumpel left the ice early but is expected to play tonight. Ftorek said he got dinged in Tuesday's overtime loss to Ottawa. Zamuner, still recuperating from a groin pull, stayed off skates and will not play tonight. Defenseman Brennan skated with the team for a full practice. He'll miss his 21st game with an ankle injury. . . .

=====

Ftorek had P.J. Axelsson on the first line with Joe Thornton and Glen Murray while putting Mike Knuble with Stumpel and Martin Lapointe. ``We thought it was time to mix things up just a little bit. It worked out (Tuesday) night pretty well.''

 

[Vicc Inzagio]

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This one looks like u r doin' the job with the analysis.......... hope the bruins can tie the playoff.............

best of luck bud !!!

 

[the mugs]

Lining up

The lines at practice were as follows, although it appeared based on Ftorek?s post-practice comments, that they will change before tonight:

White ? Joe Thornton, Glen Murray, P.J. Axelsson
Red ? Brian Rolston, Ian Moran, Marty McInnis
Gold ? Jozef Stumpel, Mike Knuble, Martin Lapointe
Teal ? P.J. Stock, Krzysztof Oliwa, Michal Grosek

Nine defenseman skated in the practice ? Sean Brown, Nick Boynton, Jonathan Girard, Rich Brennan, Hal Gill, Sean O?Donnell, Don Sweeney, Bryan Berard, and Dan McGillis.

 

[the mugs]

Injury Updates...

Injury Updates...

Sergei Samsonov progressing

For the second-straight day, Sergei Samsonov was in full equipment and did a little light stickhandling prior to the team's practice.

?He?s still a long way away, but everyday that he gets out there is a better day,? said Ftorek. ?He?s feeling pretty good, and things are kind of on-schedule.?

=====

Stumpel rests

Jozef Stumpel left the ice early to rest a ?ding? suffered in last night?s game against Ottawa.

?Yeah he got dinged yesterday,? said Ftorek. ?But he tells me he?ll be fine tomorrow.?

=====

Zamuner feeling better

Rob Zamuner didn?t skate with the team, but said he was feeling better today.

?He hasn?t been skating yet,? said Ftorek. ?So he?s a little bit further off. I?m sure he?ll take the cautious side on returning, because now with the short amount of games, if you re-injure it at this point in time, 10 days becomes real close to where you want to be hitting your stride [in terms of preparing for the playoffs].?

=====

Brennan back on the ice

Rich Brennan felt so good after a pre-practice skate that he stayed on the ice and completed the regular practice with the team as well.

?It?s his first day of practice and he did too much,? said Ftorek. ?But at some point in time you have to allow them to do what they want to do. He really wasn?t going to practice today, but then he was skating out there with Jimmy [Hughes] and he must have felt good, because he stayed out.

?And he did good, because I was watching him closely. If I saw any instability I was going to kick him off, but he looked fine.?

 

[the mugs]

UPDATED: March 13, 2003

The Bruins held a short pre-game skate this morning at the FleetCenter to get ready for tonight?s game against the New Jersey Devils.

=====

New guys in the fold

Dan McGillis and Ian Moran again practiced with the team, but only Moran is expected to play tonight. McGillis is not yet ready to play after taking an elbow to the head Mar. 8 vs. Phoenix while with San Jose.

?McGillis can?t play yet, and [Rich] Brennan?s not ready yet,? said coach Robbie Ftorek. ?We?ll just see how things are going tonight. We?ll have six D tonight and Sean Brown will be up front, so we?ll have seven if we need it. We?re just going to let some guys watch and get a little bit of a breather. Sometimes you watch the game and things get a little bit easier.?

Ftorek likes what McGillis and Moran can offer the team.

?Well, we have a little more size now,? said Ftorek. ?We?ve been a little short on the back end, stature-wise ? not heart-wise ? but stature-wise. Some teams have been going to the net pretty hard on us, and hopefully this will help.?

Both players also expressed their desire to contribute ? specifically on the defensive end of things.

?I think there is a lot of skill here, offensively,? said Moran. ?They?ve got some guys that like to take chances and I think myself and Danny aren?t really gamblers.?

Added McGillis: ?You just want to come and be a stable part of this defense. We?ve got some young guys that are offensive defensemen, but sometimes you need to look around the locker room and see that you don?t always need to be joining the offense with an offense like this.?

 

[ddubs]

Thanks for the hard work, mugs, and good luck tonite. I'll be on the BB train tonite

 

[the mugs]

Update

Update

Bruins pre game show states no Moran or McGillis tonight

 

[cooz3]

i dont get it muggsy....trade for 2 d who cant play???...:shrug:

cooz

 

[the mugs]

Now I look like an A-hole...

Ftorek said the two new guys were sitting. Now the announcers are saying Moran is in tonight.

Sorry all...

 

[the mugs]

hackett vs. brodeur