Tuesday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

B's playing well on the road, Habs on the road last night... Could be a good spot for the Bruins...

BOSTON BRUINS vs. Montreal Canadiens
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Bell Centre; Montreal QBC

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins visit the Canadiens tonight in the first of six games between these teams this season and the first of three games of this season?s series at the Bell Centre. The Bruins are 5-2-2-0 thus far this season with a 5-1-1-0 road record. The Canadiens are 5-3-0-0 thus far this season with a 4-2-0-0 home record. The Bruins are playing their first game of the season vs. a Northeast Division opponent tonight and are 1-2-2-0 vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Canadiens are 1-3-0-0 vs. Northeast Division opponents and are 4-3-0-0 vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 250-311-102-0 lifetime vs. Montreal with the Canadiens holding a 2017-1771 scoring advantage in those 663 games. On the road, the Bruins are 96-189-46-0 lifetime vs. the Canadiens with Montreal holding a 1119-786 scoring edge in those 331 contests. The Bruins have lost their last three games in Montreal with their last road win over the Canadiens a 4-3 overtime victory on Jan. 30, 2002.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have taken points out of six of their last seven games at 5-1-1-0 with a 1-1 tie in Florida on Oct. 11, a 2-0 win in Dallas on Oct. 15, a 4-3 win in Los Angeles on Oct. 18, a 4-3 overtime win in Anaheim on Oct. 19, a 4-1 victory in Colorado on Oct. 21, a 2-0 loss to Carolina on Oct. 23 and a 5-2 victory at New Jersey on Oct. 25. They have won their last five straight road games and are unbeaten in their last six on the road at 5-0-1-0 with their lone road loss of the season a 5-1 setback in Tampa Bay on Oct. 10. The Bruins have taken points out of seven of their first nine games this season at 5-2-2-0.

Recent Canadiens Games
The Canadiens had their two-game win streak stopped with a 6-2 loss to Ottawa on Oct. 25. That followed a 2-1 win over Detroit on Oct. 20 and a 3-0 victory over NY Islanders on Oct. 23.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins next return home to host the Canadiens on Oct. 30 (7:00 p.m.) and will then travel to Pittsburgh to play the Penguins on Nov. 1 (1:00 p.m.). Both games are broadcast on both NESN and WBZ Radio.

Upcoming Canadiens Games
The Canadiens next face the Bruins in Boston on Oct. 30 before returning to Montreal to host NY Rangers on Nov. 1 and Edmonton on Nov. 4.

Bruins Injuries
Rob Zamuner: Hamstring strain; day-to-day.

Bruins October Transactions
Oct. 3: Travis Green acquired from Columbus for 2004 sixth round draft pick; Andy Hilbert and Zdenek Kutlak assigned to Providence/AHL.
Oct. 5: Steve Shields traded to Florida for future considerations.
Oct. 6: Patrice Bergeron signed to a three-year contract; Sergei Zinovjev assigned to Providence/AHL.
Oct. 14: Ivan Huml and P. J. Stock assigned to Providence/AHL.
Oct. 23: Sergei Zinovjev recalled from Providence/AHL; Martin Samuelsson and Milan Jurcina assigned to Providence/AHL.

Bruins Facts

The Bruins have 13 sets of back-to-back games this season. They are 1-1-0-0 in the first game of these sets and are 1-0-1-0 in game two of consecutive-night contests.

 

[the mugs]

RECENT TRENDS

RECENT TRENDS

From covers

RECENT TRENDS
? BOS is 7-2 ATS so far this season.
? The over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
? BOS is 5-1-1-0 SU on the road this year.
? The under is 3-1-1 in MON's last five overall.
? MON 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
? MON is 3rd in defense with 1.88 GA/g.

 

[the mugs]

Injuries

Injuries

Boston Injuries
Jonathan Girard D Hip out for season
Rob Zamuner F Hamstring Early Nov

Montreal Injuries
Saku Koivu C Knee day-to-day
Chad Kilger LW Eye Out indefinitely
Darren Langdon LW Groin day-to-day

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
2/11/2003 Mtl. 3 Bos. 1 -0.5,120/5.5 Mtl./U (02-03)
2/6/2003 Bos. 6 Mtl. 3 -0.5,-130/5 Bos./O
12/14/2002 Mtl. 4 Bos. 2 0.5,-130/5.5 Mtl./O
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 G6
4/27/2002 Bos. 1 Mtl. 2 0,-220/5 Mtl./U G5
4/25/2002 Mtl. 2 Bos. 5 0,120/5 Bos./O G4
4/23/2002 Mtl. 5 Bos. 3 0,110/5 Mtl./O G3
4/21/2002 Bos. 6 Mtl. 4 0,-250/5 Bos./O G2

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 10.28.03

Boston Herald 10.28.03

B's give new trio 2nd look

WILMINGTON - One game certainly is not enough time to judge whether a line combination has what it takes to stick together for the long haul, but it appears Sergei Samsonov, Sergei Zinovjev [news] and Martin Lapointe [news] are on the right track.

The line played well enough in the Bruins' 5-2 win Saturday against the New Jersey Devils to get another chance tonight in Montreal against the Canadiens. The trio was put together in the midst of Saturday's game, skated together in practice yesterday at Ristuccia Arena and should be together again tonight.

Samsonov stressed it's too early in the development of the combo to get excited, but he believes he and Zinovjev should be able to click. They did Saturday, when Zinovjev notched his first NHL point with a highlight-reel assist on Samsonov's game-winning goal.

``We came from the same hockey school, we have the same hockey sense and I think we can read off each other pretty well,'' Samsonov said of his 23-year-old Russian linemate. ``We grew up doing pretty much the same drills and the same type of things. I think it will be fun.''

Defense is a concern with any center, but it is even more critical on a line with the always-on-the-go Samsonov. Zinovjev, however, came to Boston as a sound two-way player and coach Mike Sullivan said the 5-foot-10, 178-pound forward did nothing to sully that reputation in his first game.

Lapointe sees some similarities between Zinovjev's game and the play of Igor Larionov, a solid two-way center with whom Lapointe had success in Detroit.

``(Zinovjev is) a good skater, pretty quick and he's smart defensively, too,'' said Lapointe, who scored on a power play Saturday and has a goal in six games since returning to the lineup after an injury. ``He also showed in Jersey that he'll take a hit to make a play. I told him, `Don't worry about that. I've got your back. Just go out and play.'

``I told (Samsonov) that, too. I told him, `Run plays with (Zinovjev) and don't worry about me.' I'll just crash the net and I'll try to get open. And if I'm open, I know he'll get me the puck.''

Assimilation, right now, is the biggest concern for Zinovjev.

``The only thing at this point is the interpretation of what they're tying to do, what the coach is preaching and the style of play . . . and whether or not he's getting the gist of it because of the language,'' assistant general manager Jeff Gorton said. ``But he's been very good in his own end and has played in roles like penalty-killing at top levels and played against the better players in Russia.''

Samsonov is less than two years older than Zinovjev, but he is light years ahead in NHL experience and North American culture. The veteran has taken the rookie under his wing a bit, giving him tips in their native tongue while on the ice and doing some translating for him, but Samsonov knows from experience that the best way to make the linguistic transition is to fly solo.

``It's going to be important for him to be out with the guys,'' said Samsonov, who turned 25 yesterday. ``I'm obviously going to help him along the way with translations and everything else, but it wouldn't be a bad idea for him to be on the road with somebody else, trying to pick up as much English as possible.

``I remember when I was in a situation (as a teenager with Detroit of the IHL) where I was pretty much the only guy that spoke Russian. I had to learn English and I think that'll make a difference.''

 

[the mugs]

Herald 10.26.03

Herald 10.26.03

Zinovjev sticks out in NHL debut
Sunday, October 26, 2003

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Sergei Zinovjev [news] said Friday after his second practice as a Bruin he felt as though he were on the outside looking in, not yet a bona-fide member of the team.

He's the real deal now.

The 23-year-old center stepped into the B's lineup for last night's 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils and had an instant impact, nailing down - at least temporarily - a job as the team's No. 2 center. The highlight of Zinovjev's NHL debut: A gem of a third-period pass to Sergei Samsonov, setting up his linemate for the easy goal that proved to be the game-winner.

Zinovjev's reaction to playing in, and impacting the outcome of, his first NHL game, was remarkably low key.

``The first game doesn't show anything,'' said Zinovjev, speaking through team massage therapist Andre Popandopoulo. ``I can't be happy about it, because it's only one game. I want to show the same style consistently, all season. Even better.''

Asked about the chemistry he and fellow Russian Samsonov appear to share, Zinovjev said, ``Maybe I understand him a little bit, because we study at the same school.''

Zinovjev and Samsonov grew up many thousands of miles apart in Russia, but were products of the same hockey system. The rookie, who opened the season with Providence of the AHL, did show a trace of a smile when he spoke about playing his first game as a Bruin.

``The NHL is the best league in the world,'' he said. ``Any player dreams to play in this league. I'm very happy. I still have a lot to learn, especially in the defensive zone. It's a different game than Europeans play.''

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Disciplinary action

After giving up 36 power plays and 10 power-play goals in their first six games, the Bruins had been better recently in the discipline department - both at avoiding unnecessary infractions and killing off penalties. But against the Devils they again took some early penalties and yielded a power-play goal, the 11th allowed in nine games.

``We're becoming more disciplined as a group,'' said B's coach Mike Sullivan, whose team faced only seven power plays in the previous two games and survived them all. ``Our lack of discipline early on really cost us. It was difficult for us to win because of our lack of discipline.

``On the penalty kill, I think we're getting more comfortable with what we're trying to do. . . . The last three or four games, I'd say we're doing what we have to do to make it harder on the opposition.''

=====

Zamuner closes in on return

Rob Zamuner, out since Oct. 2 with a torn hamstring, skated hard during and after the morning skate. The forward is hoping to be available to play within the next few days.

 

[bej0101]

great info thanks

 

[ddubs]

Good luck tonite, Bruins Central. How's the house coming??

 

[Vicc Inzagio]

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thanks for the info mugsy.... good luck !!


vicc