Tuesday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

First of all...FDC, Terryray - Thanks for the kind words about my Bruin thread.

FDC - That Blackhawk game last night was the equivalent of a sleeping pill. No energy from either team. I hope you didn't take a hit on the Hawks last night. Like I said ysterday, I'm not touching the B's until after the break.

=====

Slow day here in the papers...


Bruins Sign Gord Murphy for Remainder of 2001-02 Season

BOSTON (January 29, 2002) - The Boston Bruins have signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Gord Murphy for the remainder of the 2001-02 season, it was announced today by Bruins General Manager Mike O'Connell. Murphy had been skating with the team since January 15 on a try-out basis and had also played four games over the past week with their AHL affiliate in Providence with two assists and six penalty minutes in those contests.

"We signed Gord because we feel he can help our team," said O'Connell. "He has shown us that he's in good shape from a conditioning standpoint, he brings some veteran experience to our blueline and he gives us added depth at that position."

Murphy, 34, has played 13 professional seasons for four different NHL organizations. He was drafted by Philadelphia as their tenth pick, 189th overall, in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and turned professional with the Flyers organization in Hershey/AHL in 1987-88 at the conclusion of his junior career in Oshawa/OHL. He played four-plus seasons with the Flyers before coming to Boston with in a multi-player deal involving Garry Galley on January 2, 1992. He played with the Bruins through the 1992-93
season before going to Florida in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft.

 

[the mugs]

Power play improving...

Power play improving...

Power turned up notch

After a rough stretch in which the Bruins scored only two power-play goals in 36 opportunities over nine games, the club has come on strong during the man advantage. They have had one power-play goal in each of their last four contests, including last night's 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, and are now 4 for their last 14.

''I think the guys are working at it,'' said coach Robbie Ftorek. ''I think they're hunting the puck down better. If you outwork the other team, you're going to get your chances. I think it's probably the work ethic.''

Center Brian Rolston said some of the improvement has come from how the personnel are setting up at the points, one of which he mans.

''I think we've gotten back to getting point shots,'' said Rolston. ''We've been crashing the net. We always have guys in front of the net. Marty[ Lapointe] and Joe[ Thornton] do a great job of getting in front of the net. We establish that point shot and it leaves it open for the plays that happened [last night].

''[Opponents] have to spread out their box a little bit and come out to the point and that's when we can utilize our low play. We hadn't been great on it lately, so we go out there and work a little harder on it. It's big for us. Power-play goals are going to win us hockey games.''

=====

Rolston rattled

Rolston was struck in the head by the stick of Chicago forward Aaron Downey at 3:45 of the second period but avoided serious injury. ''I didn't feel well after that,'' said Rolston. ''I just felt a little dizzy and a little tired. It was just one of those things where I got my bell rung. He got me with the heel of his stick. I would've been better off if he cut me with the tip of his stick. He got me right on the face. He fell down and it was incidental. I should be fine.'' ... The Blackhawks outshot Boston, 27-22, marking only the seventh time in 53 games this season the Bruins have been outshot.

=====

Chicago hope

The Blackhawks have vaulted to sixth in the league on the power play, third-best on the road. Last year, Chicago's power play was gruesome, finishing third-to-last at 12.9 percent. Factors in the vast improvement include the signing of defenseman Phil Housley, who plays one of the points (along with Alexei Zhamnov), hard work, and the coaching of Brian Sutter. ''For sure, it's coaching stuff,'' Zhamnov told the Chicago Sun-Times. ''Brian came to this team and changed everything.''

=====

Last night's contest was billed as Police and Firefighter Night at the FleetCenter. The pregame ceremony featured Boston Police Commissioner Paul Evans, Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Christian, and chairman of the board of the Boston Police Activities League Paul Verocchi. They were on hand to present a check for $82,767 - raised at a challenge game between Boston and New York police and firefighters Dec. 1 - to the New York Police/Fire Widow and Children's Fund. Representing the NYPD was Officer Darryl Locke, and representing the fire department were Jim Scaglione of Ladder 140 and Danny Wallis of Engine 315.

 

[fatdaddycool]

mugs

mugs

No I laid off of it with STAG going witht the B'sso I stayed back thought the Hawks let that get away from them early. Joe Thornton is one helluva hockey player
Fdc Gl tonight think I am going to chase the ISles