Tuesday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

First of all I owe everyone an apology. I'm not a good capper - I don't post picks like many of you guys do and I feel my role here is to pass on the most accurate & up to date Bruin info so you good cappers can really do some good work.

I promised I'd get starting goalie info for last night's game in Denver and I blew it. My wife had car problems and I was dealing with that. I remembered as soon as I heard Blake score.

Anyway, having said that here's today's stuff.

Jim


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BostonBruins.com Gameday - Pregame Notes
BOSTON BRUINS at
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Tuesday, February 12, 2002
GM Place; Vancouver, British Columbia
10:00 pm (ET) - Gametime
9:30 pm (ET) - Bruins Digest
NESN
Tonight's Game
The Bruins visit the Canucks tonight in the second of two games between these teams this season and the Bruins' lone visit of the season to GM Place. The Bruins are 31-16-4-7 overall this season with a 12-10-3-3 record on the road. The Canucks are 28-25-5-1 overall this season with a 16-9-4-0 record on home ice. The Bruins are 2-30-0 vs. Northwest Division opponents thus far this season and are 7-6-3-2 overall vs. Western Conference foes. The Canucks are 3-4-0-0 vs. Northeast Division opponents thus far this season and are 10-5-2-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 62-22-15-0 lifetime vs. the Canucks with a 412-279 scoring edge in those 99 games. On the road, the Bruins are 25-16-8-0 lifetime vs. Vancouver with a 201-162 scoring advantage in those 49 contests. The Bruins won the first game of this season's series between these teams with a 3-2 victory in Boston on Nov. 23. The Bruins are winless in their last two visits to Vancouver with their last win in Vancouver a 2-0 victory on Oct. 17, 1997.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins had their six-game unbeaten streak stopped at 5-0-1-0 with a 5-2 loss in Colorado on Feb. 11. That followed a 4-2 win over Florida on Jan. 26, a 2-1 victory over Chicago on Jan. 28, a 4-3 overtime win in Montreal on Jan. 30, an 8-0 win at Columbus on Feb. 4, a 2-2 tie with Buffalo on Feb. 5 and a 4-1 win over Florida on Feb. 9.

They have taken points out of 13 of their last 17 games at 9-4-1-3, are 15-6-1-3 in their last 25 games, including their longest win streak of the season with a five-game win streak from Dec. 20-29, are 17-8-1-4 in their last 29 games, and have taken points out of 26 of their last 35 games at 20-9-1-5.

The Bruins are 6-1-1-1 in their last nine home games and are 14-4-1-2 in their last 21 home contests. The 5-2 loss in Colorado snapped their two-game road win streak and they are now 7-4-0-2 in their last 13 road contests.

Recent Canucks Games
The Canucks had their nine-game unbeaten streak snapped at 8-0-1-0 with a 4-3 loss to Calgary on Feb. 9. That followed wins over Washington, Carolina, Dallas, Toronto, Calgary (twice), Nashville and Phoenix and a tie with Edmonton since their previous loss, a 5-4 setback in St. Louis on Jan. 17.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins will return following the Olympic break to face the Islanders in New York on Feb. 26. They will return to the FleetCenter for their next home game on Feb. 28 vs. Carolina at 7:00 p.m.

Upcoming Canucks Games
The Canucks will return following the Olympic break for a three-game home stand, hosting St. Louis on Feb. 26, Dallas on Feb. 28 and Minnesota on Mar. 2.

Bruins Injuries
Martin Lapointe: Hamstring injury; day-to-day.
Kyle McLaren: Dec. 28 surgery to repair a torn right wrist ligament; out indefinitely.
P. J. Stock: Feb. 7 facial surgery; out indefinitely.
Total Man-Games Lost: 116

Bruins Recent Transactions
Feb. 8: Dennis Bonvie recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 11: Andy Hilbert recalled from Providence/AHL.

Canucks Injuries
Dan Cloutier: Ankle injury; out indefinitely.
Murray Baron: Hand injury; out indefinitely.

 

[the mugs]

Tired Stumpel...

Tired Stumpel...

Going in style

Jozef Stumpel, who played for Slovakia's Olympic team against Latvia Sunday in West Valley City, Utah, in a 6-6 tie that eliminated his native land from final-round contention, pulled up in a limo at the same time his teammates were boarding a bus to go back to the hotel after the morning skate. When Stumpel got on the bus, he received a rousing cheer from the team.

Last night, Stumpel played his third game in three nights, and he'll play No. 4 tonight in Vancouver. Stumpel was tired but looked none the worse for wear.

''It's too bad we didn't win, but it was still nice to be part of the Olympics,'' said Stumpel. ''I got there and went right for the meal and then got a little sleep before the game and after the game, I ate, went back to bed, got up to fly, and then came right here.''

He said security at the Games is very strict.

''It's tight, very tight,'' Stumpel said. ''They were checking everything.''

 

[the mugs]

Injury Update...

Injury Update...

Bumps on the road

Sergei Samsonov, who has a banged-up shoulder, skated yesterday morning and pronounced himself fit to play against the Avalanche last night. Coach Robbie Ftorek recalled forward Andy Hilbert from Providence as insurance, since several players - including Glen Murray(bruised foot) - have bumps and bruises. Hilbert did not play ... Ftorek had said Byron Dafoe would play both games on this trip, but he reversed field yesterday. John Grahame has sufficiently recovered from a bout with the flu to play against the Avalanche. Dafoe will play tonight against the Canucks ... Right wing Martin Lapointe(strained hamstring) skated with the team yesterday morning but Ftorek said he doesn't want him to play prior to the break.

 

[the mugs]

Ftorek's squad needs a break

Bruins Notebook/by Steve Conroy
Monday, February 11, 2002

DENVER - With the sparse on-ice attendance for yesterday's practice at the Pepsi Center, it's safe to say that the Olympic break is coming at just the right time for the Bruins.

``Do you have your blades?'' cracked Ftorek when asked about the general health of the team.

Glen Murray (foot) and Sergei Samsonov (shoulder) passed on practice, while Martin Lapointe (hamstring) took a short spin on the ice before Ftorek managed to piece together three forward lines. Lapointe has missed the last two games.

Murray and Samsonov were optimistic that they'll play tonight against the Colorado Avalanche, while Lapointe termed himself doubtful. Lapointe, however, didn't rule out tomorrow night's game in Vancouver, the B's final match before the Olympic break.

Samsonov hurt his right shoulder in the third period of the Bruins' 4-1 win over the Panthers on Saturday when he crashed into the boards.

``It's just a little sprain, nothing serious,'' said Samsonov. ``I didn't think of it much during the game, but after we got here (Saturday) night it was more noticeable and it was more sore (yesterday) morning.''

Murray took a slapper off the right boot late in the second period against the Panthers.

``It's not too bad, it's just sore,'' said Murray, who'll give it a try at this morning's skate.

X-rays taken on Murray's foot were negative.

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Waiting in the wings

Medical wisdom might say he should simply shut it down through the Olympic break and come back healthy, but Lapointe hasn't completely given up on playing before the break.

Lapointe seems to know what the safe thing to do is - but he just can't help himself.

``You can understand (the trainer's) point of view, too. They don't want me to re-injure with the break coming,'' said Lapointe. ``They figure what's the sense in playing one game and re-injuring just for one game. I understand that, but as a hockey player you want to be out there and help the hockey team. But we're winning, so it makes it easier.''

 

[the mugs]

Tonight the B's play in another "House of Horrors" for them. They haven't won in Vancouver since 10/97

This year's game...

Date Home Away Line ATS
11/23/2001 Bos. 3 Van. 2 0,-170/5 Bos./P