Tuesday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

BOSTON BRUINS at
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Tuesday, April 2, 2002
First Union Center; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8:00 pm (ET) - Gametime
7:30 pm (ET) - Bruins Digest
NESN
Tonight's Game
The Bruins visit the Flyers tonight in the fourth and final game between these teams this season and the second of two games of the season at the First Union Center. The Bruins are 41-22-5-7 overall this season with a 19-12-4-3 record on the road. The Flyers are 40-23-9-3 overall this season with an 18-11-4-3 record on home ice. The Bruins are 7-5-1-2 vs. Atlantic Division opponents thus far this season and are 30-16-2-5 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Flyers are 7-8-2-1 vs. Northeast Division opponents thus far this season and are 31-14-6-2 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 73-49-18-0 lifetime vs. Philadelphia with a 473-434 scoring edge in those 140 games. On the road, the Bruins are 29-30-8-0 lifetime vs. the Flyers with Philadelphia holding a 229-197 scoring advantage in those 68 contests. The Bruins are 1-2-0-0 vs. Philadelphia in this season's series thus far with a 3-2 overtime win in Philadelphia on Nov. 29, a 5-2 loss in Boston on Dec. 15 and a 4-1 loss in Boston on Mar. 4.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins had their six-game win streak snapped with a 2-0 loss to Carolina on Mar. 30. That followed a 2-1 victory over Detroit on Mar. 16, a 4-2 win over Phoenix on Mar. 19, a 2-1 victory in Buffalo on Mar. 21, 3-1 win in Florida on Mar. 23, 4-3 overtime win in Tampa Bay on Mar. 24 and 3-2 victory in Carolina on Mar. 26. They are now 9-2-0-0 in their last 11 contests and are 15-7-2-0 in their last 24 contests overall.

The Bruins are 3-2-0-0 in their last five home games and are 9-5-1-1 in their last 16 home contests. They have won their last six road games, are 9-3-1-0 in their last 13 road games and are 14-6-1-2 in their last 23 road contests. Their current six-game road win streak is their longest such streak since Oct. 13-Nov. 2, 1997. They last won seven straight road games during a club-record eight-game road win streak from Mar. 15-Apr. 14, 1993.

Recent Flyers Games
The Flyers have lost their last three games with a 4-1 loss at Carolina on Mar. 28 and 3-1 losses each to Buffalo on Mar. 30 and Apr. 1. They are now 3-3-2-0 in their last eight games and are 8-8-3-1 in their last 20 games overall.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins next return home to host the NY Islanders on Apr. 4 and the NY Rangers on Apr. 6. They will then travel to New Jersey to face the Devils on Apr. 7.

Upcoming Flyers Games
The Flyers open a four-game home stand with Boston tonight, continuing by hosting Montreal on Apr. 4, Pittsburgh on Apr. 6 and Florida on Apr. 8.

Bruins Injuries
Jarno Kultanen: April 1 knee surgery; out for the season.
Joe Thornton: Shoulder injury; out indefinitely.
Josef Stumpel C Groin Day to Day
Total Man-Games Lost: 164

Bruins March Transactions
Mar. 1: Joe Thornton suspended by NHL for three games.
Mar. 5: Marty McInnis acquired from Anaheim for 2002 third round draft pick.
Mar. 5: Andy Hilbert returned to Providence/AHL.
Mar. 16: Chris Kelleher recalled from Providence/AHL and returned to Providence/AHL after the game.
Mar. 19: Sean Brown acquired from Edmonton for Bobby Allen.
Mar. 19: Jeff Norton acquired from Florida for 2002 sixth round draft pick.
Mar. 19: Darryl Laplante acquired from Minnesota for Greg Crozier and assigned to Providence/AHL.
Mar. 19: Benoit Hogue claimed on waivers by Washington.
Mar. 19: Gord Murphy assigned to Providence/AHL (did not report).

Flyers Injuries
Jiri Dopita: Right knee injury; day-to-day.
Marty Murray: Rib strain; day-to-day.
Jeremy Roenick: Right knee sprain; 2 weeks.
Rick Tocchet: Sore back; day-to-day.
Billy Tibbetts RW Suspension Elig. to return Tues

 

[the mugs]

This year's games and trends

This year's games and trends

This year's series has been similiar to the B's and Carolina with the road team winning all three games SU. Unfortunately for all of us who root for the "good guys", in the event of a tie Philly has the "head to head" tie breaker because the Bruin win in Philly was in OT and both teams took points from that game. Both team will have 41 wins with a Philly win tonight.

This Year's Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
3/4/2002 Bos. 1 Phi. 4 0,-115/5.5 Phi./U
12/15/2001 Bos. 2 Phi. 5 0,-110/5 Phi./O
11/29/2001 Phi. 2 Bos. 3 0,-200/5 Bos./P

Recent Trends
Over is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings.
BOS is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Under is 7-2-1 in Bruins last 10 games overall.
Flyers have lost their last three games overall ATS.
PHI is 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings.
Flyers last three games overall have played under.
Bruins haven't scored a PP goal since 3/19 going 0-18 in that time

 

[the mugs]

No Thornton tonight

No Thornton tonight

Thornton itching for return to center stage

Joe Thornton joined his teammates for practice yesterday morning at the FleetCenter, but he won't be in the lineup tonight when the Bruins face the Flyers in Philadelphia. It seems more likely that Thornton, who is wearing a harness to anchor his injured left shoulder, will return during the final week of the season.

''I'm favoring it still but every day it's getting a little better,'' he said. ''Until I get into games, I think I'm going to favor it anyway. Until we get into contact and stuff like that, we won't really know what to do with it.''

Thornton has been working with conditioning coach John Whitesides to strengthen the muscles around the joint. He said the pain has disappeared and it's just a matter of being able to battle along the boards and do the kinds of physical things that have made him successful. It's been a gradual process - he will miss his 12th straight game because of the injury tonight and 15th straight overall as a result of a three-game suspension that preceded it - but he's getting there.

''It's been working,'' he said. ''My shot feels a lot harder than when I got hurt, so that's a good sign. It's just been strengthening my upper body and I still have to ride the bike.''

While his teammates were switching from on-ice situps to pushups, Thornton stayed with the situps because his shoulder isn't ready for that type of strain. It's not likely he'll be taking faceoffs when he returns - if at all this year. He said that duty will likely fall to Marty McInnis, normally a left wing who has been playing the pivot since Thornton was lost.

''If he stays hot, I probably won't have to take any,'' said Thornton, who added that in the event McInnis was tossed from the circle, right wing Bill Guerin likely would step in.

Coach Robbie Ftorek wouldn't put a timetable on Thornton's return, but a possibility is Sunday's matinee against the Devils in New Jersey.

''He's getting more agitated so he must be getting closer,'' said Ftorek. ''He's cautious and he wants to be cautious because he doesn't want to have any setbacks and that's a good thing.''

Thornton said it's been difficult not to be a part of things. He stayed home during the club's weeklong road trip, and he doesn't enjoy watching games at the FleetCenter from the press box.

''Especially at home, you want to be down there and you want to be playing,'' he said. ''Everybody is asking you how you're doing and I say, `Hey, I want to get out there and play.' It is tough but I'll be back soon enough.''

=====

Goaltender John Grahame's torso was covered in ice and ace bandages after practice. A shot tipped by Thornton struck him in the collarbone, where he has very little padding, and Grahame said it was very painful. He said he's considering using a throat protector that attaches to the facemask.

 

[the mugs]

Ftorek experimenting...

Ftorek experimenting...

Learning new lines

Jozef Stumpel, who missed one game because of a groin strain, is expected to return tonight.

''He said he felt pretty good,'' said Ftorek. ''We'll see how he does [at the morning skate] but I would think he'd be able to play.''

During the workout, Ftorek put Stumpel back with Sergei Samsonov and Glen Murray but moved Brian Rolston between McInnis and Guerin. Ftorek said he was just experimenting and might not use that combination at all.

''We can put Mike Knuble or Rob Zamuner up there on the left side and leave Rolston with P.J. Axelsson and Marty Lapointe,'' said Ftorek.

 

[the mugs]

Power (Outage) Play

Power (Outage) Play

Ftorek, B's work on special project

It's getting tiresome just writing about it, so you can imagine how sick coach Robbie Ftorek and the Bruins must be of the team's lack of power-play production.

In a match that was about as devoid of offense as you'll ever see, the Bruins submitted an 0-for-5 performance on the power play yesterday and dropped a 2-0 decision to the Carolina Hurricanes at the FleetCenter. Over their past 18 games, the B's power play has stumbled along at a 4-for-62 clip.

``Sometimes (it's frustrating), but not (yesterday),'' said Ftorek. ``I thought we worked the puck around pretty well. We had a couple of good scoring opportunities, both by Muzz (Glen Murray), I think. We had some good opportunities, which is a positive thing. We've got to keep moving forward.''

Of course, for the B's to turn some opportunities into goals, it would help to have top playmakers Jozef Stumpel and Joe Thornton back from injuries.

Stumpel (groin strain) should be back shortly, while Thornton (shoulder) likely remains a week or so away. But Ftorek isn't counting on Thornton to turn the power play around singlehandedly.

``He's a component of the fix,'' said Ftorek. ``There is no real quick fix to this thing. You've got to get a break here and there, continue to work hard and a snowball will start. It's going to take some physical and mental effort, which we had (yesterday).

``Stumps is feeling better. He'll practice (tomorrow) and see how he is Tuesday (in Philadelphia). Joey is going to practice (tomorrow), but there's no decision to be made on him yet. He's getting better.''

Thornton skated again yesterday morning and it appeared he was being very careful with his injured left shoulder when he shot the puck. With seven games left in the regular season, the medical staff still does not wish to rush Thornton back.

Dafoe in select company

Though he failed to collect his 34th victory yesterday, Byron Dafoe is fashioning one of the finest seasons ever by a Bruins goalie.

Only five B's goalies have ever won more games than the 33 Dafoe has piled up this season. That list includes Pete Peeters (40 wins in 1983-83), Tiny Thompson (38 in 1929-30), Andy Moog (37 in 1992-93) and Gilles Gilbert (34 in 1973-74). . . .

The Hurricanes didn't generate much offense, with only 15 shots on Dafoe. . . .

On the game's key play, a goalmouth Ron Francis-to-Jeff O'Neill scoring pass during a second-period power play, both B's defensemen - Kyle McLaren and Hal Gill - got caught behind the net.

Swallow the whistle

One way to look at the work of referees Paul Stewart and Don Koharski: They let a number of apparent penalties go uncalled. Another view: They let the players decide the game. . .

 

[the mugs]

From the Flyer website

From the Flyer website

Time To Make A Move

Flyers face Bruins tonight at First Union Center for top spot in Eastern Conference

There are no excuses this time of year. Injuries? They?re a fact of life. The schedule? All 30 NHL teams are dealing with the same issue of playing five games in eight days. Playing desperate teams? One should only be so lucky to have an opponent that could bring out the emotion in you. And anyway, desperate times call for desperate measures.

That emotion came back Monday night in Buffalo, as the Flyers severely outplayed a Sabres squad doing everything that it can to make the playoffs. They out-shot, out-hustled, and out-muscled Buffalo. The Sabres won, 3-1. How? Well, it certainly doesn?t help when Buffalo goaltender Martin Biron makes 34 saves.

?We had quality shots and Biron came up big,? Head Coach Bill Barber said. ?Our guys worked hard...we should have been rewarded.?

So, for the first time in the Bill Barber era, the Flyers have lost three consecutive games. Flyers captain Keith Primeau finds some concern.

?For our club, three is out of the ordinary,? Primeau said. ?We quickly have to find some balance in our game.?

But what?s done is done. All the Flyers can do now is focus on the next opponent. Especially when their next opponent happens to be the Boston Bruins tonight at the First Union Center. Boston holds two points on the Flyers for the Eastern Conference lead. The teams have each played 75 games. In short, it?s a pretty big game.

?It?s really a four-point game,? Bruins goaltender Byron Dafoe said of tonight?s contest. ?It might decide who finishes first. So we just want to put Saturday?s game behind us, think about how well we have been playing the last few weeks and take that game into Philadelphia.?

Boston broke a season-high six-game winning streak on Saturday, losing 2-0 to Carolina at the FleetCenter. They still hold a six-game winning mark on the road, their longest such streak since 1997. They have been without star center Joe Thornton since February 28 who is out with a shoulder injury. There is a slight chance that he may suit up tonight, but most likely he will return later this week against the New York Islanders.

Regular season games don?t get as important as this. Number one versus number two for conference supremacy. Who will come out on top? Who will get the breaks? Who will take advantage of opportunities? That will all be decided tonight...with no excuses, of course.

 

[fatdaddycool]

Hey Mugs,
Great info thanks, also thanks for the welcome back I am feeling better although was rather dicey because of the muscle tear...Anyway I guess you are back to work, i won't get back till May and have been out since mid-November. Sucks, no pay , ya know..anyway so in my thread you said you like the Sens. play but does that mean you don't like my Atlanta + 1 1/2?...lol . hehe
feels good to be up and around and able to wash myself again

What is your take on the Bruins today? Was a tough one to call for me.

 

[the mugs]

I'm passing on tonight's B's/Flyers - thanks to HORNS. I can't get a handle. Was "talking" with HORNS in his thread and he agrees I'm looking at all the right angles but the straw that broke my back as the fact that Philly has lost 3 in a row SU. You know they are gonna be PO'ed and with first in the conference on the line...Think about it. If you're 2nd in the conf looking down the barrel of the Devils, wouldn't you do all you could to avoid them and play Mtl, Wash, Buf or NYR oe whoever it finally is after they have been fighting for their lives for 3 weeks?

Bos won 6 straight on the road / 8-2 SU last 10
Phi 2-3-1 SU last 6 at home

Do the B's continue on this torrid pace? Or does Phi get to .500 at home (recent schedule)

Phi has played 3/4 nights and had to travel last night after a very physical game with Buf

Can Phi "suck it up" for the conf lead tonight?


Everything seems tp point to Boston tonight but the fact Philly has lost last 3 SU, I just get the feeling it won't be 4 in a row on the wrong end for the Orange & Black.

Me, tonight? I'll just sit back, take half a pain killer (I take the whole thing and I miss the game ) and cheer for the B's tonight.

I hope everyone here in the Box doesn't play this game and we can get a worldwide mindmelt on the Flyers so the B's can take a 4 point lead on them and increase the chances of not playing the Devils in the first round. LOL

Mugs