Tuesday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

BOSTON BRUINS vs. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Tuesday, January 7, 2003
Air Canada Centre; Toronto ONT
7:30 PM (ET) - Gametime
7:00 PM (ET) - Boston Globe Pre-Game Report
NESN

Tonight's Game
The Bruins visit the Maple Leafs tonight in the third of five games between these clubs this season and the third and final game of this season's series at Air Canada Centre. The Bruins are 21-13-4-1 overall and are 9-7-2-1 on the road thus far this season. The Maple Leafs are 20-15-4-1 overall with a 14-7-2-0 record on home ice thus far this season. The Bruins are 5-5-1-0 vs. Northeast Division opponents this season and are 15-10-3-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Maple Leafs are
3-4-1-0 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 15-12-3-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 248-241-98-1 lifetime vs. the Maple Leafs with Toronto holding a 1765-1713 scoring advantage in those 588 games. On the road, the Bruins are 90-154-51-0 lifetime vs. Toronto with the Maple Leafs holding a 994-758 scoring edge in those 295 games. These teams have split the first two games of this season's series with Boston taking a 4-1 decision in Toronto on Oct. 21 and the Maple Leafs winning the rematch in Toronto with a 2-0 victory on Nov. 19. That loss was Boston's lone
regulation loss in the month of November.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have lost their last three games with a 1-0 loss to New Jersey on Dec. 30, an 8-4 loss at NY Islanders on Jan. 3 and a 4-2 setback to Carolina on Jan. 4. They are 2-4-1-0 in their last seven games and are 2-9-1-0 in their last 12 contests.

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings

Date Home Away Line ATS
11/19/2002 Tor. 2 Bos. 0 0.5,-140/5.5 Tor./U ('02-03)
10/21/2002 Tor. 1 Bos. 4 -0.5,-135/5.5 Bos./U

3/14/2002 Bos. 1 Tor. 2 0,-150/5.5 Tor./U ('01-'02)
1/3/2002 Bos. 1 Tor. 2 0,-130/5 Tor./U
11/24/2001 Tor. 2 Bos. 0 0,-170/5 Tor./U
10/25/2001 Bos. 2 Tor. 1 0,-130/5 Bos./U
10/23/2001 Tor. 2 Bos. 0 0,-160/5 Tor./U

3/28/2001 Tor. 0 Bos. 3 0,-170/5.5 Bos./U ('00-'01)
1/24/2001 Tor. 1 Bos. 2 0,-220/5.5 Bos./U
12/21/2000 Bos. 4 Tor. 0 0,140/6 Bos./U

 

[the mugs]

Injuries...

Injuries...

Boston Injuries
P.J. Axelsson LW Flu Ques Tue
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Mid March
Kyle McLaren D Holdout Out indefinitely

Toronto Injuries
Karel Pilar D Ear infections day-to-day
Nik Antropov C Upper Body Doub Tue
Mikael Renberg RW Infected Finger Out indefinitely
Mats Sundin C Shoulder Ques Jan. 13
Shane Corson LW Groin Out Tue
Gary Roberts F Shoulders Feb

INJURIES FROM "THE SPORTS NETWORK"
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Center Nik Antropov (shoulder) and center Mats Sundin (shoulder) are expected to miss Tuesday's game against Boston.

Left wing Shayne Corson (groin) and right wing Mikael Renberg (infected left hand) are sidelined indefinitely.

Left wing Gary Roberts (shoulder surgery) is expected to be sidelined until February.

Right wing Tom Fitzgerald (upper body) and center Robert Reichel (left hand) left Saturday's game.

Just Samsonov is listed as the Bruins only injury

 

[the mugs]

Trends...

Trends...

The last 10 meetings have played under.
BOS is 2-10 ATS in their last 12 overall.
The over is 10-2 in BOS's last 12 overall.
TOR is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
The Leafs are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 at home.
The under is 7-3 in TOR games when total <=5.

 

[the mugs]

Bruins are shaking up the top two lines for tonights game.

#1 - McInnis w/ Lapointe & Knuble

#2 - Stumpel w/ Murray & Zaumner

#3 - Ralston w/ Axelsson & Grosek

#4 - Stock w/ Brown & Oliwa

Article to follow...

Updated lines per Thornton injury.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 1/7/03

Boston Herald 1/7/03

Murray likes line shakeup

WILMINGTON - Near the end of the Bruins' practice yesterday at Ristuccia Arena, right winger Glen Murray set up shop in familiar territory - 15-20 feet out from the net.

As pucks were passed out to him, Murray blasted away with the same one-timed blurs that helped him score three goals in the B's last two games and 21 this season.

It's like clockwork for Murray: If the pass is accurate and on time, there's a very good chance he's going to let go a shot the goalie might not even see, let alone stop.

The difference this time: The passes were coming from Jozef Stumpel, not Joe Thornton.

Thus was the big change of the day for the struggling B's, a line shakeup that Robbie Ftorek hopes will help his team get back on track tonight against the Maple Leafs.

Murray dropped down from the top line to Stumpel's No. 2 trio, along with Rob Zamuner. Martin Lapointe, whose hard work has produced almost nothing, will get a shot playing with Thornton and Mike Knuble. The B's are hoping that line, which has 16 of the team's last 32 goals, continues to carry the offense, and that the rest of the threesomes chip in more.

``I guess they want to split us up a bit,'' said Murray. ``Stumpy's a hell of a player, too. It's good for Marty to go play with Joe, mix things up a little and maybe balance things out a little bit. I think it's going to be good, give our team a little jump.''

With rookie left winger Ivan Huml shipped out to Providence (AHL), the remaining two lines have Brian Rolston centering P.J. Axelsson and Michal Grosek, and P.J. Stock working between Sean Brown and Marty McInnis.

``It's just change a few things around, just to see,'' Ftorek said. ``We're thin numbers-wise. We can get two experienced guys on each line and it stabilizes things.''

Ftorek denies the move is aimed primarily at helping Lapointe escape his scoring slump. The veteran winger has just one goal (in the second game of the season) in 21 games.

``There's no question that he's pressing because he wants to do better than he believes he's doing,'' Ftorek said. ``But Marty's played really, really well since he came back (from injury), I believe. He's going to the net, he's driving, he's bumping guys, he's had a couple of scraps.

``He's getting some chances. They'll come for him. That's where he gets his goals - right in front - and that's where he's spending his time. So he's going to get some goals.''

The Bruins also figure Murray will find the net whether he's with Thornton or Stumpel, with whom he played most of last season. With just one goal and three assists in his last 14 games, Stumpel also needs a pick-me-up.

``So hopefully Stump's and Muzzy's magic that they had last year can come back,'' said Ftorek.

Considering the team's 2-9-1 record in their last 12 games, the B's players involved are happy to try something new.

``Obviously we're not going to have Sammy (Sergei Samsonov),'' Murray said. ``That makes things a little different. So why not try things?''

 

[ND2002HORNS]

Good stuff as always!

You got mail.

HORNS

 

[MagiTek]

Joe Thornton

Joe Thornton

According to a Sportsnet Report:

Bruins? captain Joe Thornton will miss tonight?s game in Toronto with an infected elbow. Thornton returned to Boston on Tuesday afternoon where he will be examined by team doctors. Marty McInnis will take Thornton?s place between Mike Knuble and Martin Lapointe and newly-acquired left wing Krzysztof Oliwa will take McInnis? spot on the fourth line with P.J. Stock and Sean Brown."

 

[the mugs]

I haven't able to confirm or deny whether Joe is playing tonight.

B's Recent Transactions from their website is as follows:

Jan. 6: Shaone Morrisonn returned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 6: Ivan Huml assigned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 6: Krzysztof Oliwa acquired from NY Rangers for 2004 ninth round draft pick.

 

[the mugs]

Covers is now reporting no Joe Thornton tonight also.

 

[the mugs]

Bump - Changed the Bruins lines for tonight.