Tuesday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

It's been awhile. Had to deal with being unemployed for a short time. That sucks for any of you lucky ones who have never had the pleasure of putting your tail between your legs and asking for a handout.

Hey Chenks...From "So far, so good, so what" Megadeth's "In my darkest hour" was what I was hearing.

Enough of the BS - back to NHL hockey and go B's!

Aves have two games left on the road trip they are on. Tonight at the Fleet and Thursday at Detroit. Then they go home to face the Wings for the back end of a home and home...Maybe they look past the B's?

BOSTON BRUINS vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE
Tuesday, February 4, 2003
FleetCenter; Boston MA
7:00 PM (ET) - Gametime
6:30 PM (ET) - Boston Globe Pre-Game Report
NESN

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins host the Avalanche tonight in the second of two games between these clubs this season and the Avalanche's only visit of the season to the FleetCenter. The Bruins are 26-19-5-1 overall and are 16-8-3-0 on home ice thus far this season. The Avalanche are 20-14-11-5 overall with a 12-5-4-3 record on the road thus far this season. The Bruins are 5-1-1-0 vs. Northwest Division opponents this season and they are 8-4-1-1 overall vs. Western Conference foes. The Avalanche are 2-2-0-0 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 4-3-1-1 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 66-45-15-0 lifetime vs. the Avalanche with a 505-422 scoring advantage in those 126 games. On home ice, the Bruins are 31-21-9-0 lifetime vs. Colorado with a 238-189 scoring edge in those 61 contests. The Bruins snapped an 0-5-1-0 streak vs. the Avalanche with a 2-1 victory in Colorado on Oct. 14 in the first game of this season's series as Sergei Samsonov scored the game-winning goal with .5 seconds remaining in the third period.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins had their five-game unbeaten streak stopped at 4-0-1-0 with a 3-1 loss to Chicago on Jan. 30. That followed a 7-2 win over Columbus on Jan. 18, a 3-3 tie with Washington on Jan. 20, a 4-1 victory in Pittsburgh on Jan. 23, a 1-0 overtime win over Philadelphia on Jan. 25 and a 2-1 victory vs. Nashville on Jan. 28. They are 5-4-1-0 in their last ten games, are 5-9-1-0 in their last 15 games and are 7-10-2-0 in their last 19 contests.

Recent Avalanche Games
The Avalanche are unbeaten in their last five games at 3-0-2-0 and are 2-0-1-0 thus far on their current five-game road trip with a 1-1 tie vs. Dallas on Jan. 20, a 5-0 win over Columbus on Jan. 23, a 3-0 victory in Toronto on Jan. 25, a 2-2 tie in Columbus on Jan. 28 and a 4-3 overtime victory at NY Rangers on Jan. 30. They are 4-4-2-0 in their last ten games and are 12-9-5-1 in their last 27 contests.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins play game four of their current six-game home stand tonight, continuing with Montreal on Feb. 6 (7:00 p.m.; NESN), and Pittsburgh on Feb. 8 (3:00 p.m.; ABC). All of the games will also be broadcast on WBZ Radio.

Upcoming Avalanche Games
The Avalanche play game four of their current five-game road trip tonight, concluding in Detroit on Feb. 6. They will return home to host Detroit on Feb. 8, Calgary on Feb. 9 and New Jersey on Feb. 11.

Bruins Injuries
Richard Brennan: Ankle bruise suffered Jan. 28 vs. Nashville; day-to-day.
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.
Rob Zamuner: Broken right foot suffered Jan. 7 in Toronto; out indefinitely.

Bruins January Transactions - (a very busy month)
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.
Jan. 9: Andy Hilbert recalled from Providence/AHL.
Jan. 13: John Grahame traded to Tampa Bay for 2004 fourth round draft pick.
Jan. 13: Andrew Raycroft recalled from Providence/AHL.
Jan. 14: Martin Samuelsson and Rich Brennan recalled from Providence/AHL.
Jan. 17: Jay Henderson traded to NY Rangers for Boston's 2004 ninth round draft pick (traded to New York in Krzysztof Oliwa deal on Jan. 6).
Jan. 18: Andy Hilbert returned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 19: Lee Goren recalled from Providence/AHL.
Jan. 20: Kris Vernarsky recalled from Providence/AHL.
Jan. 23: Jeff Hackett and Jeff Jillson acquired from San Jose for Kyle McLaren and 2004 fourth round draft pick.
Jan. 24: Andrew Raycroft returned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 24: Jeff Jillson assigned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 25: Lee Goren returned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 30: Kris Vernarsky and Martin Samuelsson returned to Providence/AHL.

 

[the mugs]

Injuries...

Injuries...

Colorado Injuries
Derek Morris D Eye Out indefinitely
Joe Sakic C Foot Mid Feb
Vaclav Nedorost LW Hand Early Feb
Scott Parker RW Foot Out indefinitely
Brad Larsen LW Groin Out indefinitely

From the Boston Herald (see below)
Avalanche center Dan Hinote will miss tonight's game after suffering a leg injury and a concussion in a car accident in the Boston area over the weekend. Hinote flew back to Denver, but his injuries were not considered to be serious.

Boston Injuries
Rich Brennan D Ankle day-to-day
P.J. Axelsson LW Back day-to-day
Martin Lapointe RW Groin Early Feb
Rob Zamuner LW Foot Out indefinitely
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Mid March

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
10/14/2002 Colo. 1 Bos. 2 -0.5,-170/5 Bos./U (02-03)

2/11/2002 Colo. 5 Bos. 2 0,-170/5 Colo./O (01-02)

3/24/2001 Bos. 2 Colo. 4 0,130/5.5 Colo./O (00-01)
2/21/2001 Colo. 8 Bos. 2 0,-250/5.5 Colo./O

10/13/1999 Colo. 2 Bos. 1 0,-155/5 Colo./U (99-00)
10/11/1999 Bos. 3 Colo. 3 0,-125/5 P/O

2/2/1999 Bos. 2 Colo. 3 0.5,-120/5 Colo./P (98-99)
10/14/1998 Colo. 0 Bos. 3 -0.5,-130/5.5 Bos./U

3/30/1998 Bos. 4 Colo. 1 N,N/N -/- (97-98)
10/7/1997 Colo. 3 Bos. 2 -1.5,-120/6 Bos./U

 

[the mugs]

Trends

Trends

Recent Trends
COL is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
The under is 4-1 in Col last five overall.
COL is 0-6 ATS on three or more days of rest.
BOS is 1-5 ATS on three or more days of rest.
BOS is 7-2 ATS at home after a loss.
BOS is fifth on offense with 2.96 goals/game.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 2/2/03

Boston Globe 2/2/03

Not too much in the papers with the AS break...

Thornton is paying the price of stardom

SUNRISE, Fla. - One downside for a player who develops into one of the top talents in the NHL is that he can't hide. Between the Internet, TV, and newspapers, there is little opponents don't know about his capabilities on the ice.

They get to know his strengths and weaknesses, hoping to nullify the former and exploit the latter. And yes, sometimes they cheat. They push the borders of the rules and occasionally cross them - maybe even more than occasionally.

That's what Bruins center Joe Thornton is finding out, more this year than any other in his young career. The 23-year-old center came to his second NHL All-Star Game, which will be played this afternoon at the Office Depot Center, saying he was looking forward to getting some rest. He joked that he was also grateful for the break from all the hooking, holding, and grabbing he's been subjected to this season.

In the Bruins' last game, against the Chicago Blackhawks at the FleetCenter Thursday night, Thornton's frustration with the officiating got the better of him, and for swearing at referee Stephane Auger, he earned a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct and a 10-minute misconduct. He had to watch from the penalty box as his team went from being down one goal to falling behind by two.

Other players who have endured the same treatment Thornton is receiving had one message for him: Get used to it and then get over it.

''He is going to get targeted,'' said Colorado forward Peter Forsberg. ''He's a great player. He's a physical, big guy, too, and people are going to have a hard time getting a hold of him. I think they're going to have to use a few illegal things to get a hold of him sometimes.

''It's just a learning experience. You have to go through it. Of course, when you're young and people are holding and grabbing you, you're going to snap a little bit. But that's just the way it is. It's a learning experience but the older you get, the more you know how to handle it.''

Thornton is not the only star player frustrated by the officiating. Several high-profile players have spoken out about what they believe is tremendous inconsistency in what referees think of as a penalty. Apparently, they are not alone.

NHL dean of discipline Colin Campbell, who has had a few conversations with Thornton and many other players about on-ice conduct, said yesterday that the officiating isn't as consistent as they would all like it to be.

''Some nights you'd love to reach inside the TV screen,'' he said, ''and strangle some of the people who work for you.''

Forsberg said the hard part is trying to figure out what is going to be called.

''Of course you get frustrated if you don't get a call, but my experience is, during the regular season you can snap a little more than you can in the playoffs,'' he said. ''The playoffs, you have to keep level. You have to stay calm and think about the game.

''But some of those regular-season games, when they're holding you and clutching you too much, you might lose your composure a little bit. But that's just the way it is. I think he's going to learn. He's been playing really well this year so I don't think he's going to have a problem.''

Forsberg said that sometimes if a player is trying to fight through a check rather than hit the ice and hope for a call, it can actually work against him. He said that has probably happened to Thornton.

''He's not a diver at all,'' he said. ''He plays hard. He's a big, strong guy and people are going to do some illegal things to stop him most of the time. He's just going to have to learn and deal with it.''

Former Bruin Bill Guerin, whose setup man last season was Thornton, also knows what it's like to be mugged by foes without penalties being assessed. He said it just goes with the territory. He also believes Thornton will survive it just fine.

''Joe's going to have to go through a lot of things the next couple of years,'' said Guerin. ''I think that's going to be one of the adjustments you make when you become the best player in the league. When teams key on one guy like that, it's tough on him. He's the key to the team. He really makes things go but he knows what to do.''

Being a target because you're the best is a far cry from Thornton's rookie season when he was used sparingly by coach Pat Burns in an effort to ease the No. 1 overall draft pick (1997) slowly into the NHL. No one was sure what he could accomplish then.

He's gone from being a player with potentially great talent to one who realizes how good he is. It's a compliment that opponents are going to great lengths to neutralize him.

Thornton and those around him believe he'll figure it all out. For a couple of days, he said, he is just happy to be comparing notes with the likes of Tampa Bay center Vincent Lecavalier, a fellow No. 1 overall draft pick (1998), and Atlanta's Dany Heatley, last year's Calder Trophy winner as rookie of the year.

''It's nice to see some of my younger friends here,'' said Thornton. ''I was talking to Dany Heatley and Vincent Lecavalier and it's nice to see those guys here with me. We're just having fun all together. We kind of went through the same things. We're getting a big kick out of it.''

Which is a whole lot better than a slash to the back of the knees.

 

[the mugs]

Globe 2/4/03

Globe 2/4/03

Like I said...

Oliwa easing in nicely

Scrappy Bruin has mentor in Ftorek

They are back together, Robbie Ftorek and Krzysztof Oliwa. When Oliwa was acquired by the Bruins from the New York Rangers Jan. 6 for a ninth-round draft pick, he was reunited with his first professional coach in the United States.

Ftorek was coaching the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League, a New Jersey Devils affiliate, when Oliwa joined the team in 1993. Ftorek coached the young Polish winger for three years in Albany.

''He taught me my first steps,'' said Oliwa. ''He taught me how to be a player and how to play the game at that level, and because of him, that's why I'm here.''

Oliwa, a 6-foot-5-inch, 243-pounder, spent seven seasons in the Devils organization, then had stops in Columbus and Pittsburgh before joining the Rangers. Moving from team to team comes with the territory, he said.

''It's a business, so eventually they're going to tell you that your time's up,'' said Oliwa. ''I figured that this might be a good time for me to seek employment somewhere else instead.''

Oliwa skates on Boston's fourth line with P.J. Stock and Sean Brown. In 12 games with the Bruins, Oliwa hasn't recorded a point yet, but he wasn't acquired for his scoring touch.

''He's been doing fine,'' said Ftorek. ''He's working hard. There are a lot of things he has to work on, and he's a self-made player. He knows what's expected of him. He's a physical presence. He's a big man, that's part of his game.''

''If it weren't for him, I'd probably not even be playing in this league,'' said Oliwa, who has 18 penalty minutes as a Bruin. ''I remember in the minors how he told me that it was always important that I go out and be Krzysztof Oliwa, that you had to go out and be yourself first. ''Coach pushed me real hard. There were days when he was unbelievably tough on me. He's the same way with the athletes making it to the Bruins right now.

''There's no question that Ftorek understands the game, he knows the game. Everything's hockey with him all the time -- he simply loves the sport. I've known that since I was 20 years old, when I first came to this country to play for him. He just wants you to be physically and mentally stronger.''

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 2/4/03

Boston Herald 2/4/03

Brennan not ready to toe the line

Defenseman Rich Brennan, who took a shot off his right foot against Nashville Jan. 28, tried to give it a go in practice yesterday. After the foot didn't feel right, Brennan quickly got off the ice and headed to the doctors for an MRI.

Brennan said the foot was still sore when he took the ice, but he wanted to see how much progress he made.

``I was going to take a slap shot and I loaded up on my right leg,'' Brennan said. ``My ankle opened up a little bit and it got my attention quite a bit, so I'm going to get an MRI and hopefully I'll get good news.''

Previous X-rays taken when the injury occurred were negative.

Coach Robbie Ftorek, always careful with injured players, wanted to impress upon Brennan not to push himself too much, especially considering that the blueliner spent most of this season in Providence (AHL) and he may feel a little more pressure to get back in the lineup.

``I spoke to him specifically because of that and I would any player,'' Ftorek said. ``I had a similar conversation with (Martin Lapointe). But it's good that Richie realizes he's not where it should be.''

=====

Duo on way back

The Bruins should get two regulars back as P.J. Axelsson and Lapointe are expected to return from their stint on the shelf. Lapointe missed the last five games with a pulled groin and Axelsson the last four with a back bruise.

``I noticed Axie jumping and that was a good thing,'' Ftorek said.

Ftorek wanted to wait and see on Lapointe. The player declared himself ``ready to go.''

Lapointe was happy to show up for practice at the FleetCenter and find the familiar red jersey in his stall as he took his usual place on a line with Brian Rolston and Axelsson. He likes the fact that Ftorek has been trying different line combinations.

``I think that's a good thing that he's changing the lines around,'' Lapointe said. ``When it comes to playoff time, with injuries and everything, players won't feel awkward if they have to play with a Jozef Stumpel and whoever.''

=====

No time to lose

With 31 games left, starting with tonight's clash against Colorado, the B's are on their stretch run for the playoffs.

``I think what's going to happen now is that teams are going to start watching scoreboards and where they are in the standings, but we just have to go out and play,'' Ftorek said. . . .

=====

Avalanche center Dan Hinote will miss tonight's game after suffering a leg injury and a concussion in a car accident in the Boston area over the weekend. Hinote flew back to Denver, but his injuries were not considered to be serious.

 

[the mugs]

Herald 2/3/03

Herald 2/3/03

B's not half bad as break sets in: Thornton tops midterm look

Joe Thornton did the talking Thursday night when his untimely epithets toward referee Stephane Auger put him in the penalty box for 12 minutes in the third period of the Bruins' 3-1 loss to Chicago. Now he'll do some listening.

``Joe and I talk all the time. I have a couple of things I think I should share with him about how to handle situations like that,'' Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell said yesterday of Thornton's outbursts when he felt he was clutched and grabbed and nothing was called.

``It comes with maturity. I'm sure (Steve) Yzerman went through the same thing and (Mario) Lemieux and all the great players. It's just part of it. He understands a little better now after last night, I'm sure,'' he added.

Thornton, somewhat frustrated after Thursday's loss, also seemed contrite. He's in Florida now for NHL All-Star weekend where it's doubtful he'll garner the indignities he did Thursday.

He said he and linemate Glen Murray talked simply about enjoying the moment in Florida.

``I'm going to have fun. Glen and I have been talking about it all week. We're going to have fun down there. There's no pressure on us so we're just going to go down there and have a good time. Maybe I'll talk to the referees down there too,'' Thornton joked.

``I heard it's warm down there so I'll just relax my body . . . and get to meet some new guys.''

=====

Brass ponders move

O'Connell, meanwhile, stayed in Boston. If a team is willing to pick up the phone and call with a deal, he'll listen, but when he dealt his trump card, Kyle McLaren, for goalie Jeff Hackett last week, the urgency of a trade seemed to wane.

So what's the next move?

``I guess it's a matter of what's available,'' O'Connell said. ``You know it's hard to say because we've got four regulars out. Though it looks like right now that we could use a little strength out front, we do have (Martin) Lapointe, (Rob) Zamuner, (P.J.) Axelsson and (Sergei) Samsonov out (all forwards).

``You throw that in with what we have, it's strong enough. It's tough to tell. Our defense, I think, has played very well with the structural changes that Robbie (Ftorek) has made. We're very sound defensively. I just have to wait and see what opportunity presents itself.''

Hackett has played just three games as a Bruin, but he's won two and allowed just four goals.

``I feel comfortable with him and I think the players will. He said he was going to be a little rusty. (Thursday night) was probably a little bit of the rust showing. He just makes it look easy in there,'' O'Connell said.

=====

New goalie likes Hub

Hackett, 34, apparently wants to make Boston his last stop after a tour of the NHL which includes stints with the New York Islanders, Chicago, Montreal, San Jose and now the Bruins. He seemed delighted the All-Star break affords him a chance to go home and tell his kids what happens next.

``I'm going to go home to see my family, see the kids. It's going to be nice. I haven't seen the kids since Christmas, so it's going to be nice to go home to see them and explain to them the situation a bit,'' Hackett said.

``(I'll tell them) that we won't be going back to Montreal, that you're going to be visiting a new city. I'll bring back some shirts for them and tell them to change alliances.''

As far as what he sees ahead for his new team after the break, Hackett is optimistic.

``I'm very excited. It's going to be an exciting second half because this is a unique opportunity for myself. I think we have a great opportunity here. Like I've been saying, if we get some bodies back and keep playing hard like we are . . . we deserved a better fate (Thursday),'' he said.

Thornton felt defensive play is the key to the second half.

``We just need to play good defense,'' he said. ``We've had good success. We've played those 2-1, 3-1 games. Just keep on doing that, (stay) positive, get some of the injured guys back. We'll be fine.''

=====

Patience is a virtue

Teammate Brian Rolston agreed with Thornton on the basic defensive concept.

``When we started winning (the B's are 4-1-1 in their past six games) we were a lot more patient in the defensive zone. We're not running at guys. We're playing our position a lot better. When things aren't going good you try to do a little too much and that's when things really go bad,'' Rolston said.

``You don't have confidence for whatever reason. How can you put your finger on that? But I think we started running around in the defensive zone and our penalty killing wasn't good - we were running around in the defensive zone on the penalty kill.'' Rolston said the confidence is back and things should only get better when the injured forwards return. He also noted the positive contributions made by callups Martin Samuelsson, Kris Vernarsky and Rich Brennan.

``I think we all feel that we have a great team in here. Our goaltending is great. We're excited for the second half,'' Rolston said. ``If we continue with (what we're doing) we're going to be in good shape. I really believe it and I think everybody in here believes it.''

 

[ND2002HORNS]

Hang in there mugs! Really hope you find work soon. All the best!

HORNS

 

[Chenker]

Mugs, hang in there- good to see you back- things will get better

 

[the mugs]

DENVER -- Colorado Avalanche forward Dan Hinote was expected to miss at least two games because of head and leg injuries that he sustained in a car accident.

Hinote was riding in a car driven by someone else when the accident occurred Sunday in Boston. He was treated at a local hospital and flew back to Denver on Monday, the Avalanche said.

Boston police said they had no details of the accident involving Hinote.

"He'll be OK. We just wanted our team doctors to look at him, to make sure,'' Avalanche spokesman Jean Martineau said.

The 26-year-old wasn't expected to be in the lineup Tuesday against the Boston Bruins or for Thursday's game in Detroit.

Rookie Brian Willsie was recalled from Hershey of the American Hockey League to take Hinote's roster spot.