Tuesday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

Game 1 of a seven game/14 day roadie...As far as travel goes, they don't leave the east coast time zone. B's don't see the Fleet until 2/25....Revenge game for the Canadiens as the B's won last week at the Fleet 6-3

BOSTON BRUINS at MONTREAL CANADIENS
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
Bell Centre; Montreal QBC
7:30 PM (ET) - Gametime
7:00 PM (ET) - Boston Globe Pre-Game Report

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins visit the Canadiens tonight in the fifth and final game between these clubs this season and the second of two games of this season's series at the Bell Centre. The Bruins are 27-20-5-2 overall and are 10-11-2-1 on the road thus far this season. The Canadiens are 22-23-7-5 overall with a 12-9-4-2 record on home ice thus far this season. The Bruins are 7-7-1-0 vs. Northeast Division opponents this season and they are 19-16-4-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Canadiens are 6-6-1-2 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 17-18-5-3 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 250-310-102-0 lifetime vs. the Canadiens with Montreal holding a 2014-1771 scoring advantage in those 662 games. On the road, the Bruins are 96-188-46-0 lifetime vs. Montreal with the Canadiens holding a 1116-785 scoring edge in those 330 contests. The Bruins are 2-2-0-0 vs. Montreal in this season's series thus far with a 4-2 win in Boston on Nov. 29, a 4-2 loss in Boston on Dec. 10, a 4-2 setback in Montreal on Dec. 14 and a 6-3 victory in Boston on Feb. 6.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have taken points out of seven of their last nine games at 5-2-1-1 with 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, a 2-1 victory vs. Nashville on Jan. 28, a 3-1 loss to Chicago on Jan. 30, a 3-2 overtime loss to Colorado on Feb. 4, a 6-3 win over Montreal on Feb. 6 and a 5-2 setback to Pittsburgh on Feb. 8. They are 6-5-1-1 in their last 13 games.

Recent Canadiens Games
The Canadiens snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-0 win at Washington on Feb. 9. That followed a 3-1 loss at NY Islanders on Jan. 30, a 4-3 setback to Atlanta on Feb. 4, a 6-3 loss in Boston on Feb. 6 and a 3-1 loss in Toronto on Feb. 8. They are 6-7-2-1 in their last 15 games and are 6-11-3-3 in their last 22 contests.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins open a seven-game road trip tonight, continuing the trip in Florida (Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.), Tampa Bay (Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.), Nashville (Feb. 17, 8:00 p.m.), Carolina (Feb. 19, 7:00 p.m.), New Jersey (Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m.) and NY Islanders (Feb. 23, 1:00 p.m.). All of the road games will be telecast on NESN with all games also broadcast on WBZ Radio.

Upcoming Canadiens Games
The Canadiens open a four-game home stand tonight, continuing the stand hosting Columbus on Feb. 13, Edmonton on Feb. 15 and Florida on Feb. 18.

Bruins Injuries
Richard Brennan: Right ankle bruise suffered Jan. 28 vs. Nashville; out indefinitely.
Sean O'Donnell: Right knee sprain suffered Feb. 4 vs. Colorado; out indefinitely.
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.
Rob Zamuner: Right foot fracture suffered Jan. 7 in Toronto; out indefinitely.

Bruins February Transactions
Feb. 5: Kris Vernarsky and Shaone Morrisonn recalled from Providence/AHL.
Feb. 10: Shaone Morrisonn returned to Providence/AHL.
Feb. 10: Zdenek Kutlak recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

[the mugs]

bostonbruins.com

bostonbruins.com

UPDATED: February 10, 2003

The Bruins held practice at the FleetCenter this morning in preparation for Tuesday night?s tilt with the Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins beat the Canadiens 6-3 last Thursday.

=====

Hackett's mask arrives

Jeff Hackett's new mask arrived today. BostonBruins.com has your first look. The mask is pretty much the same design as the one he wore with the Canadiens with new colors and some changes to the back.

The children on the mask are represent Hackett's two sons.

=====

Timing is everything

The Bruins spent a majority of the practice working on their break-ins.

The major focus was getting each of the lines to arrive at the opponent?s blue line at the most opportune time.

?Certain guys have to slow down and certain guys have to speed up,? said Ftorek. ?It?s all a timing thing, and you just need to make sure you are approaching the line at the right time and the right speed.?

Ftorek is hopeful that the team will come out with the same intensity that they did during Thursday night?s win over Montreal, rather than the flat effort they gave on Saturday afternoon.

?We need to make sure we go up there and play with intensity like we did down here,? said Ftorek. ?There will be excitement in the building and it?s always a great rivalry, so it should be a really good game.?

=====

Thornton in Canada

Joe Thornton traveled to Montreal ahead of the team in order to take care of his visa.

?Yeah, he?s in Montreal doing his visa work,? said Ftorek of the Bruins? captain who did not practice.

=====

Kutlak up, Morrisonn down

Shaone Morrisonn was reassigned to Providence after today?s practice, making room for the first NHL appearance of Zdenek Kutlak on the year. Kutlak did not play in the NHL last season, but played 10 games in 2000-2001.

?Mo?s going to go down and we?re going to bring Kutlak up,? said Ftorek of the latest change to a defensive corps that is missing Sean O?Donnell and Rich Brennan due to injury. ?We?re giving Brownie [Sean Brown] a chance to get back in on the defensive end and he?s been working really hard to get his stickwork and his skating up to speed. It gave us an opportunity to give Mo a couple of games and now Kutlak a couple of games.?

Kutlak had three goals and 10 assists for 13 points with 38 penalty minutes in 49 Providence games.

=====

Lucky seven

Ftorek said that regardless of the length of the road trip, the team needs to focus on one game at a time.

?Road trips can be very good for you,? said Ftorek. ?The bottom line is you have to play 41 games on the road. It just happens that we have to play seven of them in a row.?

=====

Latest lines

The lines during today's practice were as follows:

White: [Joe Thornton], Glen Murray, Mike Knuble
Gold: Jozef Stumpel, Marty McInnis, Kris Vernarsky
Red: Brian Rolston, Martin Lapointe, P.J. Axelsson
Teal: P.J. Stock, Michal Grosek, Krzysztof Oliwa

 

[the mugs]

Injuries

Injuries

Boston Injuries
Martin Lapointe RW Knee Prob Tue
Sean O'Donnell D Knee Mid Mar
Rich Brennan D Ankle Late Feb
Rob Zamuner LW Foot Out indefinitely
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Mid Mar

Montreal Injuries
Patrice Brisebois D Chest day-to-day
Yanic Perreault C Groin day-to-day
Gino Odjick LW Personal Out indefinitely
Sheldon Souray D Wrist Out indefinitely

 

[the mugs]

Trends

Trends

Recent Trends
BOS is 8-19 ATS in its last 27 games overall.
BOS is 1-5 ATS in its last six road games.
BOS is fifth in scoring offense at 2.98 gls/gm.
The over is 8-2 in the past 10 meetings.
MTL is 4-2 ATS in the past six meetings.
MTL is 1-4 ATS in its last five overall.

 

[the mugs]

Recent Games

Recent Games

Date Home Away Line ATS
2/6/2003 Bos. 6 Mtl. 3 -0.5,-130/5 Bos./O (02-03)
12/14/2002 Mtl. 4 Bos. 2 0.5,-130/5.5 Mtl./O
12/10/2002 Bos. 2 Mtl. 4 -0.5,-150/5.5 Mtl./O
11/29/2002 Bos. 4 Mtl. 2 -0.5,-160/5.5 Bos./O

4/29/2002 Mtl. 2 Bos. 1 0,110/5 Mtl./U (Playoffs)
4/27/2002 Bos. 1 Mtl. 2 0,-220/5 Mtl./U
4/25/2002 Mtl. 2 Bos. 5 0,120/5 Bos./O
4/23/2002 Mtl. 5 Bos. 3 0,110/5 Mtl./O
4/21/2002 Bos. 6 Mtl. 4 0,-250/5 Bos./O
4/18/2002 Bos. 2 Mtl. 5 0,-230/5 Mtl./O

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 2-11-03

Boston Globe 2-11-03

Lapointe hopes to play; Morrisonn is sent down

Bruins winger Martin Lapointe, who experienced swelling in his left knee and missed Sunday's practice, returned to the FleetCenter yesterday morning, skated with the team, and reported that the swelling had subsided and that he expected to lace 'em up tonight in Montreal.

''Everything's good,'' said Lapointe. ''This morning, it came back down. I'll be ready.''

The news wasn't as good for rookie defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, who was sent back to Providence, with defenseman Zdenek Kutlak getting the callup. Kutlak thus could celebrate his 23d birthday Thursday in Florida, where the Bruins will continue their seven-game, 14-day road trip with back-to-back games against the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. Kutlak played 10 games with Boston two seasons ago. He's a 6-foot-3-inch, 221-pound native of the Czech Republic.

With defensemen Rich Brennan (right ankle bruise) and Sean O'Donnell (right knee sprain) out of the lineup, Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek decided to give Kutlak a look-see while easing Sean Brown back to his more familiar role on defense, rather than up front.

''Brownie's been working really hard to get some of his timing and his stickwork and skating up to speed,'' said Ftorek. ''It's an opportunity to give people a feel and a chance for a couple of games until these guys come back.''

=====

Early arrival Bruins captain Joe Thornton was absent from yesterday's practice, but there is no cause for concern, according to the team's PR staff. They said Thornton left for Montreal Sunday night so he could work out some ''visa issues.'' Perhaps he should switch to MasterCard . . .

=====

One man eager to get the road trip rolling is Bruins defenseman Nick Boynton, who'd like to make it two wins in as many games against the Canadiens. Montreal took it on the chin, 6-3, at the FleetCenter last Thursday with Boynton's dipping blast from outside the blue line counting for one of the goals. ''It was a good game, but I still don't think we played as well as we could have,'' said Boynton. ''We got a couple of lucky goals. We're going to have to play a lot better in Montreal tomorrow night. I grew up in Toronto, so I hate the Montreal Canadiens to begin with. It's not about anyone in particular on their team, but for me, it's easy to get up for them.'' Boynton described the Bruins as ''a hot and cold team. We have to go into each game thinking we can win, rather than play a good 20 minutes here and a good 20 minutes there. It's the simple stuff that wins games, finishing our checks and passing crisply.''

 

[the mugs]

Globe 2-11

Globe 2-11

Goalie Hackett better equipped

Having faced ex-team recently should help

All that's left of Jeff Hackett's armor as a tangible reminder of his previous employer are the bleu, blanc, et rouge goalie pads. At yesterday's practice at the FleetCenter, Hackett was about 75 percent Bruin after donning his new face mask to go along with his team-colored blocker and catching glove.

Tonight in Montreal, Hackett will wear the Canadiens' colors on his old, more comfortable pads as an outward reminder of his Montreal years. Inside, however, he'll be a Bruin hoping to blunt Montreal's playoff chances.

It won't be easy for Hackett, who is 3-2 as a Bruin with a 2.40 goals against average, .906 save percentage, and one shutout (in his Boston debut against the Flyers).

''It's going to be difficult again,'' said Hackett, who outdueled Montreal's Jose Theodore last Thursday at the FleetCenter in his first start against Montreal since the three-way trade that brought him to Boston. ''But it was good to get that first game here against Montreal with maybe a few less distractions. I'm just going to go up there and play my best.''

Hackett said tonight's game will ''close a chapter on a part of my career'' and hopefully start a new and ''more exciting'' entry as a Bruin.

''Emotionally, it's been a whirlwind,'' he said. ''It's been crazy. I'm looking to settle down and play the type of hockey that I expect out of myself every game.''

Teammate Martin Lapointe said the Bruins, who are embarking on a two-week road trip, should help Hackett write both chapters.

''We have to go into Montreal and play with a lot of energy and a lot of emotion,'' said Lapointe. ''Every time we do that against a team like Toronto or Montreal, that's when we bring our best game and we'll need that tomorrow night. It's going to be a great game. We wanted to win for Jeff [last Thursday], and if we need to take that same approach again -- winning it for Jeff -- let's do that, whatever it takes to give us an emotional lift and the two points.''

Defenseman Don Sweeney says it's a critical juncture of the season for the Bruins, who are still striving for consistency after dispatching Montreal, then falling flat at home Saturday and losing to the Penguins, 5-2.

''I think it's more a novel than a one-line answer,'' said Sweeney of the roller-coaster ride. ''It's an ongoing thing. You have to give teams credit when they come in and play well, but you have to recognize when you make mistakes and look to correct them. Confidence is something that goes up and down and you need to try to nip things when you're not going well. It all starts in practice and in the approach you take at the rink every day.

''We have to use the positive energy we had last week against Montreal and try to channel that to getting the road trip off on the right foot.''

Hackett, who had old his face mask accidentally fall off last Saturday, joked yesterday that ''maybe I was so mad, I blew my top. It was weird.'' Hackett said he'll be playing before some familiar and friendly faces that ''I'll just try to ignore on game day. After that, I'm looking forward to moving on. I have a great deal of feeling and I care a lot about the guys with Montreal, but I no longer play for Montreal so I'm just looking to close a chapter on that and move forward with a new and really good bunch of guys here.''

Hackett is looking forward to the road swing.

''It's tough to hang out with players when you're at home because everyone has their own lives and their own families. There's not a lot of time for new guys to fit in,'' he said. ''Hopefully, we'll get on the road and everyone will get to know me better and I'll get to know them better and that will make things a lot easier.''

As would a couple of wins early on, said winger Mike Knuble.

''We've got to beat the teams that are close to us and start looking at the teams we can catch,'' he said. ''Starting off by beating Montreal would really help our cause.''

 

[the mugs]

Globe 2-11

Globe 2-11

Canadiens thumbnails

When, where: Tonight at 7:30 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

TV, radio: NESN, WBZ (1030).

Records: Montreal is 22-23-7-5, ninth in the Eastern Conference. Boston is 27-20-5-2, sixth in the Eastern Conference.

Goals: Richard Zednik 24, Yanic Perreault 20, Saku Koivu 16.

Assists: Koivu 37, Patrice Brisebois 21, Doug Gilmour 19.

Goaltending: Jose Theodore (14-20-5, 3.01), Mathieu Garon (1-0-0, 0.00).

Head to head: This is the fifth and final meeting. The teams have split the four. The Bruins won, 6-3, at the FleetCenter last Thursday.

Miscellany: Since trading goalie Jeff Hackett (to Boston via San Jose), the Canadiens have gone 3-4-1 ... Defenseman Brisebois spent Saturday night in a Toronto hospital with an irregular heartbeat. He'll be out indefinitely while undergoing more tests ... Koivu's 37 assists are tied for eighth in the league.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 2-11-03

Boston Herald 2-11-03

Hackett's a media mogul: Overcame bumps in Montreal road

Bruins goaltender Jeff Hackett appears well on his way to building a comfortable and respectful relationship with the local press corps.

A serious and analytical sort, Hackett has been available and accommodating since arriving from Montreal less than three weeks ago, providing thoughtful and honest answers to nearly every question. But for at least part of his five-year stay with the Canadiens, whom the Bruins face tonight at the Bell Centre in the opener of a key seven-game road trip, Hackett did not enjoy such a positive relationship with the Montreal media.

Indeed, one longtime Montreal reporter recalled that Hackett seemed at times an angry and unhappy fellow, one who may have had many blessings in his professional and private life but didn't seem to be having a whole lot of fun.

Two seasons ago, all of that suddenly changed. Hackett became a much easier guy to deal with as two profound events played key roles in the transformation: the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and Canadiens teammate Saku Koivu's cancer diagnosis.

``Sept. 11 was scary,'' said Hackett yesterday as the B's packed up for the flight to Montreal. ``I just remember watching it and thinking, `What is happning to this world?' It's still scary what's going on. It kind of puts hockey in perspective. And then there was what happened to Saku. It just made me wake up and say, `I've got to start enjoying things more,' because you never know when your time is going to come, when something bad is going to happen.

``With Saku, I was literally scared for his life. It made me wake up and say, `Geez, I'm a lucky guy. I've got a great wife. I've got two healthy young boys who look up to their father. So I've got to start holding up my end of the deal, too.' I realized that hockey is only a game. I don't mind people criticizing me if I don't play well, but I didn't want to give them any more opportunity to criticize me personally.''

Hackett then went about trying to change things.

``It's maturity,'' he said. ``When I first got to Montreal, it seemed like they built me up, built me up, built me up. And then the first time something went wrong, I thought it was a little unfair that they'd knock me so quickly. There were injuries and things I couldn't control.''

The low point in the Hackett-Montreal media relationship likely came when he commented that he thought young minor league goalie Mathieu Garon was the best prospect in the Canadiens organization. Somehow this was turned into a slight against Jose Theodore, the Habs' other goalie at the NHL level who would develop to the point where he won both the Hart and Vezina trophies last season.

``It was the only time I really got annoyed and they really hurt my feelings,'' said Hackett. ``I said to them, `Mathieu Garon is our best prospect.' I really believed that at the time. Great feet, great mobility, I just really liked the kid. So the next day in the paper, it said in French something about divorce between Hackett and Theodore. They never asked me one question about Jose. I didn't consider him a prospect at the time. He had been in the NHL for two years and we knew he was good.

``They used what I said just to try to create something. That was when I snapped. Because that was not what I said. I thought that was so unfair. But I learned then I wasn't going to win a battle with the press. No matter what I said, it would just be throwing more gasoline on the fire.''

Hackett's relationship with the Montreal media eventually warmed, and he has certainly made every effort to be accommodating to the Boston media.

``Yes, I made some mistakes with the media up there,'' Hackett said. ``You're never going to win a war with them over anything. . . . Looking back, I understand they had a job to do. They were trying to sell papers. Most of the time they were pretty fair. So I learned there just really wasn't much sense wasting energy on things you don't need to.

``I had to change. I realized that you can use the media to project how you want to be looked upon. I didn't want to be looked on as someone who was always defending himself.''

 

[the mugs]

Herald 2-11

Herald 2-11

Morrisonn down, Kutlak up for B's

The audition process along the Bruins blue line continues.

Leaving for Providence of the AHL: rookie Shaone Morrisonn, who has played in eight games in three NHL stints this season. Arriving from the AHL club: Zdenek Kutlak, who appeared in 10 games for the B's in 2000-01.

``It's an opportunity for (Morrisonn) to go down and play a couple of games, and for Kutlak to come up here and play a couple of games,'' said B's coach Robbie Ftorek after yesterday's practice at the FleetCenter. ``Give everyone a feel for it and give everyone a chance until these guys come back.''

``These guys'' are defensemen Sean O'Donnell (sprained knee) and Rich Brennan (deep ankle bruise). O'Donnell sounded quite optimistic yesterday about a return to the lineup in a minimum amount of time, which would mean four weeks from last Tuesday instead of a possible six.

``It's gotten way better in the last week,'' O'Donnell said. ``It's still too early to tell for sure, but I think it will be closer to four weeks than six.''

Winger Martin Lapointe, who had an MRI on a swollen and sore left knee Thursday, was much improved yesterday, convinced the problem was nothing significant.

``There's still a little swelling, but it's not as painful as it was,'' said Lapointe after going through the full practice.

=====

Colorful character

Goalie Jeff Hackett debuted his new Bruins-style Itech helmet and mask and will use the new gear tonight when he faces his former team in Montreal.

Hackett had already switched to black and gold for his catching glove and blocker, and continues the process of getting his new leg pads game-ready. As for his play so far, Hackett said he hasn't yet shown his best.

``I haven't dominated a game the way I know I'm capable of,'' he said. ``I've been good, but not great. Some goals, I'd like to have back. I'm looking forward to getting into a groove, getting relaxed. I don't feel fully comfortable yet. Emotionally, it's been a whirlwind, it's been crazy. I'm just looking to settling down and playing the type of hockey I expect of myself every game.

``The game (tonight) is going to be difficult. There will be a few more people that I know, a few more friendly faces to sort of try to ignore on game day. I'm looking forward to moving forward with this bunch of guys. I have a great deal of feeling and care for the guys who play for Montreal, but I no longer play for that team. . . . I think once we get this game over with, that'll close the chapter on a part of my career - and hopefully a lot of exciting things will start to happen here.''

=====

Habitual offender

Forward Mike Knuble offered a provocative comment about the rematch with the Habs, whom the B's beat, 6-3, last Thursday at the FleetCenter: ``It was a big win against them the other day. If we can sweep them, beat them again (tonight), that pretty much gets them out of our way.'' . . .

B's captain Joe Thornton missed practice, having ducked out of the team's charity auction early Sunday night to catch a flight to Montreal, where he had some visa issues to deal with.

 

[the mugs]

Herald 2-10-03

Herald 2-10-03

Lapointe continues to sore: Knee injury latest setback for B's winger

The second sign there was a problem with the Bruins yesterday came when defenseman Nick Boynton skated as a forward on a line with center Brian Rolston and winger P.J. Axelsson.

The first sign had come a few hours earlier, when the line's other regular winger, Martin Lapointe, woke up with a swollen and sore left knee.

It's a safe bet that Boynton, the Bruins' best all-round defenseman with Sean O'Donnell recovering from a sprained knee, will not be playing on the wing when the team opens a crucial seven-game trip tomorrow night in Montreal against the Canadiens.

Lapointe's status, however, isn't as clear. He was sent for an MRI, an exam that showed no serious damage. It's a good bet he'll try hard to convince coach Robbie Ftorek he belongs in the lineup against the Habs.

``I don't even remember when it happened,'' said Lapointe, who was apparently injured during Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the FleetCenter. ``During the game it didn't bother me. After the game, too, it didn't bother me. But when I woke up in the morning, it was swollen.

``I was ready to practice, but they told me to go get an MRI.''

If Lapointe can't play, the B's could switch Sean Brown back to the wing after he played on defense vs. Pittsburgh for the first time this season, or recall a player from Providence (AHL).

As for O'Donnell, who has been working hard off the ice riding the stationary bike and lifting weights, he hopes to make it back in a minimal amount of time. The best-case scenario for the blueliner's return to action likely would be about the first week of March.

=====

Ftorek talks good game

Ftorek conducted a long talk with his team on the ice at practice, a chat that was part X's and O's and part motivation.

``We've got to go up to Montreal and play well,'' said Ftorek. ``At this time of year everyone has to be at their best.

``Every game has to be hell-bent-for-leather; every game you have to be at your best and you have to play soundly. If we're doing that, we'll be able to get some wins.''

=====

Samsonov casts off

Sergei Samsonov is, in a sense, now halfway finished with the recovery process from late-December wrist surgery.

Tomorrow, the winger will have X-rays taken to check on the status of the bone graft used to reattach a chunk of broken bone, and his above-the-elbow cast will be replaced with a shorter version. In 4-6 weeks, the cast will come off completely and he can begin serious work on regaining lost strength and mobility.

The best-case scenario for Samsonov, and the B's, would be a return to action just before the end of the regular season. . . .

Rob Zamuner, who had the cast removed from his broken foot Saturday, will resume skating today. The versatile forward has already recovered most of the flexibility in the foot and ankle, and hopes to make a quick return.

``I put the skate on (yesterday) just to see how it felt, and it felt fine, so we'll see,'' he said. . . .

Defenseman Rich Brennan, who has a deep and wide bone bruise on his ankle, tried to skate but was in far too much discomfort to stay on the ice more than a few minutes.

``It's pretty painful,'' said Brennan. ``I can't put any weight on it. It's just not there yet.''

 

[Frogy]

Hello Mugs

I have to say that, to my surprise, the habs where impressive against Wash in last game. They played very well into the system and Garon came out strong on sunday.

In toronto saturday they played with out any energy.

Head coaches had numerous meeting in last days to make sure that players are putting in place the system.

Brisebois wont be in the line up tonight

I'll be back later.

 

[homerh]

great stuff
thanks for the posts

 

[ddubs]

Good luck today, mugsy

 

[Frogy]

Mugs as president of your fan club i would like to know what's your feeling about this one. I might go on the bruins

I dont think Montreal has won two straight game against above 500 team and Garon is nothing but consistant himself.

The bruins will play for Hackett after last week outing and he showed in Montreal he can handle the pressure....GARON

Brisebois will be out again tonight

How do you feel about the Bruins.

 

[the mugs]

Frogy...Prez of MY fan club? You really like me?!?!? LOL!

I think that Hackett can handle the pressure of going back to the Bell Center. He's gonna be breaking in a new mask - I've never stopped pucks so will breaking in a new mask be a problem like his pads? If that's not an issue I think the B's have an advantage there with Hackett's desire to prove them wrong in their building.

The B's defense has major difficulties with those little speedy
Canadien forwards. Loosing O'Donnell and replacing him with the combo of Morrisonn (back in AHL) and Kutlak now coming up from AHL will give Hackett someone else to get used to. As is putting Sean Brown back there. He's been a 4th line winger this year. Throw in the fact that lately you never know if Don Sweeney will be in the line up - when he is, you don't know what you're gonna get. You know what you're gonna get with Boynton, Berard & Girard. Those 3 are pretty solid at both ends. Overall, I'd give the "bad guys" the advantage.

The B's forwards when healthy can roll the top three lines with almost anyone and then throw in the 4th line to crash the corners. I didn't see Sundays win vs. Washington but I would expect the Canadiens to tighten up defensively again for the rookie in net.

Tough to pick a side on this one. Probably a slight lean to the B's but nothing significant.

Lastly - from Cyras thread - the home team has won 9 of the last 11.

Going back to last weeks game, 8 of the last 10 had gone over the total of 5 (I think 3 or 4 of those were 5.5 like tonight) with the only 2 unders being games 5 & 6 last spring. As we all know the really bad guys won them both 2-1.

I like the over tonight. I could see the rookie not having as good a game as Sunday, no Briesbois and Hackett could be a little more nervous than usual since the trade is still fresh.

So for me tonight - pass on the side and lean to +5.5 (-115)

Oh yeah, one other thing...Bankrupt airlines don't give free flights anymore ... There's still a benefit but it's not a great as it once was.

Good luck all and GO B's!

Mugs

 

[Frogy]

TX for the reply.

I like you yes.....but i charge 100$ to be a member of your club

You stop me from adding up on bo$$$$ton in this on.(all comments but also lastly - from Cyras thread - the home team has won 9 of the last 11. )

Bankrup airline

GOOD GAME and may the bruins win this one big

 

[the mugs]

Good luck bud. May the Canadiens skate in cement tonight

 

[Frogy]

WOW........Garon has been stopping everything.

Desapointed but i'M Impress. Dont know how long it will continu but under in the next games is a good option, considering montreal offense latelly.

Garon:thefinger