Tuesday's Buins...

[the mugs]

No Hackett - he didn't travel with the team at all. I'm assuming Shields in net tonight with Raycroft as the back up. It wouldn't surprise me to see Raycroft in a game either Friday night in SJ or Saturday night at the LA Kings...

BOSTON BRUINS at PHOENIX COYOTES

Tuesday, March 18, 2003
America West Arena; Phoenix AZ
9:00 PM (ET) - Gametime

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins host the Coyotes tonight in the only game between these clubs this season and the Bruins' lone visit of the season to America West Arena. The Bruins are 33-27-8-4 overall and are 12-17-4-2 on the road thus far this season. The Coyotes are 28-30-9-4 overall with a 14-15-5-1 record on home ice thus far this season. The Bruins are 1-1-1-0 vs. Pacific Division opponents this season and they are 8-7-2-2 overall vs. Western Conference foes. The Coyotes are 1-4-0-0 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 9-9-1-1 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 38-16-6-0 lifetime vs. the Coyotes franchise (includes Winnipeg) with a 234-188 scoring advantage in those 58 games. On the road, the Bruins are 14-12-3-0 lifetime vs. the Phoenix franchise with a 102-99 scoring edge in those 29 contests. The Bruins are unbeaten in their last four games vs. the Coyotes at 3-0-1-0 with their last loss to the Coyotes a 2-1 setback in Phoenix on Oct. 16, 1999. The Bruins are winless in their last three games in Phoenix at 0-2-1-0 with their last road victory over the Coyotes a 3-2 win on Oct. 8, 1997.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have won their last two games and have taken points out of six of their last seven games at 5-1-0-1 with a 4-2 win in Carolina on Mar. 4, a 4-1 victory over NY Islanders on Mar. 6, a 5-4 overtime win over Washington on Mar. 8, an 8-5 loss in Chicago on Mar. 9, a 4-3 overtime loss in Ottawa on Mar. 11, a 4-3 win over New Jersey on Mar. 13 and a 4-1 victory over Florida on Mar. 15. They have taken points out of nine of their last 12 games at 5-3-2-2 and they are 11-9-4-3 in their last 27 contests.

Recent Coyotes Games
The Coyotes snapped a three-game winless streak at 0-2-1-0 with a 4-2 win over Anaheim on Mar. 15. That followed a 2-2 tie in Colorado on Mar. 10, a 3-2 loss to Detroit on Mar. 12 and a 4-0 loss to Chicago on Mar. 14. They are 5-5-2-0 in their last 12 contests.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins continue their three-game road trip in San Jose on Mar. 21 (10:30 p.m. ET) and in Los Angeles on Mar. 22 (10:30 p.m. ET). They will return home to host Toronto on Mar. 24 (7:00 p.m.).

Upcoming Coyotes Games
The Coyotes will conclude their current six-game home stand hosting Edmonton on Mar. 20 and Tampa Bay on Mar. 22.

Bruins Injuries
Richard Brennan: Right ankle bruise and fractured foot suffered Jan. 28 vs. Nashville; day-to-day.
Jeff Hackett: Finger injury suffered Mar. 15 vs. Florida; day-to-day.
Dan McGillis: Day-to-day after taking an elbow to the head Mar. 8 vs. Phoenix while with San Jose.
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.
Rob Zamuner: Groin strain suffered Mar. 9 in Chicago; day-to-day.

Bruins March Transactions
Mar. 11: Ian Moran acquired from Pittsburgh for 2003 fourth round draft pick.
Mar. 11: Dan McGillis acquired from San Jose for 2003 second round draft pick.
Mar. 16: Andrew Raycroft recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

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Injuries

Injuries

Boston Injuries
Jeff Hackett G Finger Out Tue
Rob Zamuner LW Groin day-to-day
Richard Brennan D Ankle Out Tue
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Late Mar

Phoenix Injuries
Paul Mara D Shoulder Out indefinitely
Landon Wilson F Eye Out indefinitely
Krystofer Kolanos C Concussion Out indefinitely

 

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Recent Trends

Recent Trends

BOS is 6-2-1 ATS in the past nine meetings.
BOS is 5-2 ATS in its last seven overall.
The over is 6-2 in BOS' last eight overall.
PHO is 8-4 ATS playing on two days' rest.
PHO is 11-5 ATS in its last 16 overall.
The over is 6-3 with PHO on two days' rest.

 

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Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings

Date Home Away Line ATS
3/19/2002 Bos. 4 Pho. 2 0,-200/5 Bos./O (01-02)
10/16/2001 Pho. 1 Bos. 1 0,100/5 P/U

2/27/2001 Bos. 7 Pho. 4 0,-120/5.5 Bos./O (00-01)

12/13/1999 Bos. 2 Pho. 0 0,-120/5 Bos./U (99-00)
10/16/1999 Pho. 2 Bos. 1 0,-200/5 Pho./U

3/2/1999 Bos. 3 Pho. 2 -0.5,-120/5 Bos./P (98-99)
10/19/1998 Pho. 3 Bos. 1 -0.5,120/5 Pho./U

1/8/1998 Bos. 5 Pho. 2 -0.5,-145/5 Bos./O (97-98)
10/8/1997 Pho. 2 Bos. 3 -0.5,-170/6 Bos./U

2/15/1997 Pho. 5 Bos. 4 -0.5,-135/6 Pho./O (96-97)

 

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Boston Globe 3/18/03

Boston Globe 3/18/03

Hackett is a stay-at-home goalie

He'll miss West trip with a finger injury

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Bruins goaltender Jeff Hackett got both the good news and the bad news yesterday.

The finger on his right (blocker) hand that was struck by a shot during warmups prior to Saturday's game against Florida is not broken, but general manager Mike O'Connell said Hackett won't join the team for a three-game trip that begins tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes.

''It's a bruise, a bad bruise,'' said O'Connell. ''I just talked to Jeff a little while ago and he said it's still really sore. He'll stay where he is right now. He's going to go see the doctor again [tomorrow].''

Andrew Raycroft, who was called up from Providence Sunday, will make the trip with the team.

Remarkably, the injury didn't knock Hackett out of the lineup Saturday. Not only did he play against the Panthers, he stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced in the 4-1 win.

''It was very courageous of him to play,'' said O'Connell. ''I saw him after the game and I couldn't believe the size of his hand.''

Hackett had X-rays after the game but the swelling made them difficult to read.

After some recent shaky outings, Hackett and his teammates have settled down. The netminder has won four of his last five games and has played with more confidence as the action in front of him got more under control.

''The team was playing better in front of him and he was seeing less quality shots,'' said O'Connell. ''It's easy to pick on the defense, but a lot of it has to do with how we go through center ice with the puck as well. All of a sudden, it's back down our throats. I feel bad for him, but he sounded good, he sounded upbeat, and when he's ready to play, he'll play.''

After a day off yesterday, the Bruins will skate this morning in preparation for Game No. 73 of the regular season. It seems likely that coach Robbie Ftorek will give Steve Shields the start tonight.

''He didn't have a very good game against Chicago [March 9] but we have him and Raycroft, and the fact that Hackett is injured, we have to move on.''

=====

Keep it up

One of the keys to success on this trip will be maintaining the solid defense the Bruins have been playing at home of late. ''That's the most important thing,'' said center Brian Rolston. ''We can't give up great scoring chances. In the defensive zone [Saturday], I thought we were real solid. We created good offensive chances off turnovers in the neutral zone. We know how to play. I think we've got enough veteran guys in here. We're starting to feel a little more confident with our team and I think that's the most important thing. We have the guys in here to get it done. There's no question in my mind. It's a matter of doing it on the road now. We want to just keep building our confidence for the playoffs. We don't want to be scoreboard watching. If we win our games, that's all that matters, and that's what we're going to do.'' ...

Defenseman Dan McGillis, recovered from a concussion suffered March 8 before he was dealt to Boston from San Jose March 11, is expected to make his Bruins debut tonight...

Forward Rob Zamuner (groin strain) also is expected to be available...

Defenseman Rich Brennan, sidelined since late January because of a fractured ankle, remains out of the lineup. He will have a difficult time getting back into Boston's mix. ''I don't think Brennan is ready, but we wouldn't put him in anyway right now,'' said O'Connell...

After tonight's game, the Bruins will face San Jose Friday and close out the journey in Los Angeles Saturday.

 

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Globe 3/17

Globe 3/17

Boynton gloomy on the blue line

PHOENIX -- Bruins defenseman Nick Boynton isn't sure when it started. He can't pinpoint a particular play or game or week when he started to feel out of sorts.

Perhaps it was in early to mid-February when Sean O'Donnell and Hal Gill were out of the lineup because of injuries. He (along with fellow blue liners Jonathan Girard and Bryan Berard) was asked to increase his workload significantly and it proved difficult.

The team was struggling, particularly the defense and goaltending, and Boynton felt the burden. As the club has improved in its own end recently since Gill and O'Donnell returned and Ian Moran was added at the trade deadline, Boynton is starting to feel a little bit better. But he's not where he wants to be. Not yet.

''The other five guys who are playing are playing really well,'' said Boynton. ''I still feel a little lost out there right now. I don't know why, what it is, or what's wrong. I'm just kind of gripping my stick a little too tight, not making easy plays. Hockey is such an easy game and if you overthink it, which I think I'm doing right now, you pay for it. Luckily, I've got Hal to help me out.''

The Bruins have won two in a row and five of their last seven entering tomorrow's contest against the Coyotes here. The morale has improved dramatically since the tailspin that started in mid-December and ran through a good chunk of January, which was followed by a wildly unpredictable streak that seems on the brink of ending.

Boynton said he has tried not to get too distracted by his frustration, which kicked in when the Bruins were losing a lot more than winning.

When asked how long he had been uncomfortable on the ice, he said, ''For a while now. Ever since we started losing, I've been angry and I don't know if it's my confidence. Things just aren't coming as easy as they should for me. It's just something I have to try to work through, I guess. I know I can do it. I know the way I can play. It's just a matter of doing it. One of these days it's just going to click and that'll be it. I'm trying too hard or something right now.''

With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, Boynton said he believes he can improve and he feels there is more all the players can do to ratchet up their performances as the postseason draws closer.

''Everybody is playing well and obviously we're winning,'' said Boynton. ''There are just little things I don't think are being done. Every once in a while there's a turnover that's made that shouldn't be made. You can't make [them] come playoff time. So I think it's just little things like that that we have to start focusing on and eliminate.''

Because of their position in the standings, the Bruins' success on the road likely will be the difference between a long run into the spring and a short one. The club is five games under .500 away from the FleetCenter (12-17-4-2), compared with 21-10-4-2 at home.

''We've got to win on the road,'' said Boynton. ''But it's one game at a time. We played three pretty good games and then went up to Chicago and played horrible. We've got to play consistent every night. Now we go into Phoenix and we've got to play well and not have any letdowns. If you're winning, you're doing at least a few things right, so I think we're starting to get a little better.''

What they can do without is the roller-coaster ride they were on, where they didn't know what to expect from game to game, period to period, and even shift to shift.

''It drives you real crazy,'' said Boynton. ''You have people calling from home wondering what's going on. We try to work hard in practice and we try to work hard in games, too. It's sport. Things go like that sometimes. Hopefully, we're out of that bad period and on to the way we were at the start.''

=====

The only Bruin who didn't skate before leaving for the trip was goaltender Jeff Hackett, who suffered a bruised finger in Saturday's matinee against the Florida Panthers. Rather than fly out West and try to hook up with doctors out here, the Bruins had Hackett remain behind to see team doctor Bert Zarins. Hackett is scheduled to undergo X-rays and likely an MRI to make sure the digit is not broken. If the tests determine he is OK, he will join the club here. Yesterday, the Bruins called up Andrew Raycroft from Providence and he went through the workout at the Ristuccia Center along with goalie Steve Shields. Raycroft was scheduled to accompany the team in case Hackett isn't able to play.

 

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Boston Herald 3/18

Boston Herald 3/18

Pressed to prosper: Recent acquisitions push Girard to improve game

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - When the Bruins obtained Ian Moran and Dan McGillis to shore up the defense at the trading deadline, many observers thought Jonathan Girard would be one of the players who'd be doing more watching than playing.

At the age of 22, Girard is the youngest member of the Bruins and, while he's given the organization reason to believe he has a fine future, he's also had the typical ups and downs of a first full NHL season.

But instead of letting the acquisition of the two veterans get him down, Girard has not only stayed in the lineup, he's elevated his game. In the two contests since the trading deadline, Girard has been a plus-4, and on Saturday, he notched the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal in the third period of the B's 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers.

With McGillis getting ready to make his Bruins debut - most likely tonight against the Coyotes - it will mean another player will have to sit. But Girard was philosophical about the possibility it could be him.

``Right now, with 10 games left, it's all for the best of the team,'' said Girard, who was a healthy scratch once earlier in the year. ``If I'm in, I'm in. If I'm not, it's no big deal. I'm still going to be working hard and be ready for my teammates if I go out and play. But so far, I'm in and I just want to keep my job.''

Girard applauded the acquisition of the two new players.

``It's just something that makes us much deeper, getting two big guys who are not only both good defensively, but two guys who can make good plays up front,'' Girard said. ``They can pass, they can skate and I think they'll push everybody a little bit more.''

=====

Bruins notes

Tests yesterday revealed that goalie Jeff Hackett did not suffer a broken finger as feared, but he'll still be out for a bit. General manager Mike O'Connell did not expect Hackett to rejoin the club on this road trip.

``It's not broken, but it's a bad bruise so we'll just have to see how it goes,'' O'Connell said yesterday. . . .

One area that's been clicking very well for the Bruins of late has been the power play. They've cashed in on the man advantage in seven of the last eight games, and they're 9-for-28 in that span.

And recently they've looked even more impressive than the numbers indicate. On Saturday, when they went 1-for-3, they could have had a couple more if not for some stellar play by Florida goalie Roberto Luongo. But the game-winner did come on the power play.

``We were trying to do something different. I came down and tried to open up some room for our forwards. We were battling for the rebound and I just put it in,'' said Girard.

``I think we've been a little bit better with the puck and we've taken time to make plays. It all depends who you're playing against. (Against Florida), they let us move the puck around and wait for the rebound and wait for that puck to squirt out. We'll take that space and we'll take our time. But with the guys that we have at forward (Glen Murray and Joe Thornton), sooner or later those goals will come.''

Mike Knuble agreed.

``I think Glen and Joe have no problem with their confidence. They're licking their chops when they get on the power play and you can tell the way they're snapping it around,'' said Knuble. ``They're snapping it around pretty good and we seem to be scoring in different ways on the power play.'' . . .

Coach Robbie Ftorek gave the team yesterday off, but heavy rains here washed out most of the players' plans for golf. They play tonight at 9 in Phoenix, and have 10:30 starts on Friday night in San Jose and Saturday night in Los Angeles.

 

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Herald 3/17

Herald 3/17

Thinking going forward on defenseman Berard

WILMINGTON - As offensive-minded Bruins defenseman Bryan Berard sat alone in the halo seats high above the FleetCenter ice the last two games, a healthy scratch from the lineup for the first times in his career, the general assumption was that coach Robbie Ftorek wanted Berard to watch a couple of games and learn some lessons about being more cautious in his on-ice approach. It was assumed that Berard would soon be back on the B's blue line.

Well, Berard may be back soon, but maybe not as a defenseman.

``(Ftorek) has an idea now that he wants me to try playing forward,'' Berard said yesterday. ``We do have a lot of `D' now. I guess I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get back into the lineup. Am I thrilled about it? No. But we'll see what happens.

``I've never played forward, not even as a kid. I've always been on the back end. But it's still the same game. I'll go over it with (assistant coach Wayne Cashman) a little bit about what I'm supposed to do out there and then just go out and play.''

Watching two games, Berard easily understood what Ftorek wants.

``Watching from up top, the game looks a lot easier than it is down below,'' Berard said. ``But I just learned that with my game, simplicity is the word Robbie is looking for. When we get behind, sometimes I look to do too much and sometimes that hurts us more than the good side could help us.

``This is frustrating. I'm upset. It's the first time I've sat out in my career and I don't like it at all. But right now the most important thing is that this team gets on a roll and we get our confidence up for the playoffs. Because I think we have something special here. When we're playing our best, we're a tough team to beat.

``So, yeah, my situation isn't fun. But I've just got to back the guys any way I can and we'll see what happens. I've just got to fight through it.''

=====

McGillis a go

New B's defenseman Dan McGillis, who has been sidelined for a week with a mild concussion, is slated to debut with his new team tomorrow night in Phoenix against the Coyotes.

``You ready to play?'' Ftorek called to McGillis after yesterday's brief, but taxing, skate.

``Yes, sir,'' McGillis said.

``There you go,'' the coach said. ``There's your answer.''

McGillis expects to feel some nerves before his first game as a Bruin.

``I'm sure I'll have some butterflies putting on a different jersey,'' the Northeastern product said. ``On the road, it'll certainly be exciting to put the Bruins jersey on, but it'll be even more exciting to come out with it on at the FleetCenter.''

=====

Samsonov on track

The Bruins took all their injured players on the trip, except Sergei Samsonov, who isn't yet ready. Ftorek said that Samsonov's recovery is right on schedule, but he doesn't know whether the speedy winger will make it back in time to play any regular-season games. . . .

Forward Rob Zamuner (groin strain) and defenseman Rich Brennan (bruised ankle) are both ready to play. Zamuner figures to get back into the lineup sooner than Brennan.

The former BU star is in a difficult situation: Because of a late-season roster freeze now at Providence (AHL), he can't play for the P-Bruins, and it will be difficult for a guy out since Jan. 28 to climb a B's blue line depth chart that now lists nine qualified players.