Wednesday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

BOSTON BRUINS vs. Atlanta Thrashers
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Philips Arena; Atlanta GA
Game Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins visit the Thrashers tonight in the first of four games between these teams this season and the first of two games of this season?s series at Philips Arena. The Bruins are 10-2-3-2 thus far this season with a 7-1-1-1 road record. The Thrashers are 8-7-3-1 thus far this season with a 4-2-2-0 home record. The Bruins are 0-2-1-0 this season vs. Southeast Division opponents and are 2-2-2-2 vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Thrashers are 2-1-0-0 vs. Northeast Division opponents and are 5-5-2-1 vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 9-5-1-1 lifetime vs. Atlanta with the Thrashers holding a 51-49 scoring advantage in those 16 games. On the road, the Bruins are 5-3-0-0 lifetime vs. the Thrashers with a 20-19 scoring edge in those eight contests. The Bruins were 3-1-0-0 vs. Atlanta last season with Boston winning 4-3 decisions each in Boston on Oct. 26 and Dec. 5 (overtime) and the teams splitting the games in Atlanta with Boston taking a 1-0 decision on Dec. 28 and the Thrashers winning the rematch by a 3-1 score on Jan. 17.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have won their last four games, are unbeaten in their last five games at 4-0-1-0 and have taken points out of each of their last nine games at 6-0-1-2 with a 5-2 win at New Jersey on Oct. 25, a 2-0 win in Montreal on Oct. 28, a 1-0 overtime loss to Montreal on Oct. 30, a 3-2 overtime loss in Pittsburgh on Nov. 1, a 5-5 tie with San Jose on Nov. 6, a 4-1 victory over Dallas on Nov. 8, a 4-3 win vs. Edmonton on Nov. 11, a 4-0 win in Columbus on Nov. 14 and a 2-1 overtime win vs. Vancouver on Nov. 15. They have taken points out of 14 of their last 15 games at 10-1-2-2 and have taken points out of 15 of their 17 games overall this season at 10-2-3-2.

The Bruins are unbeaten in their last four home games at 3-0-1-0 and have taken points out of six of their seven games on home ice this season at 3-1-2-1.

The Bruins have taken points out of each of their last nine road games at 7-0-1-1, including a six-game win streak and seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1-0) from Oct. 11-28.

Recent Thrashers Games
The Thrashers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over Florida on Nov. 16. That followed a 5-3 loss to Ottawa on Nov. 11, a 5-1 loss in Carolina on Nov. 13 and a 4-0 setback in Philadelphia on Nov. 15.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins next return home to host Washington on Nov. 20 (7:00 p.m.). They will then face a two-game road stint, playing in Philadelphia on Nov. 22 (7:00 p.m.) and in St. Louis on Nov. 25 (8:00 p.m. ET).

Upcoming Thrashers Games
The Thrashers next face the Panthers in Florida on Nov. 21 before returning home for a four-game home stand from Nov. 23-29.

Bruins Injuries
None reported.

Bruins Recent Transactions
Oct. 23: Sergei Zinovjev recalled from Providence/AHL; Martin Samuelsson and Milan Jurcina assigned to Providence/AHL.
Oct. 30: P. J. Stock loaned to Philadelphia/AHL from Providence/AHL.
Oct. 31: Ted Donato assigned to Providence/AHL.
Nov. 4: Zdenek Kutlak recalled from Providence/AHL.

Bruins Facts

The Bruins have converted five of their last ten power play opportunities over their last three games for a 50.0% proficiency in that span.

The Bruins have killed off 11 of their last 12 times short over their last four games for a 91.7% penalty killing efficiency over that span.

The Bruins have won 61.6% of their faceoffs over their last four games with a 146-91 record over that span.

The Bruins have 13 sets of back-to-back games this season. They are 2-1-0-0 in the first game of these sets and are 2-0-1-0 in game two of consecutive-night contests.

 

[the mugs]

RECENT TRENDS

RECENT TRENDS

? The Bruins are 4-0 ATS in their last four overall.
? BOS is 8-1 ATS in their last nine on the road.
? Under is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
? Over is 6-1 in ATL's last seven overall.
? ATL is 2-6 ATS in their last eight as a dog.
? Over is 4-1-1 in ATL's last six at home.

 

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Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
1/17/2003 Atl. 3 Bos. 1 0.5,100/6 Atl./U (02-03)
12/28/2002 Atl. 0 Bos. 1 0.5,125/6 Bos./U
12/5/2002 Bos. 4 Atl. 3 -0.5,-240/6 Bos./O
10/26/2002 Bos. 4 Atl. 3 -1.5,110/6 Atl./O

3/8/2002 Atl. 0 Bos. 3 0,220/6 Bos./U (01-02)
12/18/2001 Bos. 2 Atl. 3 -1.5,-120/6 Atl./U
12/4/2001 Atl. 2 Bos. 3 0,220/5.5 Bos./U
10/6/2001 Bos. 4 Atl. 3 0,-250/5.5 Bos./O

3/10/2001 Bos. 5 Atl. 7 0,-280/6 Atl./O (00-01)
2/9/2001 Atl. 5 Bos. 1 0,200/5.5 Atl./O

 

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Injuries

Injuries

Boston Injuries
Player Pos Injury Status
Jonathan Girard D Hip out for season

Atlanta Injuries
Player Pos Injury Status
Jani Hurme G Back Out indefinitely
Marc Savard F Ankle Early Jan
Dany Heatley RW Jaw Out indefinitely

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 11.17.03

Boston Herald 11.17.03

Numbers don't lie - B's are back

The numbers are starting to look very familiar.

The Bruins have now played 17 games in this 2003-04 season and have lost a grand total of two games in regulation. They are riding a four-game win streak and have obtained at least one point in each of their last nine contests.

For just about any other team in the National Hockey League, that would be cause for downright giddiness.

But while there were smiles all around the dressing room after the B's knocked off the Vancouver Canucks in thrilling fashion - a 2-1 overtime victory - on Saturday night, there seemed to be much more than the usual caution that goes along with a good early-season run. The Bruins, now at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 10-2-3-2 record, know better than to make too big a deal out of early-season success.

At this time last year, the B's were burning their way through the league before reaching their high-water mark on Dec. 8, when they were 19-5-3. The goaltending then went south, the rest of the team followed and the B's finished seventh in the conference with a record of 36-31-11-4 before a first-round playoff exit against the eventual Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils.

Understandably, Bruins fans have taken a wait-and-see attitude up until now - though Saturday's entertaining win may have won a few more over. No one seems to be more leery of the quick start than the B's themselves.

``Everybody's enjoying getting the points and getting the wins and all that, but we're not thinking that we're a better team than we are,'' said winger Mike Knuble, who played a key role in Saturday's win by scoring the tying goal and then assisting on the game-winner. ``On paper, according to our record, we're a better team than anyone in the East, but we haven't played many teams in the East and we have to see how we match up head-to-head.''

The B's have climbed to the top of the heap by beating the run-and-gunners from the West, amassing an 8-0-1 record against the other conference. They will now test their mettle over the next month against an East-heavy schedule. After playing a a slipping Atlanta team and a bad Washington outfit Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, the B's have an interesting showdown in Philadelphia, where the Flyers have yet to lose this year. Then, after seeing three straight Western Conference teams, the B's will go on a steady diet of nothing but Eastern clubs.

By the time the new year rolls around, the B's should know if they have what it takes to grind it out in their own conference.

Still, there are some tangible differences between last year's edition of the Bruins and this year's model. Those differences start where it all began to end last year - with the goaltending. Rookie Andrew Raycroft and veteran Felix Potvin have been Reasons 1A and 1B for the B's fast start. They've been spectacular when they've had to be, or just merely very good when they had to be. One thing they haven't done is cost the team a single point. And, when the other 19 players don't have to worry about the netminding, the benefit is immeasurable.

Another difference is rookie Patrice Bergeron [news], who is helping to solidify the second scoring line with Sergei Samsonov and Martin Lapointe [news]. The role of the second-line center was one of the biggest question marks coming into the season but, after a few false starts, it appears that issue is close to getting settled with Bergeron.

First-year coach Mike Sullivan is also getting more production out of his fourth line - consisting of newcomer Sandy McCarthy, Michal Grosek and Rob Zamuner - whether it's getting the odd goal, doing the job on special teams or simply throwing its weight around.

And speaking of throwing weight around, Lapointe is doing that quite effectively, too. Hampered by injuries his first two seasons as a Bruin, Lapointe is making his presence felt.

``We're a more complete team this year, from our top line to our fourth line and our defense. And what can you say about our goaltending? It's been tremendous,'' Knuble said. ``We're getting it from everywhere.''

The specter of last season's collapse is never too far from the B's minds. That's a good thing.

``Everyone knows what happened last year and we're not going to let that happen again,'' Raycroft said. ``Everyone's still working hard and we're having lots of fun doing it. But we know we've got a job to do and it's not how you start, it's how you finish.''

 

[the mugs]

Herald 11.19.03

Herald 11.19.03

Thrashers coping: Earn praise for getting through tragedy

The Bruins, like folks across the National Hockey League, admired the manner in which the Atlanta Thrashers handled the tragic events of Sept. 29 when Dan Snyder suffered fatal injuries in a car crash and teammate Dany Heatley was severely injured.

The Thrashers opened the season with a 5-1-2-1 record, but have dropped off after that emotional start. They take an 8-7-3-1 mark into tonight's match with the Bruins.

``It is pretty amazing,'' Bruins center Brian Rolston said of the Thrashers' start. ``That was such a tragedy. I couldn't even imagine trying to deal with that. They've done a great job.

``I don't know, maybe it has something to do with the way hockey players stick together in hard times. But it's remarkable. It really is.''

B's coach Mike Sullivan echoed Rolston.

``That tragedy was felt by everyone across the league,'' he said. ``Obviously they were affected the most by it. To have the start they've had and for them to come together the way they have speaks volumes about their organization and the people in their room.''

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Conference call
The Bruins have done a pretty fair job conquering the West this season - their 8-0-1 record is the best inter-conference mark in the NHL - but have been strictly so-so against their own conference. The B's are just 2-2-2-2 vs. the East.

They'd better improve that winning percentage dramatically because the game vs. the Thrashers starts a stretch in which 19 of the next 23 games are against the East. Games against the East mean more, of course, because of their impact on the conference standings.

``This is the start of our games in the East,'' said winger Mike Knuble. ``We started playing a lot of Western teams, and we did pretty well. Now we'll be seeing a lot of the East.''

The Bruins head home after tonight's game and host the struggling Washington Capitals tomorrow night.

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High grade for `D'

Having a healthy Sergei Samsonov this season has certainly been one of the major factors underlying the Bruins' terrific start. But the same is also true of Dan McGillis and Ian Moran, defensemen acquired at the trade deadline in March.

``I think both of those guys have been huge acquisitions for us,'' Sullivan said. ``First and foremost they're great people. They're good for our dressing room. They're well-grounded and they've played a fair amount of hockey in this league. That helps our dressing room. And what they've done on the ice, you can't say enough about it. They contribute offensively and they contribute defensively.''

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Dafoe among idle rich
Old friend Byron Dafoe has been one of the most expensive backup goalies ever in the NHL. OK, at $3.5 million he's cheap compared to Detroit's Curtis Joseph ($8 million).

Dafoe has been in only three games, all losses, with a 3.37 goals-against average and .877 save percentage. He lost the No. 1 job to Pasi Nurminen, who is 8-5-3-1 with a 2.45 GAA and .914 percentage.

``We know he's gone through some tough times,'' Knuble said. ``He hasn't played a ton. Everyone up here knows that. I'll be curious to see if he gets the start against us.''

 

[ND2002HORNS]

I am going against your Bruins tonight. Think the Thrashers catch them in a nice spot. GL

HORNS

 

[the mugs]

BOL Horny...I'm not going near it. I agree that this could be a let down especially after that intense game against Vancouver at the Fleet. Looking ahead, they have the Craps tomorrow at home and a "big one" with the Fly Girls in Philly on Saturday

 

[grooven]

c'mon mugsy.........where is the "homey" in you. Sully has his troops pumped for this road trip. especially after philly getting a point last night they need all the points they can get the first half of the season. we all know they seem to run out of gas after the allstar break