Wednesday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

BOSTON BRUINS vs. ATLANTA THRASHERS
Wednesday, December 3, 2003
Philips Arena; Atlanta GA
Game Time: 7:30 p.m.

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins visit the Thrashers tonight in the second of four games between these teams this season and the second of two games of this season?s series at Philips Arena. The Bruins are 11-4-4-4 thus far this season with a 7-2-1-3 road record. The Thrashers are 12-10-3-1 thus far this season with a 7-4-2-0 home record. The Bruins are 1-2-1-1 this season vs. Southeast Division opponents and are 3-3-2-3 vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Thrashers are 3-3-0-0 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and are 8-8-2-1 vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 9-5-1-2 lifetime vs. Atlanta with the Thrashers holding a 56-53 scoring advantage in those 16 games. On the road, the Bruins are 5-3-0-1 lifetime vs. the Thrashers with each team scoring 24 goals in those nine contests. The Thrashers won the first game of this season?s series with a 5-4 overtime victory in Atlanta on Nov. 19.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins are winless in their last four games at 0-2-1-1 with a 3-2 setback in Philadelphia on Nov. 22, a 4-3 overtime loss in St. Louis on Nov. 25, a 2-1 loss to Nashville on Nov. 28 and a 3-3 tie with Phoenix on Nov. 30. That follows a streak of 11 straight games for Boston with at least one point, as they went 7-0-1-3 from Oct. 25-Nov. 20. They have taken points out of 19 of their 23 games overall this season at 11-4-4-4.

The 2-1 loss to Nashville on Nov. 28 snapped a four-game home win streak and five-game home unbeaten stretch for Boston at 4-0-1-0. They have taken points out of eight of their ten games on home ice this season at 4-2-3-1.

The Bruins have taken at least one point out of 11 of their last 12 road games at 7-1-1-3, including a ten-game point stretch (7-0-1-2) from Oct. 11-Nov. 19.

Recent Thrashers Games
The Thrashers have lost three of their last four games with a 6-3 loss to Ottawa on Nov. 25, a 3-1 loss to Toronto on Nov. 27, a 2-1 win vs. Tampa Bay on Nov. 29 and a 4-3 loss in Pittsburgh on Dec. 1. They are 5-3-0-0 in their last eight games.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins will next return home for a three-game home stand, hosting Toronto on Dec. 4 (7:00 p.m.), Philadelphia on Dec. 6 (7:00 p.m.) and Ottawa on Dec. 8 (7:00 p.m.)

Upcoming Thrashers Games
The Thrashers will host Anaheim on Dec. 5 and will then face the Panthers in Florida on Dec. 6.

Bruins Injuries
P. J. Axelsson: Aggravated shoulder injury Nov. 28 vs. Nashville; day-to-day.

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 ten of their last 37 power play opportunities over their last nine games for a 27.0% proficiency in that span.

The Bruins have won 57.6% of their faceoffs over their last ten games with a 358-263 record over that span.

The Bruins have 13 sets of back-to-back games this season. They are 2-1-0-1 in the first game of these sets and are 3-0-1-0 in game two of consecutive-night contests.

 

[the mugs]

RECENT TRENDS

RECENT TRENDS

? BOS is 0-4 ATS in their last four overall.
? The Bruins are 1-4 ATS in their last five roads.
? BOS is 1-3 ATS in their last four as the fav.
? ATL is 1-3 ATS in their last four overall.
? Under is 3-1 in ATL's last four at home.
? Over is 7-2 in ATL's last nine as the dog.

 

[the mugs]

Recent Meetings

Recent Meetings

Date Home Away Line ATS
11/19/2003 Atl. 5 Bos. 4 0.5,-110/5.5 Atl./O (03-04)

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)

 

[the mugs]

Injuries

Injuries

Boston Injuries
Player Pos Injury Status
P.J. Axelsson F Shoulder Out Wed
Jonathan Girard D Hip out for season

Atlanta Injuries
Player Pos Injury Status
Ivan Majesky D MCL Out indefinitely
Yannick Tremblay D Foot Out Wed
Jani Hurme G Back Out indefinitely
Dany Heatley RW Jaw Out indefinitely

 

[the mugs]

Boston Globe 12.3.03

Boston Globe 12.3.03

Driving the point home
For Bruins, one jam after another

The Bruins acknowledge these have been challenging times on the ice.

However, one challenge they didn't expect was just getting to the rink for practice. Treacherous travel conditions yesterday led to congestion and accidents all around the region, and coach Mike Sullivan and his players were among those caught in it.

Sullivan had scheduled the workout for 10 a.m. at Ristuccia Center in Wilmington, but it took him 4 1/2 hours to get from his South Shore home to reach the rink. Many players were delayed as well, pushing the practice back to 11:30.

"A couple of guys were late getting on but they did make it," said Sullivan. "We obviously wanted to have a brisk skate because we had the day off [Monday], so we accomplished that. We worked on the power play some. That's something we weren't initially going to do, but when we got everybody there, we did that and our transition game."

It didn't turn out to be the exact format he envisioned, especially given the Bruins' recent tribulations as they head to Atlanta winless in their last four games (0-2-1-1). But the coach said it was time well spent.

"We kind of improvised," said Sullivan. "We had to change as we went because we had a few guys we weren't sure if they were going to get there or not. But yeah, we got something accomplished."

This is a very interesting week for the Bruins, who will face a trio of division leaders: Atlanta, Toronto, and Philadelphia.

"I think it's an important time for us," said Sullivan. "We play 26 of our next 29 games against our own conference so we're going to play teams we have to beat in order to be successful."

Only six of the Bruins' final 59 contests are against clubs outside of their conference.

"This week is the start of it," said Sullivan. "It's important that we get back in the win column. To have to play some of the best teams in the league this week is a big challenge but probably one that should be the right medicine for our team."

There's extra motivation against the Thrashers, who beat the Bruins in overtime Nov. 19.

"I think there's plenty of incentive for our team to get into the win column regardless of who the opponent is," said Sullivan. "Atlanta is a real good hockey team and they're coming off a tough loss themselves [4-3 to Pittsburgh Monday] and they're going to be looking for the same thing we are."

Some of the Bruins have used the word "frustration" when talking about their recent play. Sullivan said there are times when his team gets frustrated but he termed it part of the process.

"Every team gets frustrated at times," said the coach. "I think what we should be doing is just become more determined and try to identify the areas that are keeping us from getting into the win column and I think we've done that. The next step is we've got to take action and make sure we get better in those areas. We've played a lot of pretty good hockey and that's what can be frustrating. We get away from our game plan for short lapses and it has cost us most recently.

"But I think the team has made a lot of progress from training camp and we're a better team today than we were a month ago and that's what we're looking for as a coaching staff and we want to see that process continue. There aren't too many games where we really haven't had a chance to win. From our standpoint, that's encouraging. But the expectation within our dressing room is very high and we expect to win more often than not and we want to try to raise that bar as much as we can. I think that's the only way we're going to reach the objective we're looking for down the stretch."

The longer the drought continues, the more last season will be brought up. The Bruins were off to the best start in the NHL in 2002-03 (19-4-3-0) before stumbling their way to the end of the year but Sullivan said he's not disturbed by comparisons.

"I wouldn't say it bugs me," he said. "I'd say it's a natural thought process with the experience the team went through last year. I would say they're two totally different teams. I don't lend a whole lot of credence to it. What we're trying to do is really focus on just the process of improvement and becoming better as a team. We're trying to maintain that significant focus and I think if we do that, the results will take care of themselves." . . .

Left wing P.J. Axelsson remains sidelined by a shoulder injury. He didn't skate yesterday and will not make the trip. He could be sidelined until the weekend.

 

[the mugs]

Boston Herald 12.1.03

Boston Herald 12.1.03

Green sees silver lining for B's

As frustrating as the past couple of weeks have been for the Bruins, with a record of 1-2-1-2 in their last six games - nearly every one of them a game the B's could have won - veteran forward Travis Green sees this difficult patch of the schedule as an opportunity to learn lessons that'll be valuable during the playoffs.

Specifically, the B's must learn not to give up goals in the final minute or so of periods - which happened three times last night.

``It's not like we're not aware of it,'' said Green. ``But sometimes, when you are aware of things and you're trying not to let them happen, they do happen. It's all a learning process toward the end of the year. We just have to learn from our mistakes.

``I thought overall we played a pretty decent game. It's just little mistakes here and there that we have to eliminate.

``I think the last three games, if you step back, you could probably say we very easily should have won all three. To only get two points (via an OT loss to the Blues and last night's tie) out of them is disappointing. But that's the way the league is sometimes. You can outplay teams and still not win.

``I think we really outplay teams, but then we kind of loosen up for a couple of minutes. I think we're playing pretty good hockey still. That's the bottom line. We just have to eliminate some of the mistakes we're making and just come together as a team to take that next step.''

The Bruins did outplay the Coyotes most of the way last night, starting with Green's second goal with his new team, 4:54 into the opening period. Green hustled after a puck dumped in by Hal Gill, took it away from defenseman Ossi Vaananen and walked out front to stick a backhander behind goalie Sean Burke.

``I was glad to see that he got on the scoresheet, because he's been making contributions to our team in every game - whether it be winning faceoffs or killing penalties or just with the energy and grit that he plays,'' said B's coach Mike Sullivan. ``He's a guy that can contribute offensively, and we expect he will.''

 

[the mugs]

Herald 12.3.03

Herald 12.3.03

Scorers have to create in front

WILMINGTON - It might qualify as Hockey 101, but that doesn't mean it's not true: The Bruins, especially their big line of Joe Thornton, Mike Knuble and Glen Murray, have to do a better job of getting pucks and people to the front of the opposition's net.

``There's no question most of the goals scored in this league are on second and third shots, on shots from three or four feet or closer,'' B's coach Mike Sullivan said. ``We've got to get back to getting more pucks to the net and, more importantly, more people to the net. We had 37 shots in our last game, but we've got to have more bodies and traffic in front.''

It seems apparent that opposing teams are trying hard to pin the B's scorers to the outside of the offensive zone. Defenders don't mind seeing the Bruins work the end boards or cycle the puck in the corners - as long as they're not getting in-close shots and rebound bids.

``Teams are getting smarter about how to play against our offensive lines,'' Knuble said.

The Bruins also have hurt their cause by passing up too many open shots, opting to make one more pass - often one pass too many.

=====

Axelsson out

Winger P.J. Axelsson will miss tonight's game after aggravating a right shoulder sprain when he returned to action against Nashville Friday. Though Axelsson spoke about the shoulder ``popping out,'' the B's don't believe it's serious.

``He's day-to-day,'' assistant general manager Jeff Gorton said. ``We're talking days, not weeks. I heard what he said. He said it felt like it popped out or something like that, but I don't think so. I think it's just a matter of staying off the ice with no contact for a little while. We'll be more cautious this time. Obviously you don't want this to be something that lingers all year long. We want to get it right this time.''

Minus Axelsson, the Bruins have no spare forward. Defenseman Zdenek Kutlak [news] is the lone extra player, so Gorton said the club might recall a forward. The B's likely would choose from Providence's Matt Herr, Pat Leahy, Ted Donato and Martin Samuelsson [news]. Andy Hilbert [news] and Ivan Huml [news] both are injured.

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B's slate stacked

Tonight's game opens a stretch of four games against Eastern Conference playoff contenders. The B's host the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow night, the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday and the Ottawa Senators Monday.

``It's the start of a pretty big week, to see Philly and Toronto and Atlanta all in the same week,'' Knuble said. ``We know the little things we need to improve on. It's not like we're grasping for answers. We know what we have to do. It's very important to get the first win and come back home feeling good.''

 

[the mugs]

Top Scorers

Top Scorers

Boston
Player G A Pts +/- PIM
JOE THORNTON 5 20 25 9 37
GLEN MURRAY 8 13 21 6 10
MIKE KNUBLE 9 10 19 13 10

Atlanta
Player G A Pts +/- PIM
ILYA KOVALCHUK 18 12 30 -3 18
SHAWN MCEACHERN 3 18 21 6 16
VYACHESLAV KOZLOV 8 10 18 -9 24

 

[ND2002HORNS]

Staying clear of this game tonight, can't get a handle on them.

HORNS

 

[grooven]

giving up late goals against the yotes in all three periods WTF