Wednesday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

Here we go...The B's on national TV tonight...

BOSTON BRUINS at
NEW YORK RANGERS
Wednesday, March 13, 2002
Madison Square Garden; New York, New York
8:00 pm (ET) - Gametime
ESPN
Tonight's Game
The Bruins visit the Rangers tonight in the third of four games between these teams this season and the second of two games of this season's series at Madison Square Garden. The Bruins are 34-20-5-7 overall this season with a 14-12-4-3 record on the road. The Rangers are 30-29-4-4 overall this season with an 18-13-2-1 record on home ice. The Bruins are 6-5-1-2 vs. Atlantic Division opponents thus far this season and are 25-14-2-5 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Rangers are 9-3-2-0 vs. Northeast Division opponents thus far this season and are 24-17-3-3 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 270-222-97-1 lifetime vs. the Rangers with a 1899-1720 scoring edge in those 590 games. On the road, the Bruins are 113-129-55-0 lifetime vs. New York with the Rangers holding a 910-839 scoring advantage in those 297 contests. The Bruins are winless in this season's series with the Rangers thus far at 0-1-0-1 with a 2-1 overtime loss in Boston on Oct. 27 and an 8-4 setback in New York on Jan. 23.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have won their last two games with a 3-0 win at Atlanta on Mar. 8 and a 3-2 victory over Calgary on Mar. 9. They are now 2-4-1-0 in their last seven games and are 8-5-2-0 in their last 15 contests overall.

The Bruins are 7-3-1-1 in their last 12 home games and are 15-6-1-2 in their last 24 home contests. They are 4-3-1-0 in their last eight road games and are 9-6-1-2 in their last 18 road contests.

Recent Rangers Games
The Rangers snapped their two-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over Montreal on Mar. 11. That followed a 5-1 loss in Chicago on Mar. 7 and a 3-2 overtime loss at Pittsburgh on Mar. 8. They are 3-2-0-1 in their last six games and are 5-8-0-1 in their last 14 games overall.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins next return home for a three-game home stand, hosting Toronto on Mar. 14 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio), Detroit on Mar. 16 (3:00 p.m.; ABC & WBZ Radio) and Phoenix on Mar. 19 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio).

Upcoming Rangers Games
The Rangers next face the Devils in New Jersey on Mar. 16 before returning home to host Detroit on Mar. 17 and Vancouver on Mar. 19.

Bruins Injuries
Martin Lapointe: Aggravated hamstring injury; day-to-day.
Joe Thornton: Shoulder injury; day-to-day.
Total Man-Games Lost: 142

Bruins March Transactions
Mar. 1: Joe Thornton suspended by NHL for three games.
Mar. 5: Marty McInnis acquired from Anaheim for 2002 third round draft pick.
Mar. 5: Andy Hilbert returned to Providence/AHL.

Rangers Injuries
Eric Lindros: Foot injury; day-to-day.
Vladimir Malakhov: Back spasms; day-to-day.
Michal Grosek: Shot to chin; day-to-day.
Mark Messier: Mar. 1 left shoulder arthroscopy; out indefinitely.

 

[the mugs]

McLaren's back...and the "D" is happy

McLaren's back...and the "D" is happy

Words got in the way

WILMINGTON - He has talked about it more times than he can count. He has answered questions about it on a week-by-week basis. Now, after months of rehabilitation, Bruins defenseman Kyle McLaren said he is thrilled to be able to stop talking about his wrist surgery and rejoin the lineup tonight against the Rangers in New York.

When McLaren gets on the ice for the first time since Dec. 22 - after missing 31 games - there will be a few butterflies.

''There aren't right now, but I've been sick for a while,'' said McLaren. ''But once the game comes, I'm sure I'll be excited and nervous and probably a little scared, too. I'll be going out and doing things I haven't done in 11 weeks but it'll be fun.''

This will be a demanding stretch for Boston. Tonight's game at Madison Square Garden - which has an unusual 8 p.m. start because the game is on ESPN - is the first of three the Bruins will play in a span of 70 hours. Tomorrow night, they host the Maple Leafs at 7, and on Saturday, they go up against the Red Wings in a 3 p.m. matinee at the FleetCenter.

''We have a tough stretch,'' said McLaren. ''All I can do is hope to take some pressure off the guys who have been playing and maybe give them a break where they're not used to getting a break. We have a lot of guys playing a lot of minutes and if I can kind of give them a rest, I think we'll be better for it.''

McLaren said it's a nice change to be fighting for a top spot in the Eastern Conference as opposed to battling just to get into the playoffs.

''It's no fun when you lose a game and you're out,'' he said. ''The Rangers are going to be tough because that's where they are. We have our work cut out for us this week.''

As for his own goals, McLaren said he's going to play it by ear. He knows he won't be able to jump right into the mix and carry the load he used to.

''I'll play a few games and we'll reevaluate the situation,'' he said. ''I just want to win.

''I want to join the guys again and play. That's No. 1 right now. Staying healthy is another one but I'm not going to worry about that. I'm going to go out and play and see what happens. ''

No matter what his minutes are, the Bruins are just happy to have him back.

''Well, it's about time,'' joked Hal Gill. ''It's going to be a different feel on defense. I don't know if he'll be [playing] 30 minutes but he definitely has an impact any time he's on the ice.

''When you have a guy like Kyle in the lineup, it makes everyone a better player. You get a little more rest, you can play in your situation and do your job and it makes it a lot easier. We've got big teams coming up and we need a physical presence out there, and of course, he's as good as any at providing it.''

Because McLaren has been gone so long, Gill said, in some ways it's like getting an extra player.

''Having him come back is almost like trading for a player,'' said Gill. ''It takes a couple of games where you miss him [when he is first out], but then you start to get into a rhythm, and the new things, the new ice times, the new situations become the norm. And then when he comes back in, it's going to change it all up again for the better.''

Knuble is ready

Forward Mike Knuble, recovered from a bruised back, is expected to return tonight. Knuble missed four games ... The two forwards remaining on the sideline are center Joe Thornton(shoulder injury) and Martin Lapointe(hamstring pull). Neither skated during practice yesterday, and they are expected to be sidelined until at least Saturday. Thornton could be out even longer.

 

[the mugs]

This week is like "old time hockey" around these parts. The Bruins are in NY against the Rangers tonight, home to TORONTO tomorrow and host DETROIT on Saturday afternoon...Original Six this week!

B's have had their troubles with NYR this year loosing in OT at home and getting thumped at the Gahden six weeks ago.

Date Home Away Line ATS
1/23/2002 NYR 8 Bos. 4 0,120/5.5 NYR/O
10/27/2001 Bos. 1 NYR 2 0,-175/5.5 NYR/U

=====

Recent Trends
BOS is 6-0-1 ATS on three or more days rest.
The under is 3-1 in the last four meetings.
The under is 3-1 in the Bruins last four overall.
The Rangers have won the last two meetings ATS.
The under is 3-1 in NYR's last four overall.
NYR is 3-6 ATS in their last nine overall.

 

[Terryray]

some game tidbits

some game tidbits

Good stuff Mugs!

I hope you don't mind me posting some game notes here. Probably won't get around to my usual thread today...


over has hit 9-2 in Bos/NYR meetings at NY since '96
over hit 4-1 in meetings at NY in last 3 seasons
Richter over hits 16-14 at home this season
Dafoe over hits 7-14 away this season


NY Rangers announced some players traded with Dallas

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news/20020312/dalnyrtrade.html



here's a nice freelance piece on state of Bruins at this point in season

http://www.faceoff.com/nhl/teams/bruins/news/story.html?f=/news/20020311/020311News185332.html



NY Post sez

Although Eric Lindros was able to put his skates on yesterday, his bruised left foot forced him to sit out practice. The injury is listed as day-to-day, but it's doubtful he'll play tonight. Michal Grosek and Vladimir Malakhov sat out as well yesterday. Both are questionable for tonight.



and looks like he is out, Daniels at vegasinsider writes:

New York's victory against the Canadiens broke a tie between the teams for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. New York moved into a tie with New Jersey for the seventh spot, leaving Montreal temporarily out of the postseason picture.

The Rangers have won both games against the Bruins this season, including an 8-4 victory on Jan. 23 as a $1.20 underdog in the lone game at Madison Square Garden.

Oddsmakers at Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened the Rangers as a $1.15 favorite if Lindros is in the lineup, and a $1.00 underdog if he misses the contest. The total is set at 5 1/2 'under' (minus $1.15).