Wednesday's Bruins...

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BOSTON BRUINS at
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
MCI Center; Washington, D.C.
7:00 pm (ET) - Gametime
6:30 pm (ET) - Boston Globe Pre-Game Report
NESN
Tonight's Game
The Bruins visit the Capitals tonight in the first of four games between these clubs this season and the first of two games between these teams this season at the MCI Center. The Bruins are 5-1-2-0 overall this season and are 4-1-1-0 on the road thus far this season. The Capitals are 4-4-1-0 thus far this season with a 1-0-0-0 record on home ice. The Bruins are 1-0-0-0 vs. Southeast Division opponents thus far this season and they are 2-0-1-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Capitals are playing their first game of the season vs. a Northeast Division opponent tonight and they are 3-3-1-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 54-29-19-1 lifetime vs. the Capitals with a 368-280 scoring advantage in those 103 games. On the road, the Bruins are 24-14-12-1 lifetime vs. Washington with a 173-141 scoring edge in those 51 games. The Bruins lost their last game vs. Washington with a 1-0 overtime loss in Washington on Jan. 14, 2002 with their last win over the Capitals a 7-4 victory in Boston on Jan. 5, 2002. They are winless in their last four games in Washington with a 0-2-1-1 record in that span with their last road win over the Capitals a 3-0 victory on Feb. 25, 2000.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins carry a seven-game unbeaten streak into tonight's game at 5-0-2-0 with a 2-1 victory in Colorado on Oct. 14, a 6-3 win in Vancouver on Oct. 16, a 3-3 tie in Calgary on Oct. 17, a 4-3 victory in Edmonton on Oct. 19, a 4-1 win in Toronto on Oct. 21, a 2-2 tie with Ottawa in their home opener on Oct. 24 and a 4-3 win over Atlanta on Oct. 26. That follows a season-opening 5-1 loss in Minnesota on Oct. 11.

Recent Capitals Games
The Capitals are winless in their last three games at 0-2-1-0 and finished their recent eight-game road trip at 3-4-1-0. The trip saw them compile 2-1 victories each at NY Islanders on Oct. 12 and in Carolina on Oct. 17, a 3-1 loss in Philadelphia on Oct. 19, a 5-2 setback in Dallas on Oct. 20, a 2-1 win at NY Rangers on Oct. 23, a 3-2 loss at Tampa Bay on Oct. 25, a 1-1 tie at Florida on Oct. 26 and a 3-2 loss in Pittsburgh on Oct. 28. That follows a season-opening 5-4 win at home vs. Nashville on Oct. 11.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins next face a two-game home stand, hosting the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on Oct. 31 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio) and hosting the NY Rangers on Nov. 2 (7:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio). They will then face the Red Wings in Detroit on Nov. 7 (8:00 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio).

Upcoming Capitals Games
The Capitals open a two-game home stand tonight with Boston and also host Tampa Bay on Nov. 1. They will then face a two-game road trip at Philadelphia on Nov. 2 and at Columbus on Nov. 5.

Bruins Injuries
John Grahame: Separated shoulder suffered Oct. 16 in Vancouver; out indefinitely.
Martin Lapointe: Fractured foot suffered Oct. 17 in Calgary; out indefinitely.
Sergei Samsonov: Wrist sprain; day-to-day.

Bruins October Transactions
Oct. 5: Jay Henderson and Tim Thomas assigned to Providence/AHL.
Oct. 7: Shaone Morrisonn assigned to Providence/AHL.
Oct. 8: Joe Thornton named 17th captain in team history.
Oct. 10: Colton Orr assigned to Kamloops/WHL; Carl Corazzini assigned to Atlantic City/ECHL.
Oct. 17: Tim Thomas recalled from Providence/AHL.
Oct. 27: Jarno Kultanen assigned to Providence/AHL on a conditioning assignment.
Oct. 28: Jarno Kultanen recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

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Injury Report

Injury Report

Boston Injuries
Sergei Samsonov RW Wrist day-to-day ***
Martin Lapointe LW Foot Out 4-6 weeks
John Grahame G Shoulder Out indefinitely
Kyle McLaren D Holdout Out indefinitely

*** Samsonov is targeting a Saturday return but the Bruins want him to sit until 11/7 @ Detroit


Washington Injuries
Olaf Kolzig G Hand 4-6 days
Brendan Witt D Leg day-to-day

 

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Recent Trends
Boston is 5-1 ATS on the road.
The under is 8-1 in the past nine meetings.
The over is 4-2 in BOS's last six overall.
The home team is 4-0 SU, 3-0 ATS in the past four meetings.
The Caps are 0-3 ATS on one days rest.
The under is 7-1 in Washington's last eight overall.

 

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Recent Meetings ('99-'00, '00-'01, '01-'02)
Date Home Away Line ATS
1/14/2002 Wash. 1 Bos. 0 N,N/N -/-
1/5/2002 Bos. 7 Wash. 4 0,-175/5.5 Bos./O
12/13/2001 Wash. 2 Bos. 1 0,-140/5.5 Wash./U
10/8/2001 Bos. 4 Wash. 0 0,105/5.5 Bos./U

1/5/2001 Wash. 1 Bos. 1 0,-185/5.5 P/U
12/2/2000 Bos. 0 Wash. 2 0,-130/5.5 Wash./U
12/1/2000 Wash. 3 Bos. 2 0,-170/5.5 Wash./U
10/26/2000 Bos. 4 Wash. 1 0,-115/5.5 Bos./U

2/25/2000 Wash. 0 Bos. 3 0,-260/5.5 Bos./U
2/8/2000 Bos. 2 Wash. 2 0,105/5.5 P/U

 

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Boston Globe 10/29/02

Boston Globe 10/29/02

Gill gets a thrill out of challenge

WILMINGTON - No doubt, when Jaromir Jagr lies awake at night thinking about playing Boston, his focus is on any way he can avoid Bruins defenseman Hal Gill. When Jagr was playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, no one was better at bottling up the blazing right wing than Gill.

Now with the Capitals, whom the Bruins play tomorrow night at the MCI Center, Jagr doesn't seem to have any more luck against Gill with his current team than he did with his past, and Gill plans to keep it that way.

''Of course you get up for every game, but sure I look forward to it,'' said Gill, whose team takes a seven-game unbeaten streak into the contest (5-0-2-0). ''It's fun. I like playing against him. It's a challenge. I think he's got a better cast of characters in Washington. I don't want to say if he's [having an off night] they can pick it up, but they can win games without him, that's the biggest thing.''

The addition of center Robert Lang, acquired from Pittsburgh to play with Jagr, makes the Capitals that much tougher.

''[Lang's] sneaky,'' said Gill, who as of yesterday was tied with several players including teammate Nick Boynton for second in the league in plus-minus with a plus-nine ranking. ''He doesn't do the one-on-one thing, but he makes some nice passes and sets up people around him pretty well.''

When asked why Gill has such strong performances against Jagr, the five-time Art Ross Trophy winner, coach Robbie Ftorek said he couldn't say for sure.

''He probably feels comfortable playing against him,'' said the coach. ''He's probably been given the challenge in the past and obviously he's had good success with it and he's gained the confidence that he can do a good job against him. There's no question [his] reach has to play an important role. I just hope [the success] continues.''

The Bruins say they haven't given a lot of thought to their record, but given who they lost over the summer and the rash of injuries on the six-game road trip, having lost just one game of the first eight is that much more remarkable.

''We're just trying to go out and win each game as it goes,'' said Gill. ''The good part of the team is we're not looking too far ahead. We played Atlanta and they're a tough team and we had to find a way to win that. We weren't getting the breaks and things weren't going our way and we had to make them go our way.''

The fans seem to be taking a wait-and-see attitude toward the club. There has been little or no buzz to this point, but Gill said he understands. As a native New Englander, he's grown up with the roller-coaster nature of Boston sports.

''The world's going to end tomorrow,'' said Gill, referring to the Chicken Little mentality. ''It's like, `Don't worry about it, they'll lose five games in a row.' I try not to pay attention to that. Is it everywhere else? I don't know. That's just the way Boston fans are. They're going to love us at the end when we're winning games. That's what it comes down to, just win, that's all they want. It's like the Patriots, first it's `Brady's the best,' then `We should've never traded Bledsoe.'''

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Ftorek said he's expecting goalie John Grahame, who is recovering from a right shoulder separation, to be sidelined through the weekend at least. He said there's an outside chance left wing Sergei Samsonov, who has a sprained right wrist, might be back on Saturday against the Rangers. But the coach said it's more likely he'll be held out until the club's next game after that - in Detroit Nov. 7 - which would give Samsonov an additional five days of rest.

''There's no reason to be rushing back,'' said Ftorek. ''You've got to take care of your assets.''

Samsonov, who celebrated his 24th birthday Sunday, said it's hard not to get impatient.

''We'll see how it goes, but we're shooting for Saturday,'' said Samsonov. ''It's been frustrating.''

Grahame, who has been practicing with the team, said he hasn't had any setbacks.

''Sometimes you can't rush it,'' said Grahame. ''It's still sore. It still has swelling in it, but we're just trying to wait for that to go out. It doesn't hurt making blocker saves, they're just worried about if I'm down and I have to stretch out. It gets pretty hectic out there. You want to be back as quickly as you can but you don't want to screw it up.''

 

[the mugs]

From Caps website...

From Caps website...

Capitals Recall Charpentier from Portland, Place Kolzig on IR
Defenseman Alex Henry Available for Wednesday
_____________________________________________________________________
Oct. 28, 2002 - The Washington Capitals today recalled goaltender Sebastien Charpentier from Portland of the American Hockey League and placed goaltender Olie Kolzig on the injured reserve list, announced vice president and general manager George McPhee. The team also made room for defenseman Alex Henry on their 23-man roster by reassigning right wing Mike Farrell to Portland.

Charpentier, a 25-year-old native of Drummondville, Que., was reassigned to Portland on Oct. 12 after serving as Kolzig?s back-up on opening night, Oct. 11 against Nashville. Since his reassignment the 5? 9?, 189-pound netminder has posted a 1-1-2 record, 2.17 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in four AHL games. Charpentier earned his first shutout of 2002-03 in Portland?s 5-0 win against Lowell on Oct. 27. Last season Charpentier made his first NHL appearances in Washington?s final two games, posting a 3-1 win in Buffalo on April 12 and suffering a 4-3 overtime loss to New Jersey on April 13.

Can Biller and Charpy handle the load?
Kolzig started six of Washington?s first seven games and posted a 4-2-0 record, 2.07 goals-against average and .939 save percentage. Kolzig is the Capitals franchise leader in games played (422), minutes played (24,191) and wins (186), and his .939 save percentage ranks second among NHL netminders this season. Kolzig served as back-up to Craig Billington in Pittsburgh on Monday after injuring his hand during the morning skate.

The Capitals claimed Henry off waivers from Edmonton on Oct. 24. The 23-year-old blueliner played in Edmonton?s first three regular-season games prior to sitting out the next three Oilers? games as a healthy extra. Edmonton selected the 6? 5?, 220-pound, Elliot Lake, Ont., native in the third round, 67th overall, in the 1998 Entry Draft. In his first three professional seasons Henry played 185 games for Hamilton of the AHL, recording seven goals, 11 assists (18 points) and 299 penalty minutes.

Farrell cracked Washington?s opening-night roster following training camp and played in four of the Capitals? first nine games. The 24-year-old Edina, Minn., native played his first eight NHL games with Washington in 2001-02 and played 61 games with Portland last season in which he notched 12 goals and 15 assists (27 points) and accumulated 62 penalty minutes.

Washington plays its second home game of 2002-03, Wednesday against Boston at MCI Center. For information on Capitals tickets, click HERE or call 202.432.SEAT.