Wednesday's Bruins...

[the mugs]

BOSTON BRUINS at FLORIDA PANTHERS

Wednesday, January 15, 2003
Office Depot Center; Sunrise FL
7:30 PM (ET) - Gametime
7:00 PM (ET) - Boston Globe Pre-Game Report

Tonight?s Game
The Bruins visit the Panthers tonight in the second of four games between these clubs this season and the first of two games of this season's series at Office Depot Center. The Bruins are 22-16-4-1 overall and are 9-9-2-1 on the road thus far this season. The Panthers are 12-15-9-8 overall with a 4-8-5-4 record on home ice thus far this season. The Bruins are 6-3-1-0 vs. Southeast Division opponents this season and are 16-13-3-0 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes. The Panthers are 2-0-2-1 this season vs. Northeast Division opponents and they are 8-7-6-6 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 16-15-4-1 lifetime vs. the Panthers with a 101-99 scoring advantage in those 36 games. On the road, the Bruins are 9-7-0-1 lifetime vs. Florida with a 50-47 scoring edge in those 17 games. The Bruins are unbeaten in their last five games vs. the Panthers at 4-0-1-0, including a 3-3 tie in Boston on Dec. 21 in the first game of this season's series. Their last loss to the Panthers was a 2-1 loss in Florida on Feb. 16, 2001.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have split their last two games at 1-1-0-0 with a 6-2 win over Toronto on Jan. 11 and a 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Jan. 13. They are 3-7-1-0 in their last 11 games and are 3-12-1-0 in their last 16 contests overall.

Recent Panthers Games
The Panthers have lost their last five games at 0-4-0-1 with a 3-2 loss in Vancouver on Jan. 4, a 2-1 overtime loss to Detroit on Jan. 8, a 2-1 loss to New Jersey on Jan. 10, a 12-2 loss in Washington on Jan. 11 and a 6-2 loss in New Jersey on Jan. 13. They are 2-5-1-4 in their last 12 games with their last win a 4-1 victory in Colorado on Jan. 2.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins conclude their current two-game road trip in Atlanta on Jan. 17 (7:30 p.m.). They will return home to host Columbus on Jan. 18 (7:00 p.m.) and Washington on Jan. 20 (1:00 p.m.). All games are broadcast on NESN and WBZ Radio.

Upcoming Panthers Games
The Panthers open a four-game home stand tonight, continuing by hosting Pittsburgh on Jan. 18, Montreal on Jan. 20 and Ottawa on Jan. 22.

Bruins Injuries
Sergei Samsonov: Dec. 24 right wrist surgery; out indefinitely.
Joe Thornton: Elbow infection; day-to-day.
Rob Zamuner: Broken right foot suffered Jan. 7 in Toronto; out indefinitely.

Bruins January Transactions
Jan. 6: Shaone Morrisonn returned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 6: Ivan Huml assigned to Providence/AHL.
Jan. 6: Krzysztof Oliwa acquired from NY Rangers for 2004 ninth round draft pick.
Jan. 9: Andy Hilbert recalled from Providence/AHL.
Jan. 13: John Grahame traded to Tampa Bay for 2004 fourth round draft pick.
Jan. 13: Andrew Raycroft recalled from Providence/AHL.

 

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Bruins Recall Two

The Boston Bruins have recalled right wing Martin Samuelsson (left) and defenseman Rich Brennan from their American Hockey League affiliate in Providence (RI), it was announced today by Bruins General Manager Mike O'Connell. Samuelsson who will turn 21 years old on January 25th, is looking to play his first NHL game. Both players will join the Bruins in Sunrise, Florida where they will take on the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night (7:30 p.m.; NESN & WBZ Radio).

 

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Boston Injuries
Rob Zamuner LW Foot Out indefinitely
Joe Thornton C Elbow Out Wed
Sergei Samsonov F Wrist Mid March
Kyle McLaren D Holdout Out indefinitely

Florida Injuries
Branislav Mezei D Foot Out indefinitely
Stephane Matteau F Hip I-R
Paul Laus D Wrist Out indefinitely

 

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Recent Trends
BOS is 13-7 ATS playing on one day's rest.
BOS is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings.
BOS is 1-6 ATS in its last seven overall.
The over is 5-1 in BOS's last six overall.
FLA is 2-9 ATS in its last 11 overall.
The under is 6-2-2 in FLA's last 10 overall.

 

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Recent Meetings
Date Home Away Line ATS
12/21/2002 Bos. 3 Fla. 3 -0.5,-220/5.5 Fla./O (02-03)

3/23/2002 Fla. 1 Bos. 3 0,240/5.5 Bos./U (01-02)
2/9/2002 Bos. 4 Fla. 1 -1.5,-105/5.5 Bos./U
1/26/2002 Bos. 4 Fla. 2 -1.5,-110/5.5 Bos./O
12/28/2001 Fla. 1 Bos. 7 0,135/5 Bos./O

2/16/2001 Fla. 2 Bos. 1 0,105/5.5 Fla./U (00-01)
1/22/2001 Bos. 2 Fla. 3 0,-240/5.5 Fla./U
12/29/2000 Fla. 3 Bos. 0 0,115/5.5 Fla./U
10/9/2000 Bos. 4 Fla. 2 0,130/6 Bos./P

4/5/2000 Fla. 6 Bos. 3 0,-300/5.5 Fla./O (99-00)

 

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Boston Globe 1.15.03

Boston Globe 1.15.03

Thornton might play on Friday

SUNRISE, Fla. - The Bruins could have captain Joe Thornton back in the lineup as early as Friday in Atlanta.

Thornton, who has missed four games because of an infected left elbow and will be sidelined again tonight when the Bruins take on the Florida Panthers, is expected to join his teammates in Atlanta and will practice with them tomorrow. If all goes well, coach Robbie Ftorek said, Thornton will suit up against the Thrashers.

Ftorek said Thornton skated yesterday. ''He did fine,'' said the coach.

Because Thornton has been able to exercise, Ftorek doesn't think the layoff - it has been 11 days since he played - will be extended.

''He's going to practice first and we'll see how he is,'' said the coach. ''He hasn't been laid up. He's been able to walk and do other things. His legs aren't in game shape, but we'll see how it is.

''It depends on what the injuries are. If you're talking groins and stuff like that, that's different. Where he's injured, the only thing you have to worry about it is falling on it or [re-infection]. It's not an injury you can re-hurt by playing.''

In one piece

The only Bruin who didn't skate yesterday was defenseman Sean O'Donnell, who took a shot off the foot in the Pittsburgh game Monday night and feared it was broken. Because the team left right after the contest, O'Donnell wasn't able to have the foot X-rayed until yesterday. The test was negative, however, and Ftorek thinks O'Donnell will be ready to play tonight. ''He should be fine,'' said Ftorek...

The Bruins recalled two players from Providence yesterday, and both are expected to participate in this morning's pregame skate. En route are forward Martin Samuelsson and defenseman Rich Brennan. Samuelsson, who could make his NHL debut tonight wearing No. 43, has 18 goals and 10 assists in 42 games with the Baby B's. Brennan, who is Providence's captain, is tops in the American Hockey League in scoring among defensemen with 32 points (3 goals) in 41 games. He is scheduled to wear No. 59 ...

The Bruins come in against a team that has struggled of late, losing five in a row. The Panthers have dropped four in regulation and one in overtime, getting outscored badly - 25-8 - in that span.