Todays tidbits...
WILMINGTON - The ebb and flow of the Bruins' roster yesterday carried both Sergei Samsonov and Hal Gill into troubled waters, injuries from the night before prohibiting either from skating in the off-day workout.
Gill, sometimes logging 30 minutes a game along the blue line of late, injured a shoulder (unspecified) and did not play in the third period of Tuesday's 3-2 win in Atlanta.
Samsonov, the club's top scorer (10-19-29), made it through the game with the Thrashers, but ''tweaked'' something, according to coach Robbie Ftorek. Affix the tweak where you will. Word around the dressing room was Samsonov, a sure-shot for the Russian Olympic squad, hurt a knee (unspecified) in the late stages of Tuesday's victory.
According to Ftorek, Gill ''probably won't'' play tonight when the Bruins take on the Penguins at the FleetCenter. As for Samsonov, the tight-lipped coach said, ''We're not so sure'' about his availability.
Late yesterday, the Bruins' front office said Gill had been diagnosed with tendinitis of the shoulder biceps and is day-to-day. Samsonov, according to the club, has a slight leg injury, and his status will be evaluated today.
Options? Look for Jonathan Girard, called up for a look in Atlanta, to remain in the lineup, and for Jamie Rivers likely to flip into Gill's spot. Defenseman Jarno Kultanen is nearly ready to return from a knee injury, but it's more likely he won't play until next week.
If Samsonov is out, Ftorek could plug extra forward John Emmons, scratched in Atlanta, back into the equation. Or it's possible the Bruins will call back Ivan Huml, returned to Providence after a one-game look-see Tuesday. P.J. Stock(high ankle sprain) is close to coming back, but he might not get a look until the weekend.
''I thought Jonathan did a good job,'' said Ftorek, appraising Girard's first game this season. ''He got in trouble one time, trying to do too much, but we all do that.''
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Net gains for Guerin
Bill Guerin's pair of third-period goals, only 18 seconds apart, made up a little for the couple of dozen posts he has rung this season. He has at least one goal in each of the last four games, and totals of 5-1-6.
''I've been a little more selective in my shooting lately,'' said Guerin, who remained atop the league yesterday with 138 shots. ''I'm not out there just shooting to shoot. I'm not trying to press the puck to the net, make something happen if there is nothing there. I've got that little bit of confidence now to handle the puck and maybe look for someone else.''
Guerin's contract runs out at the end of the season, at which time he will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his NHL career. The sides have yet to talk about an extension.
''This year is a little different than any before,'' he said. ''Before, when I was a restricted free agent, I knew I wasn't going anywhere. My choices were sign, go to arbitration, or hold out. But this time, who knows what is going to happen?''
The fact that no talks have taken place? Not to worry, said Guerin.
''It's still early,'' he said. ''I'm sure they have things they want to think about, and decisions they have to make.''
The biggest decision: Do they want to pay Guerin upward of, say, $32 million for the four seasons beginning 2002-03?
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Taking one from team
Stock and Kultanen, each looking fit enough to return from their injuries, skated through the dreaded gauntlet at the end of practice. All the Bruins, including goalies, dropped sticks and lined up along the boards for the drill. Stock and Kultanen then had to skate through the line of 20-something teammates, fighting through bodychecks and facewashes, and then turning around for a return trip.
''That's one reason not to get hurt,'' said Kyle McLaren, who faced similar fire when he came back from a chest injury a couple of weeks ago. ''Quite a trip, and you have to buy a round-trip ticket - not one of the safest trips, either.''
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Severe power outage
The Bruins' woeful 1-for-43 (2.3 percent) stretch on the power play across the last 13 games had them ranked 20th in the league as of yesterday morning. ''Obviously, you'd like to have more goals from it,'' said a patient Ftorek. ''You want to be better. You want to produce. But getting mad about it isn't going to get you those goals. When we get it goin', we'll get a pot-full of 'em.''
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Without back-to-back games now until Wednesday-Thursday of next week, it could be a while before John Grahame bumps Byron Dafoe out of the net for a one-game respite. Grahame's last outing was his 3-2 win over the Canucks Nov. 23. ''No question he's going to get in,'' said Ftorek. Just don't ask the date ... Don't look for Mario Lemieux in the Pittsburgh lineup. Still hindered by a hip injury, Mario Magnifique could be sidelined through the holidays. A protracted absence in January could put his spot on the Canadian Olympic squad in jeopardy ... One-third of the way through the NHL schedule, the Bruins hold a 939-634 shot advantage ... A bunch of the Bruins will be on hand tomorrow, approximately 2 p.m., at the Toys ''R'' Us in Woburn for a charity shopping spree. The players have donated their own money, with the sum matched by the club, and they'll be loading up carts with gifts for children at local homeless shelters and hospitals.
WILMINGTON - The ebb and flow of the Bruins' roster yesterday carried both Sergei Samsonov and Hal Gill into troubled waters, injuries from the night before prohibiting either from skating in the off-day workout.
Gill, sometimes logging 30 minutes a game along the blue line of late, injured a shoulder (unspecified) and did not play in the third period of Tuesday's 3-2 win in Atlanta.
Samsonov, the club's top scorer (10-19-29), made it through the game with the Thrashers, but ''tweaked'' something, according to coach Robbie Ftorek. Affix the tweak where you will. Word around the dressing room was Samsonov, a sure-shot for the Russian Olympic squad, hurt a knee (unspecified) in the late stages of Tuesday's victory.
According to Ftorek, Gill ''probably won't'' play tonight when the Bruins take on the Penguins at the FleetCenter. As for Samsonov, the tight-lipped coach said, ''We're not so sure'' about his availability.
Late yesterday, the Bruins' front office said Gill had been diagnosed with tendinitis of the shoulder biceps and is day-to-day. Samsonov, according to the club, has a slight leg injury, and his status will be evaluated today.
Options? Look for Jonathan Girard, called up for a look in Atlanta, to remain in the lineup, and for Jamie Rivers likely to flip into Gill's spot. Defenseman Jarno Kultanen is nearly ready to return from a knee injury, but it's more likely he won't play until next week.
If Samsonov is out, Ftorek could plug extra forward John Emmons, scratched in Atlanta, back into the equation. Or it's possible the Bruins will call back Ivan Huml, returned to Providence after a one-game look-see Tuesday. P.J. Stock(high ankle sprain) is close to coming back, but he might not get a look until the weekend.
''I thought Jonathan did a good job,'' said Ftorek, appraising Girard's first game this season. ''He got in trouble one time, trying to do too much, but we all do that.''
=====
Net gains for Guerin
Bill Guerin's pair of third-period goals, only 18 seconds apart, made up a little for the couple of dozen posts he has rung this season. He has at least one goal in each of the last four games, and totals of 5-1-6.
''I've been a little more selective in my shooting lately,'' said Guerin, who remained atop the league yesterday with 138 shots. ''I'm not out there just shooting to shoot. I'm not trying to press the puck to the net, make something happen if there is nothing there. I've got that little bit of confidence now to handle the puck and maybe look for someone else.''
Guerin's contract runs out at the end of the season, at which time he will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his NHL career. The sides have yet to talk about an extension.
''This year is a little different than any before,'' he said. ''Before, when I was a restricted free agent, I knew I wasn't going anywhere. My choices were sign, go to arbitration, or hold out. But this time, who knows what is going to happen?''
The fact that no talks have taken place? Not to worry, said Guerin.
''It's still early,'' he said. ''I'm sure they have things they want to think about, and decisions they have to make.''
The biggest decision: Do they want to pay Guerin upward of, say, $32 million for the four seasons beginning 2002-03?
=====
Taking one from team
Stock and Kultanen, each looking fit enough to return from their injuries, skated through the dreaded gauntlet at the end of practice. All the Bruins, including goalies, dropped sticks and lined up along the boards for the drill. Stock and Kultanen then had to skate through the line of 20-something teammates, fighting through bodychecks and facewashes, and then turning around for a return trip.
''That's one reason not to get hurt,'' said Kyle McLaren, who faced similar fire when he came back from a chest injury a couple of weeks ago. ''Quite a trip, and you have to buy a round-trip ticket - not one of the safest trips, either.''
=====
Severe power outage
The Bruins' woeful 1-for-43 (2.3 percent) stretch on the power play across the last 13 games had them ranked 20th in the league as of yesterday morning. ''Obviously, you'd like to have more goals from it,'' said a patient Ftorek. ''You want to be better. You want to produce. But getting mad about it isn't going to get you those goals. When we get it goin', we'll get a pot-full of 'em.''
=====
Without back-to-back games now until Wednesday-Thursday of next week, it could be a while before John Grahame bumps Byron Dafoe out of the net for a one-game respite. Grahame's last outing was his 3-2 win over the Canucks Nov. 23. ''No question he's going to get in,'' said Ftorek. Just don't ask the date ... Don't look for Mario Lemieux in the Pittsburgh lineup. Still hindered by a hip injury, Mario Magnifique could be sidelined through the holidays. A protracted absence in January could put his spot on the Canadian Olympic squad in jeopardy ... One-third of the way through the NHL schedule, the Bruins hold a 939-634 shot advantage ... A bunch of the Bruins will be on hand tomorrow, approximately 2 p.m., at the Toys ''R'' Us in Woburn for a charity shopping spree. The players have donated their own money, with the sum matched by the club, and they'll be loading up carts with gifts for children at local homeless shelters and hospitals.
