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head coach: Pat Burns

roster: C - Anson Carter, Dimitri Khristich, Joe Thornton, Ted Donato, Tim Taylor. LW - Ken Baumgartner, Rob Dimaio, Sergei Samsonov, Jason Allison, Mike Sullivan. RW - Steve Heinze, Landon Wilson, Per Johan Axelsson, Jean Yves Roy. D - Ray Bourque, Don Sweeney, Dave Ellett, Kyle McLaren, Dean Chynoweth, Mattias Timander, Dean Malkoc, Hal Gill, Darren Van Impe, Grant Ledyard. G - Byron Dafoe, Rob Tallas.

injuries: Kyle McLaren, d (broken foot, 4-6 weeks); Don Sweeney, d (broken shoulder blade, out for season).

transactions: None.

standings:

Eastern Conference - Northeast Division
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   
Pittsburgh   70  36  19  15    87  196  161
Boston       69  31  25  13    75  180  162
Montreal     69  32  28   9    73  198  175
Buffalo      68  28  25  15    71  173  159
Ottawa       69  27  30  12    66  163  174
Carolina     67  26  34   7    59  161  184

game results:

3/10 at Detroit    W 6-3
3/12 Calgary       L 5-2 
3/14 Rangers       W 5-1
3/16 Tampa Bay     W 4-3 OT
3/19 Toronto       W 4-0
3/21 at Buffalo    W 2-1
3/22 at Chicago    L 1-0

team news:

by Matt Brown, Boston Correspondent

They are playing like a young team, with surprising results on a night-by-night basis. But at least they are playing like a good young team lately. Nothing wrong with 5-2-0 hockey in the playoff hunt, moving from sixth place to a tie for fourth, and especially vaulting (well, slipping) past the Canadiens in the standings.

The Bruins started out like gangbusters by taking it to the Red Wings in Detroit. The Bruins were off to a 4-0 lead in the first period, and every time Detroit made a run, they struck back. They took advantage of a struggling Chris Osgood, but also put a couple past his replacement, Kevin Hodson. Six different Bruins scored, including Tim Taylor, the Red Wing castoff, who started the rout with a goal only 70 seconds into the game. P.J. Axelsson was all over the place, garnering three assists for his hard work.

Two days later, it was letdown time. Back home against the Flames, a team they should have handled, the Bruins were misfiring all over the ice. Brian Sutter's team looked determined to win one for the ex-Bruins coach, and goalie Dwayne Roloson, who played collegiate hockey for UMASS-Lowell in Hockey East, looked like he wanted to make an impression on the home folk as well. The Bruins had the kind of letdown Pat Burns had warned them against, but feared would happen anyway. When it did, he let them have it in patented Burns style. Most Bruins fans called it the worst game of the year, right on the heels of the best game of the year.

The team rebounded against the Rangers, taking the Blueshirts apart in a game New York desperately needed. Two points against Boston would have been huge for the Gretzkyites, but no way. As it has been so often lately, this was an episode of the Allison-Khristich-Samsonov show, with Allison getting the hat trick and five points, Dimitri two goals and three assists, and Sergei the kid with two assists.

So far, the Bruins were following the young team pattern: beating the occasion better team, losing to a team they should have beaten, then rebounding on emotion to win the next game.

What's next then? Probably a stinker, and the next game against the Lightning did everything possible to try to qualify. Granted, it did not start that way, with Samsonov scoring in the first minute by banking a backhander off Mark Fitzpatrick from behind the goal. Then with about five minutes left in the period, Anson Carter scored on a power play, and things were looking good. Too bad they had to play a second period. The Bruins were inept enough to give up a power-play goal and then the equalizer with about a minute and a half left in the period. Their play earned the team a Pat Burns special between periods. Apparently Pat's speech was emphatic enough that those in the hallway outside the locker room were as likely to be inspired as the team itself.

But things got worse before they got better, when Corey Spring (who?) scored his first NHL goal in the third and the Bolts looked likely to ride that goal to a win. Fitzpatrick looked unbeatable and the Bruins looked very frustrated. It took the grit and effort of one of the Bruins' new breed of veterans to change the script, and one of the old breed to write the climax.

Dimitri Khristich took advantage of a little crease-crashing by Darren Van Impe to poke the puck past Fitzpatrick with around a minute left in the third. Or so said one Dennis Larue, the ruling official. Now, you have to admit, even as a Bs fan, that when the home goal judge, a guy with a face that might as well have had "Boston" tattooed on it, could do no more than shrug his shoulders on camera after never lighting the lamp, that maybe a replay is deserved. Not so, said Mr. Larue, who was willing to check neither Van Impe or the puck on replay. This caused much displeasure to goalie Fitzpatrick, and his apoplectic coach, Jacques Demers. Jacques looked sure to burst a blood vessel, and was animated and angered until well after the game. Pat Burns could only wink afterwards and imply that maybe the Bruins had caught a break on this one.

The Lightning's many misfortunes were epitomized in overtime, where one of the old young Bruins, Steve Heinze, stole a pass, swooped in on goal, and faked Fitzpatrick down and away before tucking in a backhander for the winner. It was a game that the Bruins truly deserved to lose, but fortunately they were playing a team that this year has never gotten an even break.

So the Bruins had broken the win-lose-win-lose mold at Tampa's expense, and had refused to lose to a weak team after beating an okay team. Against their next opponent, also somewhat downtrodden, the Bruins avoided the letdown, perhaps inspired to win one for the coach, who last coached in Toronto before Boston. The Bruins hadn't beaten Toronto in 6 years; the closest they had come was the fateful tie in Toronto two years ago, when Cam Neely and Kevin Stevens kept the bench warm for Coach Steve Kasper. Felix Potvin had positively owned the Bruins. Well, not this game. Potvin was as tough as ever to beat, but his defense let him down enough for Boston to skate to a 4-0 win.

This game was most unusual because it marked the first fighting penalty for Raymond Bourque in close to seven years! Late in the third, with the game well in hand, Raymond took exception to something Mats Sundin grunted, and gave him a good glove cuff in the kisser. That started a major ruckus, and Bourque ended up with a two-minute instigator, a fighting major, and a misconduct. Some wondered if Bourque was perhaps thinking of playing for the American Olympic team next time around, his behavior was so out of character. But apparently the animosity between Bourque and Sundin goes way back, at least in Ray's mind, to a kneeing incident that put Ray out for six weeks when Sundin was with Quebec. Ulfie Sundin? I don't think so.

Two nights later in Buffalo against Dominik "The Dominator" Hasek (rather than his backup Steve Shields, who played in the previous meeting), the Bruins continued their strong play and prevailed 2-1, with Byron Dafoe almost getting another shutout. Hasek played great, but an early miscue cost him. Hasek left a puck behind the net for his defenseman, but P.J. Axelsson got there first and played a wraparound off a diving Hasek's pad for the opening goal. Giving up that first one unhinges Buffalo's game, and with the Bruins reverting to their own checking game, and Buffalo without sparkplug Matthew Barnaby (sitting out with irreconcilable differences while waiting to be traded), the Bruins prevailed. Bourque scored the eventual winner on a power- play slapper in the second, taking advantage of yet another quality screen in front by Khristich.

Unfortunately, the Bruins lost the next day to the Chicago Blackhawks, 1-0, their second straight loss to Jeff Hackett. Didn't he lead the Czech Republic to the Olympic Gold medal? Or was it that other guy who used to play for Chicago (does anybody remember when the Hawks gave away Hasek to Buffalo, and dumped Hackett off to the Sharks?). The loss for the Bruins came after being stuck in a snowstorm in Buffalo and taking a bus straight from the Chicago airport to the rink. The Bruins were a little tired, but still played a strong game, much more so than the game at home in early March, when the Hawks pushed them all around. The Bruins muscled back this day, but could not muscle one past Hackett.

Well, almost. Late in the third period, rookie Paul Bunyan (err, actually 6'7" Hal Gill) drilled a shot past Hackett. Unfortunately, Heinze was airborne in the vicinity, desperately trying to get out of the crease. Everyone on the Bruins thought he was successful, but sadly, those who count didn't. Referee Dennis Larue, more circumspect than in Boston, deferred upstairs to the Video Replay Judge. When the word came down that the goal was disallowed, Pat Burns was almost as livid as Coach Demers had been. Funny how it gets a nod and a wink when the goal counts for you, but wailing and gnashing when it doesn't. Even the usually placid Harry Sinden (that's called sarcasm in Boston) got into the act, to the degree that he blasted the supervisor of officials, Denis Morel. Morel was in the booth and Sinden accused him of overruling the video judge (who, honest man that he was, MUST have been about to award the goal). Not only that, he accused Morel of blowing the call because he didn't understand the crease rule! Harry then called for an exposé of the National Hockey League! Clearly, everyone named Dennis or Denis has it in for the Bruins. Well, Harry, you can be sure that there will be an investigation, but it is likely that Brian Burke will be sending the bill to you rather than Mr. Morel.

The Bruins defensive corps suffered another major blow when Kyle McLaren took a shot off his foot and ended up with a broken bone. Kyle joked that when he said he wanted to be back together with defense partner Don Sweeney, he meant for the injured Sweeney to heal faster, not for himself to join Don on the injured list. Kyle's place is being taken for the time being by the combined efforts of Darren Van Impe and Dean Malkoc, both of whom have been patiently waiting on the scratch list for their chances to contribute. So far, both of them have played hard and played well. Hopefully McLaren will heal fast and be back on or before the playoffs.

The Bruins broke one of their old unwritten rules by signing free agent to be Rob DiMaio to a new contract during the season. DiMaio inked a three-year deal, saying that he wanted to stay in Boston, and felt that the team had been fair to him. Harry Sinden praised DiMaio as a true Bruins player, but he was unclear whether he was referring to DiMaio's work ethic and character, or including his willingness sign without a money fuss in the equation. Be that as it may, DiMaio showed his smarts by recognizing his popularity in Boston, his fortune to be playing for a coach like Pat Burns who can appreciate and get the most out of DiMaio's talent, and the fact that this team as nowhere to go but up, at least of the length of his contract. Going to a loser town or a loser coach would not be in Rob's best interest at this stage of his career.

As the trading deadline approaches, and the Bruins wonder what to do about their defensive injuries, Harry Sinden has placed all the attention on getting a defenseman to replace the injured McLaren. So that usually means that the master of misdirection is actually going after a forward. Now, Harry is loathe to part with young talent. He usually chooses this time to pick up a retread that he can claim with lend veteran experience to the playoff run, but usually ends up stealing oxygen from the other players.

Part of the reason Landon Wilson may have been up with the big club was to showcase his talent in an attempt to deal him for someone who can actually score. Certainly, if the thought was that maybe Pat Burns could rub just a little of whatever he dunked Jason Allison in, that Wilson would show some of his potential. Well, there must not have been enough left for Wilson, because he hasn't impressed. And he probably hasn't earned a ticket out of town either.

So the Bruins remain short of scoring punch. Some point to the falloff of Teddy Donato after his three-game suspension. Well, the real answer is that he was separated from point magnet Allison after the suspension, and he has bounced around the lines ever since. The best move would be to put a stake in the ground, put Heinze and Donato with rookie Joe Thornton, and tell them "Somebody better carry the water." These guys could be a decent second line if given enough of a boot and a little responsibility. This would be the kind of mandate and confidence boost that big Joe needs at this time. If they show little spark, then put the best one of the three with Anson Carter and Mike Sullivan and try it again. Or beg/borrow/steal a stud from a golf-course-bound team like the Islanders, Flames, or the Bolts. Too bad Alexander Selivanov is Phil Esposito's son-in-law.

Another option, probably destined to be filed under the "don't mess up a good thing" category, would be to promote P.J. Axelsson to a second line spot, and have Mike Sullivan take his place on the checking line. Few in Boston doubt that "Gumby," as he is affectionately called, could do more offensively if he were paired with scorers rather than checkers. But breaking up the team's heart and soul checking line doesn't seem like a Pat Burns ticket to the playoffs.

Finally, Pat Burns is obviously close to canonization status in the Boston Archdiocese for raising the Bruins from the dead. Most observers credit him for his handling of Joe Thornton, whom Burns had brought along slowly, and had ridden harshly at times in the kid's best interest. Few who have observed Joe's youthful (if not immature) playing and variable hustle would fault Burns' decisions. They are probably in the young man's best interests. Many a first draft pick has been a bust, or a partial failure, even after a decent first year. Some, like Alexandre Daigle, have been nearly ruined by lofty expectations and pressure. Burns tried to shield Thornton from that and has largely been successful.

Now, however, the suspense about the Bruins as a team is over - they can play and they will make the playoffs. Similarly with Joe - he can play the game, but with Joe, the question remains "how well?" Maybe it is about time for Pat Burns to seek an answer to that question by giving the kid regular and decent ice time, something resembling linemates (see above), and a mandate to do something with it. Obviously, the Bruins playoff hopes will not rise and fall with Joe's line. But if Joe can step up when it means something, it could have a major effect on the team and the fans. In football, a running back needs to be given the ball to run with, or he might as well become a blocker. Joe was a touchdown-type guy in Junior, but now he is rapidly becoming a blocking back. Give him the ball, Pat.

For Joe, it might not be too late emotionally or physiologically, but it sure is financially. Burns bench policies and scratches pretty much have guaranteed that Joe won't make the incentive numbers in his contract, at least those reported at his signing. The numbers were Daigle-level numbers, but the saving grace is that Daigle made those numbers on the first line, while Joe has missed them from the fourth line. If Joe succeeds and becomes a superstar later in his career, he and all Bruins fans will have Pat Burns to thank. But Pat Burns has also let one thing slip away from Joe Thornton - the kid will never have another chance at the Calder Cup for rookie of the year.

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