BOSTON BRUINS Page
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BOSTON BRUINS Page
12-30-99: L(OT) 5-4: at
Ottowa
For the second time in towo nights the Bruins were unable to hold
onto at least a tie in an important game for the standings. This
loss to Ottowa is more disheartening because the Bruins had a 4-2
lead going into the 3rd period. Segei Samasonv had a solid game,
with two goals and an assist. Goals were also scored by Joe
Thornton and Anson Carter. Byron Dafoe looked sharp, making many
key saves that could have easily made this game a washout. Jason
Allison missed his second consecutive game due to tendon dmamge
inhis forearm, and ongoing injury. The Bruins have a day off to
lick their wounds before playing New Jersey at home in Boston.
12-29-99: L(OT) 5-4: at
New Jersey
The Bruins came back and tied the game 3 times, but a fluke play
involving Ray Bourque and Don Sweeney resulted in a two-on-none
score in overtime. Bourque and Sweeney ended up running into each
other at the Bruins blue line, and due to the collision let
Patrick Elias tap a puck home past Byron Dafoe. Bourque, Savage,
Andreychuk, and Murphy scored goals for Boston. The Bruins did
get a much needed point due to the game going into overtime, and
did play well and showed grit in coming back 3 times. One final
note, Jason Allison missed the game after apparently aggravating
his wrist in the game versus the New York Islanders.
12-27-99: L 3-0: at
Nassau Colliseum
The Bruins were unable to score on rookie goalie Roberto Luongo
on 34 shots. The Bruins played well, but were unable to score.
Boston's woes in December continue.
12-23-99: T 3-3: at
Boston
The Bruins faced the Montreal Canadiens and earned one point in
this home game. Overall, the Bruins seemed to be much livelier
than in recent games, with a solid game on both sides of the puck.
Jason Allison scored twice, and Joe Thornton added a powerplay
goal against goalie Jeff Hackett, who had 37 saves for the
evening. Dafoe faced 27 shots, and made a few key saves late in
the game to preserve the tie for the Bruins. Boston is 5-0-2 over
the last seven meetings versus the Canadiens. This was the last
game before the Christmas break for the Bruins. One final note: Boston
is one of 5 teams to not suffer an overtime loss yet this season,
along with the Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blue, New York
Islanders, and Carolina Hurricanes.
12-21-99: L 3-1: at
Boston
With only 18 shots taken on Byron Dafoe, the Bruins goaltender
let in 2 resulting in the Bruins loss to the Nashville Predators
(the Predators added an empty net goal at the end.) The Bruins
are now 1-5-2 in their last eight games at the Fleet Center, and
are 2-6-2 in their last ten games overall. Jason Allison scored
22 seconds into the first period, but Cliff Ronning came back 95
seconds later to tie the game. Mike Dunham was in net for the
Predators, and looked sharp making key saves throughout the game.
He finished the game with 37 saves. The Bruins goal-scoring
inconsistency seems to be hurting the team now, and it is a slump
that the B's need to get out of quickly. Burns felt that the
effort to win was there, but a lack of goal-scoring confidence
lost the game for them.
12-18-99: L 4-0: at St.
Louis
Boston goaltender Byron Dafoe faced 34 shots and turned aside 30
in a game where the Bruins were shut out for the third time this
season. Apparently tired after the game vs. Atlanta the previous
night, the Bruins were unable to score on 25 shots against goalie
Roman Turek. Coach Burns was not impressed with the shutout
saying that "...None of those shots were tough. We weren't
dangerous tonight." The Bruins next game is in Boston on the
21st of December against the expansion Nashville Predators.
12-17-99: W 3-2: at
Atlanta
The Bruins had another strong game from goalie Byron Dafoe, and
played well in fron of him as they picked up their 13th win of
the season off of goals from Hal Gill, and two from Anson Carter.
The Bruins are now 17-1-2 over expansion teams, and continue
their road trip with a game in St. Louis tomorrow night.
12-14-99: L 4-2: at
Pittsburgh
Boston came out without their legs early in the game and ended up
with a one goal deficit after the first period. Anson Carter
scored off a one-timer midway through the second, but the
Penguins were able to score again shorthanded before the end of
the period (it was the Bruins 2nd shorthanded goal against them
this season.) Boston scored again in the third on a goal from
Dave Andreychuk, but it was not enough as the Penguins scored
again as well, and added an empty net goal at the end of the game.
Boston's problems seem to regard the passion level they exhibit
in games. They find it difficult to string three solid periods in
a row during a game. The Bruins were able to hold the league's
leading scorer to only one point (an assist that came on the
empty net goal), however, a tribute to the strong defensive game
of Hal Gill, who was matched up against Jagr most of the night.
12-13-99: W 2-0: at
Boston
Byron Dafoe earned his first shutout of the season with a
tremendous effort as the Bruins defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 2-0
in Boston. The first peiod was one of the best that the Bruins
have played in recent games, with them dominating the play, and
finishing checks solidly. Samsonov scored midway through the
first period on a powerplay due to a fine play by Ray Bourque.
The second goal came was scored into an empty net by Rob DiMaio.
This win stopped the Bruins winless streak at 6 games (0-3-3.)
Dafoe looked splendid in net making many key saves to keep the
one goal lead into the waning moments of the third.
12-11-99: L 5-4: at
Boston
Boston led the game briefly in the third period at 3-2 but could
not withstand Detroit's comeback as they fell 5-4. Dafoe made 27
saves on 32 shots, and the Bruins rallied during a 5 on 3
powerplay (with an extra attacker it was actually a 6 on 3) with
21 secs to go. Anson Carter scored the late goal. McLaren scored
in the first period, Samsonov had a powerplay goal in the second,
and Joe Thornton scored early in the third period. Rookie
defenseman Jonathan Girard was moved up to play as a winger due
to the loss of Mikko Eloranta, and Marty McSorley played his
first game of the season as a Boston Bruin.
12-09-99: T 2-2:at
Boston
The Bruins and Edmonton Oilers skated to a 2-2 tie in tonights
game. Bruins goals came from Joe Murphy and Joe Thonton. The
Bruins played well, and showed a lot of passion in this game,
which is what Pat Burns had hoped for. Rookie defenseman Jonathan
Girard did not see any ice time at all, as Burns went with a 5
man defensive group. McSorley did not play in tonight's game, but
will probably be in for Saturday's game versus the Detroit Red
Wings. Mikko Eloranta (4 goals, 4 assists in 21 games) suffered a
broken left ankle in the game, and left on a stretcher. It is not
clear as to when he could possibly return.
12-04-99: L 9-3: at
Boston
I am not even going to write very much about this game, simply
because there isn't much to write. The Bruins failed to execute
in any facet of the game, and Pat Burns was furious with a
players saying "If I could bench the whole team, I would.
But you can't do that." He also said that this week was
going to be a difficult one for the players as far as practices
went. Dafoe started the game but was pulled early in the second
period after letting in 4 goals, Tallas replaced him. Joe
Thornton scored for Boston, as well as Ray Bourque (Ray's 390th
of his career.) Both goals came on the powerplay. Chicago stopped
a four game losing streak with this win. Boston has off until the
9th of Decemeber when they play at home against the Edmonton
Oilers.
12-02-99: T 2-2: at
Washington, D.C.
The Capitals jumped out to a two goal lead early, but the Bruins
countered to tie the game at 2-2 late in the 1st period. Byron
Dafoe had 34 saves, and might have had his best game since
returning to the line-up after his hold-out. The two Bruins goals
were scored by Joe Thornton and Anson Carter. The Bruins had a
total of 27 shots against Olaf Kolzig. Next game for the Bruins
is Saturday, December 4th vs. Chicago in Boston.
OTHER MONTHLY RECAPS:
|
February,
2000*
|
March,
2000*
|
April,
2000*
|
News from December
12-21-99
Defenseman Mattias Timander returned for tonight's game. He
missed 3 weeks with a shoulder seperation. Rookie defensman
Jonathan Girard was scratched to make room on the roster for
Timander, who finished the night with a -1 plus/minus rating.
Actually Don Sweeney was the only player to have a positive plus/minus,
at +1...Shawn Bates is also out with a wrist injury of some sort.
Ken Belanger is still out with post-concussion syndrome.
12-09-99
Rookie forward Mikko Eloranta suffered a broken left ankle in the
Bruins game vs. the Edmonton Oilers. It is unclear how long he
will be out.
12-07-99
The Bruins signed veteran defenseman Marty McSorley to a one year
contract. The Bruins are due to get Rob DiMaio, Kyle McLaren, and
Joe Murphy for tomorrows game vs. the Oilers. McSorley will no
doubt add toughness to the Bruins blueliners and his tancity
should spark the team to play a more physical game, and also take
heat off of Kyle McLaren.
12-06-99
The Bruins are due to get 3 players back from injury for Thursday's
game vs. the Edmonton Oilers. Rob DiMaio (broken foot,) Joe
Murphy (spraigned knee,) and Kyle McLaren (spraigned thumb) are
scheduled to return. Ken Belanger, who suffered a severe
concussion a few weeks ago, is skating and could come back next
week. Mattias Timander (seperated shoulder,) could return by
January as well. The Bruins game vs. the Chicago Blackhawks has
everyone the team expecting a very tough week in practices before
Thursday's game. Noone had anything positive to say about the
effort that the Bruins showed, although the blame for 9 goals was
not a result of bad goaltending, but a breakdown of the Bruins
defensive strategy. After a rout like this, the team could
actually bounce back into the form seen on their 7 game winning
streak. For at least a week, closer to two, the Bruins have
gotten by with mediocre performances from key players. The shock
of this loss should get the fire burning and remind the team that
in the NHL of today, you must bring EVERYTHING to EVERY GAME. If
you don't you cannot win...at least not consistently.
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