Projo Bruins Blog

January 2006 Archives

Joe McDonald

PROVIDENCE _ Ben Guite plays with a passion that is second to none.
The Providence Bruins forward and assistant captain exudes professionalism, and because of the tireless effort Guite has earned the ultimate promotion in the hockey world.
After tonight's 4-1 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, P-Bruins coach Scott Gordon informed Guite, 27, that the Boston Bruins called him up. He will likely make his NHL debut against the New York Islanders tonight at the Garden.
While it was a special night for Providence as it recorded its 500th all-time franchise victory, Guite picked up an assist while Jeremy Reich, Tyler Redenbach, Ben Walter and Sean Curry (empty net) provided the goals. Goaltender Jordan Sigalet made 20.
Guite was heading to Boston after last night's game because he didn't want to take a chance with the traffic in the morning.
"It's pretty amazing and I feel pretty good right now," said Guite. "This is what you play for your entire life."
As soon as the P-Bruins concluded their game last night, Gordon was thrilled with the opportunity Guite earned.
"Benny is a guy who takes nothing for granted," said Gordon. "Because of that, he lives every moment very passionately. His drive to succeed has been phenomenal from the day he arrived here on a tryout two years ago."
Gordon has asked just about everything from Guite and then some. He can play almost every position. He is solid on face offs. He plays on both special-team units, and would probably even play net if the coach asked.
"He has done everything a player can do to give himself the best chance to get called up," said Gordon. "When the time comes and he gets his opportunity, you will have the blueprint of how a player should follow."
Guite was originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens as their eighth selection (172nd overall) in the 1997 NHL Entry draft. This is his second season the Bruins' organization and this is the first time in his six-year pro career that he is on an NHL contract.
On and off the ice, he has maximized his potential in every aspect and because of that he will get an opportunity sooner rather then later.
During offseason meetings, the organization's brass decides which players will be invited back, and according to Gordon having Guite in a Bruins sweater this season was a "no-brainer."
"The way he finished last year and played in the playoffs, if there was one guy we could take from our roster, he would be the one," said Gordon. "He brings so much versatility, and he isn't mediocre. He does such a great job at whatever role you want, and he sets a great example for our younger guys."
He won't know until game time if he will play against the Islanders, either way he realizes all his hard work has paid off.
"It feels good," he said. "There were a lot of times in my career when I thought this would never happen, including this year. This is pretty amazing."

Bruins veteran defenseman Brian Leetch left practice early yesterday and it appears he will be out of the lineup with a groin injury against the Stars today. Jiri Slegr will likely play.

Goaltender Tim Thomas will start today.

There will be an 'A' on Patrice Bergeron's sweater today, and deservingly so.

Bruins defenseman Nick Boynton will be in the lineup tonight after missing the last 13 games. He fractured his kneecap on Dec. 4 and admitted after the team's game-day skate this morning that he is ready to go.

Glen Murray was sporting a walking cast on his right foot today and will not play tonight. He took a shot off the inside of his foot during the second period on Tuesday, and the veteran forward said yesterday he expects to be out one week. He was leaving the Garden to have an MRI taken today, which was originally scheduled for yesterday. The x-rays he had taken after Tuesday's game were inconclusive.

To replace Murray, P-Bruins rookie forward Ben Walter was recalled today. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound centerman will make his NHL debut tonight, wearing No. 72 for the Bruins. In 29 games for Providence, he has 7 goals, 15 assists for 22 points, while sporting a plus-1 rating.

Andrew Raycroft will start against the Kings tonight.

Joe McDonald

BOSTON _ As soon as the final buzzer sounded, ending the Bruins’ lopsided, 6-2, loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday at the Garden, Boston players quickly discarded the debacle.

"You can file that one under BG, bad game," said veteran forward Tom Fitzgerald after practice yesterday. "It's time to get back on the horse and come out swinging. When we work our tail off we've been successful."

Fortunately for the Bruins, they are right back at it tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. Prior to last night's loss, Boston has been playing better of late and the club looking to rebound in a big way.

"You have to be your so-called A-game every night," said Fitzgerald. "The effort and energy has to be automatic. The only way we are going to be successful is by everyone chipping in. [Losing] like this hasn't been a habit. This was a beginning-of-the-year scenario, and I don't believe this all of a sudden is our identity. We've been working hard and we've been doing a lot of smart things."

The hype of Thornton's return no doubt had an effect on the night, but the Bruins are looking ahead to the Kings tonight.

"L.A. is playing extremely well," added Fitzgerald. "And, we know we have to bring our 'A' effort."

*Bruins defenseman Hal Gill, who was injured when Joe Thornton hit him from behind in the first period on Tuesday, had an MRI taken on his shoulder yesterday. Gill's streak of 156 consecutive games will likely come to an end tonight.

*Bruins forward Glen Murray took a shot off the foot during the second period of Tuesday's game, but was able to play through the pain. He was not at practice yesterday and had an MRI taken. He's is questionable for tonight's game.

*Due to Murray's injury, Bruins coach Mike Sullivan said there's a possibility a player could be called up from Providence. Veteran Shawn McEachern has been battling back problems and has missed the last 12 games in Providence.
Sullivan said if needed, the Bruins would recall the best player and Nathan Robinson fits that bill.
"He has good speed and has pretty good offensive instincts," said Sullivan. "He has played pretty well as of late."
In 35 games, Robinson has 15 goals, 17 assists for 32 points, while sporting a plus-4 rating.

*Bruins defenseman Nick Boynton will likely be in the lineup tonight. He suffered a broken kneecap on Dec. 4 and said he's ready to go. He participated in contract drills yesterday and his knee responded well. Originally, his return was slated for Saturday, but with Gill likely out, Boynton will have to step in.

*The Providence Journal reported last Sunday that Bruins coach Mike Sullivan was given a contract extension through the 2006-2007 season. For some reason, the club decided not to announce the news last September.
"It was not an issue for Mike or the team," said general manager Mike O'Connell. "We just decided to do it, so we got it done."

After leaving Saturday's game in the waning seconds with a leg injury, Bruins goaltender Andrew Raycroft will play tonight against Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks.

On Saturday Raycroft said he "tweaked" the area below his knee, and now it's being classified as just a bone bruise. He said after this morning's game-day skate that "all systems are a go."

Tim Thomas, who cleared waivers earlier today, will likely serve as his backukp.

Goaltender Tim Thomas cleared waivers at noon today and will be sporting a Bruins sweater tonight.

The Bruins told Tim Thomas earlier this season that if the club needed him, it would recall him from Providence and take a chance that he would clear waivers.

Well, Thomas has been placed on waivers and has 24 hours to clear before he can play in Boston.

It's a gamble the Bruins need to take, especially with both Hannu Toivonen (ankle) and Andrew Raycroft (bone bruise) injured. Toivonen, who suffered a sprain against Ottawa last week, is expected to miss 8-10 days. Raycroft, who "tweaked" his knee on Saturday against Tampa Bay, missed practice today. It's likely, however, that he will start tomorrow against the Sharks.

Jordan Sigalet and Mike Brown were the two netminders at practice today.

Thomas has been playing well over the last six weeks and deserves a promotion. But, because he has been playing so well there is a chance another team can scoop him up before tomorrow.

It's a chance the Bruins need to take.

Alex Zhamnov suffered a broken left ankle in the waning minutes of the second period against the Lightning. He was attempting a hip check on Evgeny Artyukhin when he hit the half-wall and went down awkwardly. The centerman needed help off the ice and was escorted down the tunnel and into the locker room.

He missed the first 17 games of the season with a broken rib, which he suffered in the last preseason game against the New York Islanders.

Boston Bruins goaltender Hannu Toivonen, who injured his right ankle on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, received the results from his MRI and it showed no ligament damage. The rookie netminder said Friday night that his ankle is sore and there is some swelling. The injury is being classified as a sprain and he's day-to-day.

"It should be all right," said Toivonen. "It's not huge, and it only feels like a sprain. But, only time will tell."

He was at the Garden for treatment this morning and was walking with a bit of a limp.

Bruins forward Sergei Samsonov skated this morning and could be in the lineup tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has battling the flu all week and he said after today's optional game-day skate that he will be a game-time decision.

"The bug has been going around the club and now it's my turn," he said. "I couldn't get up and spent two days in bed. I had a fever, chills and felt like I was dying.

He missed Thursday's game against the Ottawa Senators and did not practice with the team on Friday. He said he still feels weak and attempted to sweat out the rest of the bug this morning. Clearly, he looked exhausted.

Hannu Toivonen, who injured his right ankle on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, will have the results of his MRI on Saturday.

The rookie netminder said tonight that his ankle is sore and there is some swelling. Fortunately, x-rays were negative and now he just has to wait and see. At this point, the injury is being classified as a sprain. There's no timetable how long he will be out.

While the Bruins await word on Hannu Toivonen's right ankle sprain, the club recalled goaltender Jordan Sigalet from Providence.

After the Bruins have a better idea to the extent of Toivonen's injury, they will re-evaluate the goaltending situation. If Toivonen is out only a couple of days, it is likely Sigalet will remain the backup. However, if Toivonen is out longer, Tim Thomas could be called up. He would have to clear waivers, though.

Toivonen is having an MRI taken this afternoon and I will have the results later today.

Hannu Toivonen will start tonight against the Ottawa Senators. This will be his sixth start in the last seven games for the rookie netminder.

Toivonen, 21, enters tonight's game with a 9-5-4 record, including a 2.67 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

"He has played extremely well for us," said coach Mike Sullivan. "He has certainly given us a chance to win on most nights. He's been making timely saves, and it is those types of saves a team needs to win consistently. Hannu has given us that opportunity."

Andrew Raycroft, the reigning Calder Trophy winner as the league's Rookie of the Year (2003-2004), has struggled a bit, posting a 5-14-2 record. In 21 games he has a 3.45 goals-against average and a .885 save percentage.

"Razor, one of his best assets is his intelligence and his ability to read the play," said Sullivan. "I think when you face a bit of adversity you struggle, and it's hard to be instinctive. Things happen so fast out there and when you can't act on your instincts, it's difficult to be successful. There's a fine line, especially being a goaltender and I think that is what Razor is fighting the most right now.

"We believe in Razor and he is a big part of our team and he will continue to be a big part of this team," added Sullivan. "We are going to help him work through this."

The Boston Bruins have changed the start time for their game vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday at TD Banknorth Garden to 5 p.m. from 7 p.m.

"We know that Boston Bruins fans are also fans of the other sports teams in town,” said Bruins president Harry Sinden. “We are making this change to allow our fans the opportunity to enjoy both our game and the New England Patriots game later that evening."

Providence Bruins' Tim Thomas has been named the AHL's Goaltender of the Month for December.

Thomas posted a 10-4-0 record with a 1.68 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage in 14 games. The veteran netminder is the team's all-time leader with 11 shutouts. His latest award proves, once more, just how good he is.

"I'm having fun and I'm enjoying my teammates," he said. "Obviously things are easier around the rink when you're winning. But, it's nice to be recognized."

Thomas left a pretty sweet deal playing in Finland to resign with the Bruins during training camp this season. But, he was assigned to Providence at the end of camp and was clearly disappointed.

For the last six weeks, however, he has been playing like the Tim Thomas of old and the P-Bruins are benefiting.

"When you have success and you win, you have fun," said P-Bruins coach Scott Gordon. "He's really turned his game around in a short amount of time."

Hannu Toivonen is starting for the Bruins today, while fellow rookie Antero Niittymaki gets the nod for the Flyers. The two Finnish netminders faced each other during the AHL's Eastern Conference Finals last season. In fact, both have been mentioned as the possible backup for the Finnish Olympic team.

It's been just over one month since my last post, and I apologize for that. Prior to the season I promised to bring you breaking news and up-to-the-minute information on the Bruins. Due to a family matter I was unable to keep my promise. Well, beginning today I assure you the Bruins blog will be updated as it should be.

Boston has a busy month at home, playing 10 games at The Garden. So, stay tuned.