Keeping his fans at arm's length

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- If you're a friend or family member of Carl Corazzini, you're welcome to attend all Bruins games he plays in. Just don't tell him you're there -- even if you're his parents.

That approach worked well for Corazzini in the minors, and the right wing said he's employing it during his time in the NHL, for as long as it lasts.

"It's something that's been going on ever since I was in Atlantic City," said Corazzini. "When I got back up to Providence, I kind of told my parents I just wanted to concentrate on hockey. If they came, that was great.

"I had them in there the first night I played at home [in Boston, Jan. 19 against the Rangers] but since then, they've been secretly here. The first night I knew everyone was coming. I wasn't going to deny them that. They haven't asked me for tickets or anything like that. I think a lot of people came in but not as many as the first game. I'd rather leave them the two tickets we get and not know if they come.

"I like to have them there but to have to rush out after the game to go see them, that's pretty tough. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and [his parents] just want me to concentrate on that. That's pretty unselfish of them."

It has nothing to do with superstition. On the contrary, Corazzini said, he's not superstitious at all, just anxious.

"It's more of a nervous habit," he said. "But it's been going so well so there's no reason to change it."

Corazzini has caught fire with center Brian Rolston and left wing P.J. Axelsson since they were put together on a line. He said they play to each other's strengths.

"They're a skating line and that's my biggest asset," said Corazzini. "It's really helped me. They've been playing together, so all I had to do was come in and feed off of those guys.

"Those guys are established NHL players and I'm not. I just want to keep the game simple for them and go to the net and chase after pucks and let them do what they've got to do. "

Corazzini made his NHL debut Jan. 15 in Buffalo, and in his fourth contest -- Jan. 20 against the Rangers in New York -- he potted his first two goals in a 4-1 victory.

"I never really expected to come up here and play as much as I did," he said. "I wasn't really concerned about scoring goals. It was more like come in and be a good defensive player and kill some penalties.

"It's pretty exciting. It brought me back down to earth, the Buffalo game, though [a 3-2 loss Jan. 22]. I had kind of a tough one there, but it's been a lot of fun. I don't have to press now and I'm just playing a little more relaxed."

But not relaxed enough to find out where his parents are sitting.

Being cagey

As expected, captain Joe Thornton was back in the lineup, sporting a full cage, after missing three games because of a fractured right cheekbone. Coach Mike Sullivan said at the morning skate that it would be a game-time decision . . . Islanders center Michael Peca missed the contest because of a chest muscle strain . . . The Islanders, eighth in the Eastern Conference, are five points behind the fifth-place Bruins.