Stock shipped to minors

He and Huml are sent to Providence

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 10/15/2003

DALLAS -- The Bruins yesterday activated right wing Marty Lapointe, who is expected to make his season debut against the Dallas Stars tonight, and thus had to trim their roster by one player to get to the 23-man maximum. However, coach Mike Sullivan decided he wanted to carry just 22 players -- with one extra forward and one extra defenseman -- so the club sent left wing Ivan Huml and center P.J. Stock to its AHL affiliate in Providence.

Huml didn't have to clear waivers to be demoted but Stock did. They were given the news after practice at American Airlines Arena.

Neither move was a surprise. Huml, who had a great training camp last year and a strong start to the season before he was assigned to the minors, struggled out of the gate this season. Stock is a fan favorite and is coming off a career year in games (71), assists (9), and points (10), but he was made expendable by the offseason signing of bruising right wing Sandy McCarthy.

It's in the details

Sullivan ran a very instructional practice in preparation for tonight's game. The coach, who put his team through the paces during conditioning drills Monday, yesterday had his players work on the power play and other game situations.

"We've got to keep hammering home the points on how we have to play in order to be successful," Sullivan said. "I think we are [on the same page] in spurts but it's not consistent. We've got to become a more consistent group.

"I think it has to do with preparation and focus and buying into what we want to accomplish and paying attention to the details. Part of it is a work in progress. There are a lot of scenarios that occur and obviously, the longer we go, the better we should get. But I think most of it is the focus we need to have and the preparation that it takes to pay attention to the details."

Sullivan said he was pleased with the practice. "I thought our players were engaged," he said. "You can see it in the body language and you can see it when they're not there, too. I thought the focus was good. That's something we want every day."

He said he doesn't want anyone panicking because the team hasn't won a game yet (0-1-2-0). "Obviously we're concerned with results, but that's not our focus," he said. "Our focus is on the process and if we can control the process then the results should take care of themselves."

The Bruins travel to Los Angeles tomorrow morning and face the Kings Saturday and Anaheim Mighty Ducks Sunday.