It's a work in progress

Three weeks into the new season, the Bruins are still searching for their identity. All too often they don't seem to have the slightest sense of what they are, or how to become the fast-skating, puck-possession team management believed it cobbled together in July and August.

In other words, it's getting on to worrying time. Overall, it just hasn't worked the way most everyone imagined.

Last night's 2-1 edging of Toronto was better, but it, too, had its trouble spots. To wit: a middle period when the Bruins were outshot by a lopsided 20-4; and the shutout-busting goal Eric Lindros popped by Hannu Toivonen with 2:27 left in regulation.

Every night a cliffhanger. No one can argue against its entertainment value. But it's also very inconsistent, and too often, defeating.

Every hockey team needs a couple of weeks to find out how (if) the parts fit together, whether it will be a club that leans more on defense, more on offense, puts all its faith in its goalie, or like most clubs, blends those elements into an acceptable hockey hybrid. It's the expected test-drive, shaking-out period, and it's the elbow room inherent in an 82-game regular-season schedule that makes it possible.

After a season lost to lockout, most of the NHL's Original 30 teams entered October in even greater need of staring into the mirrored ice surface for a good initial assessment. Another element in this season's shakeout was the enforcement of the rules, new equipment, the whole new way of walking and talking in the NHL. Every team had to wonder if the team on paper could be the same team on ice.

But three weeks in, it's now past time for the real Bruins, whatever they are, to make themselves known. At the moment, their identity looks best suited for the witness protection program.

The mantra on Causeway Street, headed into last night's divisional clash with the Maple Leafs, was the standard, we have to be better. Coach Mike Sullivan and his boss, general manager Mike O'Connell, said specifically that in separate interviews before the opening faceoff.

The ever-patient O'Connell, when asked to assess Sullivan's work to date, offered only, ''He's done a good job."

O'Connell also agreed the time has come for his team to stop talking about the rules, and all the adjustments, and get down to the basic job of connecting one W to the next W. Winning has been scarce for the Black and Gold. They are a sputtering 5-5-1-1 overall, an anemic 1-6-1 within the Northeast Division, and were fresh off withering overtime losses in Toronto (via shootout) and Carolina. The win over the Leafs finally broke their divisional futility.

To make matters worse, headed into Game No. 12 last night, the defeat in Carolina delivered the extra burden of losing No. 1 goalie Andrew Raycroft. He pulled a hamstring in the final moments of the game, which, for the next week or so, will leave rookie Hannu Toivonen the keeper of their fortunes. All things being equal, Raycroft would have been Sullivan's choice to take on the division-nemesis Leafs.

Thus far, Sullivan and O'Connell have refused to change the mix of personnel. They've stuck by their guys. On defense, they really have no choice, other than to try another shot of Milan Jurcina expresso (a bit on the decaf side during his time here). Up front, Providence does have a little more to offer, specifically rookie Ben Walter, who was very impressive in camp. Still, Sullivan looks nowhere beyond the team bus for an answer.

''We believe in the guys we have here," said the coach. ''We feel we have the best people that give us our best chance to win. It's why they're here. But we have to do a better job in all areas."

For his part, O'Connell said he is not looking to swing a deal to help the cause. He said there has been increased interest around the league in Andy Hilbert, long a Bruins' prospect who demanded a trade over the summer, but he didn't sound as if moving Hilbert is a high priority at the moment.

However, O'Connell agreed that three weeks is too long for his team to take shape, form an identity. Asked if he felt at a loss for how his team has played, he acknowledged, ''I'd have to say it's getting late."

Make no mistake, conditioning is a concern and a factor in the early frustrations because of a variety of reasons. Contract issues involving Raycroft and Nick Boynton cost the former some training camp time and the latter the entire camp. Injuries to Dave Scatchard (groin), Glen Murray (ankle), Joe Thornton (back), Shawn McEachern (back), Alexei Zhamnov (back), and now Raycroft have made for a club that, night to night, is trying to condition on the fly.

Meanwhile, the Bruins have been frighteningly inconsistent on defense, to the point of often looking in disarray and aimless, especially in the third period. It looked better in the first and third periods last night, but the second period brought a disturbing return to fright night.

The forwards, despite the interference-verboten new ways of the league, seem to spend most of their time figuring out how not to go to the net. The most excruciating example has been team captain Thornton, who has the size and reach to bring the puck to the front of the cage and dare opponents to take him out of the play. Rarely is he spotted there, however. He still works mostly behind the goal line or off to the side, a stretched 2005 version of Craig Janney. He and soul mate Murray combined for all of one shot -- one shot -- Wednesday night in Raleigh, N.C.

''They didn't have one of their better games," confirmed Sullivan prior to the opening faceoff vs. the Leafs. ''We're hoping they rebound."

Sullivan went beyond just hoping, and that was a promising sign. He actually opened the night with Thornton and sidecar sidekick, Murray, playing on different lines, only reuniting them on the power play. It is a tandem that has become frighteningly, sometimes hopelessly, predictable, Thornton forever looking to dish to Murray.

Thornton, working a new trio with Sergei Samsonov and Travis Green, picked up an assist when he fed Samsonov for the 2-0 lead. Murray played right side on a line with P.J. Axelsson and Scatchard. Thornton and Murray each finished with two shots.

Asked last night if the noticeable falloff in Thornton's play the night before could be attributed to a flare-up of the center's bad back, Sullivan said, ''Not to my knowledge. He seems to be healthy and strong."

Round 'n round it goes.

O'Connell doesn't feel the need to make a move. Sullivan keeps playing the same lineup card, albeit with a tweak here and there. The playing personnel, night to night, already looks stale -- and it's not yet November.

Who are, what are the 2005-06 Bruins? Too early to tell, and right now that tells a disturbing story.