Zhamnov zeroes in on his return
WILMINGTON -- He hasn't yet been seen in a regular-season game -- the team says his injury is a bruised shoulder -- but center Alexei Zhamnov is closing in on his Bruins debut. It could come next week, provided he has no setbacks.
''I [haven't had] any contact yet," said Zhamnov, who will make the trip with the team to New York for the morning skate but won't suit up when the Bruins face the Islanders tonight. ''It's just shooting drills and two-on-ones. I feel good, so we'll see how it goes the next few days.
''It's a big day for me today especially because I skated for the whole practice with the team. It's making progress, so we'll see when I can start playing hockey."
Zhamnov, who signed with Boston as an unrestricted free agent Aug. 4, said it's frustrating because he was looking forward to playing with a new team.
''It's tough for sure, especially because I played the last exhibition game before the season started and I've missed the whole month, so it's tough, but there's nothing I can do right now," he said. ''I'm close to [being] back on the ice and playing. The whole month is behind me now and I just want to forget about that stuff and right now look forward."
Zhamnov is excited about the new rules, which have opened up the scoring chances for players with skills such as his.
''I felt it a little in the exhibition game but right now for sure it's different," he said. ''It's frustrating for me but right now I am looking forward. I'm sure it's going to be interesting. I hope it continues."
Coach Mike Sullivan said what is holding back Zhamnov is conditioning because of the long layoff.
''His conditioning certainly has to improve, and the start of it is to skate with us," he said. ''We'll just have to gauge where he's at. He's coming along, he's feeling good, we just have to get him game-ready.
''He's had a tough go of it the first part of it. We've had a fair amount of guys who have missed a significant amount of time and he's one of those guys. He's obviously a good player and we're excited to have him in our lineup."
Knee issue for Moran
The ice time for swingman Ian Moran, who can play both defense and forward, has been downright perplexing. He logged just 41 seconds (one shift) behind the blue line against Carolina Oct. 26 and played 3:39 the next night at forward against Toronto. He was scratched against New Jersey on Saturday. When asked what was going on with Moran, Sullivan said Friday, ''I think it was more of the personnel and the decisions that we've made. When he's in that swing position, we're looking for opportunities to use our whole bench. Sometimes the opportunities don't present themselves." Yesterday, however, came a different explanation -- that Moran has a knee injury that may require surgery. ''He's going to get an MRI; his knee has been bothering him," said Sullivan. ''He's had a history of that injury and we'll see what the results are when they come back." When asked if that's why Moran has played so sparingly, the coach said it was a factor. ''It's certainly been affecting him," he said. ''It's been affecting his mobility, and we thought this was the best course of action to see what's going on." . . . Toward the end of practice, Joe Thornton had to leave the ice when he was struck in the back of the helmet by a Hal Gill shot. Sullivan said he's fine. Gill joked that he wasn't sure whether Thornton was angry with him. ''I haven't talked to him yet," said Gill. ''But I'm sure he'll have something to say."
Leahy out 4-6 weeks
Forward Pat Leahy, who has been an important role player, will be out 4-6 weeks because of a broken index finger suffered Saturday night when he blocked a shot in the New Jersey game. ''He had surgery [Sunday] and it went well," said Sullivan. ''He competes every night. He's willing to make sacrifices to be in the lineup, he's been a real effective penalty killer for us, and he's earned a spot on this team. He's played well, and that's why he's been here as long as he has. It's unfortunate for him that he got injured but with the role he plays and the type of game he plays, that might be part and parcel." . . . Forward Brad Isbister, who missed the last three games because of a groin strain, said he expects to play tonight against his former team. ''I'm looking forward to it, obviously, because we have to get some wins here," he said. ''I just want to get back in the lineup and help us turn the corner." . . . Goalie Andrew Raycroft, who has a strained hamstring, is scheduled to skate today with strength coach John Whitesides. Sullivan said he's hopeful the goalie can join the team for practice when it gets back from Long Island and return to action later this week if all goes well.
