Coach: Reality check

WILMINGTON -- Questions have been raised about Mike Sullivan's status as coach of the Bruins since the team has struggled to only 10 victories and 26 points in 31 games. But Sullivan expressed a mixture of confidence and realism yesterday as the Bruins prepared for tonight's visit to Minnesota.

''My job security is no different than anyone else's," Sullivan said. ''I knew going into the position that it is all about results. That is the reality of being an NHL coach. I come in every day and do the best job I can. If I was worried about job security I wouldn't be an NHL coach, I would have chosen something else."

Sullivan said no decision has been made about the starting goalie for tonight's game but signs point to Hannu Toivonen, who has been in net for six victories and has a 3.07 goals-against average in 14 games.

''Performance dictates who plays," Sullivan said. ''That's the bottom line. Everyone has expectations and it's a long season and a lot happens. As a player my experience was different than some, but if you ask most players, they understand that's the business we are in."

The Bruins are playing 24 of their first 38 games away from home. After visiting Calgary Saturday night, the Bruins will have a break in the schedule until a week from tonight (home against Toronto), which could affect decisions about the goaltending position.

''It is the first time we have had some sort of break in the schedule," Sullivan said. ''Some teams have run into it, we haven't."

Glen Murray, who has been limited to 24 games because of a groin injury and illness, is anticipating being included on a line with Sergei Samsonov and Alexei Zhamnov.

''Hopefully, it clicks right away," said Murray, who has scored 12 goals, tied with Samsonov for the team lead. ''It very rarely clicks right away but once we get some games in, it should be all right. We have to continue to work hard and do what we have to do and have fun and, hopefully, that translates into some wins."

Minor detour

Rookie defenseman Andrew Alberts is optimistic about his return to the Bruins after having been sent to Providence for six games. ''It is a little different than up here and it took the first couple of games to get used to," Alberts said. ''In Providence we were able to get a couple of W's, we played well, and I played well. I was having a tendency to make turnovers and not making smart plays. I was making trouble for myself, bringing the puck back into my own zone and then making the play I could have made, instead of making the smart play. In college I was able to do whatever I wanted but it is different here. For me, less is more. Instead of carrying the puck and trying to make the home run play, what they want me to do is make the first open pass." Alberts, among the last Bruins to depart the Ristuccia Arena ice yesterday, closely followed the Bruins while he was in the minors. ''I thought [the Bruins] were playing well before I left and the team was playing well the last few games, but just didn't get the bounces. Hopefully, we can turn it around on this trip." . . . Patrice Bergeron recovered slowly from an incident during practice but Sullivan said ''he went into the boards but he will be fine."