Bruins continue upswing

OTTAWA -- Prior to Monday, the Bruins had last been in Ottawa on Nov. 26, and though it was a holiday week, they weren't feeling all that thankful. The team was in a tailspin -- losing nine of 10 games -- and no one, save for general manager Mike O'Connell, could foresee what was to come four days later.

After the Bruins dropped a 4-2 decision in Ottawa to the NHL's top-scoring team, veteran Tom Fitzgerald -- one of the most accommodating athletes in a sport known for them -- couldn't bring himself to discuss the mess Boston had made for itself. And on Nov. 30, captain Joe Thornton was traded, shaking the franchise to its core.

Since then, it hasn't been all smooth sailing because of a number of injuries, but the Bruins today are a far cry from what they were. At the time of the blockbuster deal, which brought them defenseman Brad Stuart and forwards Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau, Boston had eight wins in 26 games. In the 26 games since Thornton moved on to San Jose, the Bruins have 14 victories.

Their turnaround started Dec. 1 with a 3-0 shutout of the Senators at the Garden and continued Monday when Tim Thomas stopped 44 shots on the way to a 5-0 victory here in Ottawa.

After Monday's game, Fitzgerald joked about his demeanor Nov. 26, saying he was in a little bit better mood this time.

''We really have found our identity as a team," said Fitzgerald. ''We have individuals who are playing extremely well and contributing every night on the [score] sheet, but we feel like we're a team that we need 20 guys.

''We don't have the luxury to rely on that one guy or that one person to carry you and take you over the top. We're a team that every guy has to buy into the system. Every guy has to be part of the victory. Every guy has to do their job, and if we don't, we're just an ordinary team.

''When we do the things we've been doing, we always said we'd give ourselves a chance to get that W, that end result. We're getting the end result right now."

Fitzgerald said the message coach Mike Sullivan had been preaching for months finally kicked in after humiliating back-to-back home losses to San Jose and Los Angeles Jan. 10 and 12, during which the Bruins were outscored, 12-2.

''We were embarrassed in front of our fans," he said. ''We just sat down in the locker room and really just kind of unleashed the fury. Since that time, we've really pulled it together."

It's no coincidence that the roll began when Thomas was installed as the starter after being recalled from Providence. He has started the last nine contests (going 6-1-2) after doing mop-up duty in those two debacles.

''Even before that time, we were working hard but it was baby steps and Timmy has played extremely well," said Fitzgerald. ''We've been a product of him, too. We're getting big saves and we're rolling with confidence. Vice versa, we're playing better in front of him and he's seeing the puck."

Finally, everyone is on the same page, which is the only way they will win.

''Everybody is buying in and it feels good," said Fitzgerald. ''Teams around the league are scouting us and we're finally getting that identity: these guys work hard, they pressure the puck. We're just a hard-working group of guys right now and we're playing as a team.

''As a veteran, I haven't had this feeling in a long time, about a team that when we get a lead, we're finally sticking to the game plan."

All that despite the huge amount of turnover on the roster and all the injuries.

''That proves the system is bigger than anybody," said Fitzgerald. ''When you come in, you have to buy in and that's what we're doing, every single guy.

''Sure, we're proving a lot of people wrong, a lot of experts wrong."

The roster shuffle continued yesterday. Boston claimed Josh Langfeld off waivers from the Sharks. The 28-year-old right wing, who is expected to join the team in time for practice today, played 39 games for the Sharks and had 2 goals and 9 assists. Both of his goals came against the Bruins Jan. 10. The former University of Michigan standout potted the overtime goal that beat Boston College in the 1998 Frozen Four championship. With Andrew Raycroft healthy, the Bruins put goaltender Craig (We Hardly Knew Ye) Anderson on waivers, and he was plucked by the St. Louis Blues. Anderson, claimed on waivers by Boston from Chicago Jan. 19 as an insurance policy, backed up Thomas in five contests but never made it into a game.