Vacation is curtailed

As he had planned, Hal Gill will be packing his bags for the league-wide NHL respite during the Winter Olympics.

The only thing is, instead of the Nevis sun, Gill will be soaking in the Italian atmosphere because he's off to Turin as a member of the United States taxi squad.

Chosen along with New Jersey defenseman Paul Martin, Carolina center Matt Cullen, and Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller, Gill will be on hand in case an injury occurs. He got the word Wednesday from Bruins coach Mike Sullivan, who'll also be in Turin as an assistant to Peter Laviolette.

''You don't want anyone to get injured," Gill said, ''but if they do, I'll be ready and it will be a dream come true."

It will be Gill's fifth association with a US national team, most recently in 2005 when he played all seven games at the world championships. He also participated in 2000, 2001, and 2004.

Before last night's game against the Devils, the Bruins defenseman said his inclusion was acknowledgment of his steady play this season.

''It's nice to get recognized and it's definitely an honor," he said.

There's a bittersweet side -- and you'd understand if you've spent time on the beaches of Nevis, an island in the Caribbean. That's where Gill had been intending to spend his Olympic break before he got the marching orders to go to Italy.

''I was excited to sit back and do nothing, but an opportunity like this doesn't come along every day."

Team USA will play its first game Wednesday against Latvia.

Hit and miss

The Bruins may have won Wednesday's game in Pittsburgh, but they came out with a split in the injury department. Sergei Samsonov hurt his foot and didn't dress against the Devils, the sixth game he has missed because of an injury this season. On the bright side, P.J. Axelsson was in the lineup, a night after taking a stick in the right eye and being forced to leave in the third period. ''There was a fair amount of swelling," said Sullivan, ''and he couldn't put on his skates." . . . Once again, Sullivan dressed seven defensemen, but rookie Andrew Alberts only played three shifts for a total of 2 minutes 15 seconds . . . Josh Langfeld, the newly acquired Bruin, was on the ice for the Devils' goal in overtime, as well as another, but Sullivan had words of praise for his efforts all night. ''I thought he was skating well. He's getting the puck on net and he played a pretty solid game," said the coach . . . Axelsson was on the ice for all three New Jersey goals . . . At the other end of the spectrum was Brian Gionta, who was a plus-3. ''He's a dangerous player, one of those guys who has taken advantage of the rule changes," said Sullivan of the former Boston College standout . . . Patrik Elias led everyone with seven shots, and Glen Murray had five to lead Boston . . . The first two periods were relatively quiet, with just three penalties and maybe that many body checks. Period 3 was far more lively. New Jersey went scoreless on three power-play chances and is now 1 for 20 against Boston this season. The Bruins went 0 for 2 . . . Gionta's first goal, which put New Jersey up, 2-1, was just the second shorthanded score by the team this season . . . The Devils are tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference with 66 points, though their rocky start has seemingly been calmed by Lou Lamoriello. The onetime Providence College coach and Hockey East commissioner came out of the front office and moved behind the bench just before Christmas, when coach Larry Robinson quit because of health reasons. At the time, the Devils were 14-13-5, one of their worst starts in years. Things didn't change quickly -- Lamoriello was 2-5 in his first seven games -- but the club has gone 16-8-1 since Robinson's departure . . . The Devils are 6-2 in shootouts, including an Oct. 29 triumph at TD Banknorth Garden. Only Dallas (8-0) has a better record. In four of the Devils' shootout wins, Viktor Kozlov scored the deciding goal. He leads the league in that category. Boston is the only club in the NHL without a shootout victory.

Familiar faces

While Sullivan and Gill will represent the Bruins for the US at the Olympics, Martin will join three of his New Jersey teammates on Team USA -- forwards Gionta and Scott Gomez and defenseman Brian Rafalski. After scoring twice last night, Gionta leads the Devils with 33 goals and 56 points, though Gomez (20 and 54) isn't far behind . . . After the Bruins play at home tomorrow against Tampa Bay, they'll be off until Feb. 22, when they return for an off-ice workout. The entire team is expected to return to the ice Feb. 23 at the Ristuccia Center in Wilmington . . . There are four Saturday home games in March and each one has been designated ''family night," in which four tickets can be purchased for $99. You can refer to bostonbruins.com, call 617-624-BEAR or any Ticketmaster location, or stop by the Garden box office.