Bruins reconstituted for stretch run
WILMINGTON -- When last we saw the Bruins Feb. 11, they were dropping a 6-5 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the TD Banknorth Garden.
Yesterday, most of the club was back at its practice rink for an off-ice workout after a 10-day Olympic break. There are 24 games remaining in the regular season and Boston, 2 points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, is hoping to get back many -- if not all -- of its injured players for at least part of the stretch run.
Sergei Samsonov, who said he's fully recovered from a bruised foot that caused him to miss the final two games before the break, has more to be concerned about than hockey as the March 9 trading deadline draws near. Samsonov, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, said there has been no discussion between the Bruins' front office and his agent -- Neil Abbott -- about a contract extension.
''It's a deadline and there have been rumors all year, so I guess I'll take it day by day," said Samsonov.
''It's out of my control. I'm going to prepare for every game like I did before and just try to help this team win. You kind of don't want to think about it but you do in the end. I'd like to stay here, I think this team worked hard to get where they are right now and I'd like to help them make the playoffs, but I guess we'll see. I've never been in this situation before. It's been a weird year for everybody with the trades and guys getting moved. Management is trying to figure out what direction they want to go in."
The Bruins' other question surrounding that date centers on the goaltending situation. Hannu Toivonen isn't ready to skate as he continues his recovery from a sprained ankle suffered Jan. 5, so it seems a long shot that the club would part with Andrew Raycroft, who said he is healthy for the first time since Oct. 26, when he suffered a hamstring injury and then missed five more games because of a balky right leg.
''The body feels good," said Raycroft. ''The true test will be on the ice, but hopefully, it's gotten good enough that it will be manageable. It's been three or four months of just battling nagging things, so these 10 days were good."
Toivonen, who spent a few days during the break in his native Finland, said he has to be patient because of the nature of the injury and his position, which will prolong his rehabilitation.
''It's a little bit trickier to play goalie with that injury but you can't feel sorry for yourself," said Toivonen. ''You have to keep grinding and try to work yourself back. I don't think we have a certain date here. It's not that type of injury. Hopefully, I can go on the ice in a while and see where we're at. We've made some steps forward but there are still some steps to be made."
Prior to the break, the workload was carried by Tim Thomas, who started the last 15 games and played in 17 consecutive contests. He said he was pretty wiped out in the final game against Tampa.
''The body just wasn't following the mind," said Thomas, who spent the break in Mexico. ''I'd been able to stay fresh up until then. I don't know how long it will last but I feel like I've had the summer off. I don't want to complain because I think everyone was at the same spot."
Marco Sturm, who suffered a shoulder injury Feb. 6 and missed the final four games, continues to heal, while Alexei Zhamnov, who is still limping badly as his broken left ankle mends, said he hopes to come back this season.
''I have no idea, seriously," he said. ''It's tough. I don't really have answers right now. I've never broken my ankle before so I don't know how long it takes for healing. It's definitely frustrating."
Brad Isbister, who has been sidelined by a sprained ankle since Jan. 26, said he's making slow progress but is not ready to skate. Defenseman Ian Moran, who had knee surgery Nov. 3, is closing in on a return and defenseman Jiri Slegr, who has been battling back spasms all season, is also continuing to heal.
Coach Mike Sullivan, an assistant for Team USA at the Olympics, defenseman Hal Gill (on Team USA's taxi squad), and trainer Don Del Negro (Team USA) are headed back from Italy after the US team was eliminated by Finland yesterday, as is defenseman Milan Jurcina, whose native Slovakia was knocked out by the Czech Republic. The only Bruin remaining is P.J. Axelsson, who advanced to the semifinals with Team Sweden.
