Morning briefing

Good morning from TD Banknorth Garden, where the Bruins will drop the puck against the Hurricanes this afternoon. All matinees from here on out on Saturdays at home this season.

Some tidbits from the game notes:

* Byron Bitz, most recently seen riding shotgun in Providence with Jeremy Reich and Wacey Rabbit (like to go into the corners against that line?), will make his NHL debut today. Bitz will wear No. 61. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Bitz has scored three goals and seven assists with 68 penalty minutes in 37 games this season. Bitz, who hails from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was informed of the promotion yesterday by Providence coach Rob Murray. His parents have flown into Boston from Saskatoon to attend today's game.

* Carolina ranks 22d in the league on the power play (15.8 percent) and 26th on the penalty kill (77.7 percent).

* The Hurricanes will most likely be without Tim Gleason. The defenseman underwent an MRI yesterday on a leg injury.

* The Bruins will wear their third jersey.

* Dan O'Halloran and Kevin Pollock will be the referees. Steve Barton and Mark Pare will be the linesmen.