Boston, MA (Betting Express) - The
Boston Bruins try to extend their unbeaten streak to six games tonight when they welcome the
Ottawa Senators to the FleetCenter in their 2002-03 home opener.
Boston will also honor one of its own this evening, as Terry O'Reilly will have his No. 24 retired in a pre-game ceremony. O'Reilly will become the ninth Bruin so honored, joining Eddie Shore (2), Lionel Hitchman (3), Bobby Orr (4), Aubrey "Dit" Clapper (5), Phil Esposito (7), John Bucyk (9), Milt Schmidt (15) and Ray Bourque (77).
O'Reilly, now an assistant coach with the New York Rangers, was Boston's second pick, 14th overall, in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft and played his entire 13-year NHL career with the Bruins. He retired as a player at the conclusion of the 1984-85 season and remains the club's all-time penalty minute leader while also ranking fifth on the club's all-time list of games played, seventh all-time in assists and eighth all-time in points. In 891 career Bruins' games over 14 seasons, he amassed 204 goals and 402 assists for 606 points with 2,095 penalty minutes.
The present-day Bruins are back home after a team record-long road trip to begin the season. After starting things with a humbling 5-1 loss to Minnesota, the B's sandwiched victories in Colorado, Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto around a tie with the Calgary Flames.
On Monday night in Toronto the B's recorded a 4-1 victory at Air Canada Centre, utilizing a three-goal outburst in the second period. Two of those tallies came a mere 17 seconds apart. Glen Murray made it 2-1 at 13:36 of the second, and Hal Gill notched his first marker of the season at 13:53 to make it a two-goal cushion. Rookie Ivan Huml then put the final touches on the frame with 13 seconds left.
Goaltender Steve Shields, obtained from Anaheim this summer, put forth a much- needed performance with 33 saves. The veteran, who is trying to re-establish his netminding reputation in Beantown, had started just one previous game this year, but was pressed into duty because of an injury to John Grahame.
Grahame is expected to remain sidelined tonight with a separated right shoulder, as is left wing Sergei Samsonov, who is nursing a sprained right wrist.
Boston hosts Atlanta on Saturday night, and plays four of its next five matches on home ice.
Ottawa, meanwhile, will attempt to win its fourth straight game after starting the season with a 2-1 home loss to New Jersey. Since the defeat the Sens have toppled Toronto, Phoenix and Carolina, including Wednesday night's 4-1 decision over the Hurricanes.
Playing on eight days rest, the Senators put three goals on the board in the third period. Petr Schastlivy scored his second of the game in the frame, and Radek Bonk and Mike Fisher (empty net) tallied as well. Goaltender Patrick Lalime finished with 20 saves.
Bonk, however, suffered a chest injury on Wednesday and is listed as day-to- day. That prompted the team to call up 19-year-old Jason Spezza, the second- overall selection in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Spezza, who spent last season in Juniors, had three goals and three assists in six games with the Binghamton Senators this season.
The Senators begin a three-game road trip tonight, and visit Montreal on Saturday. The swing then concludes next Tuesday in Philadelphia.
Ottawa went 3-2 against Boston last season and is 10-3-2 in the last 15 meetings overall. The Senators have, however, dropped two straight in Beantown.
