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Playing a team
they haven't beat in almost seven years and in a place they haven't won since
1994, the Boston Bruins seek their first win of the season as they visit the
Dallas Stars.
Boston has been outscored 9-5 this season in a loss and two ties, and is one
of only six teams in the NHL that has yet to record a victory.
The Bruins will be trying for that first win when it faces Dallas, which has gone 6-0-3 in this series since losing 3-2 at Boston on Jan. 4, 1997. The Bruins are also winless in their last seven games in Dallas (0-2-5) since a 3-0 win there on Feb. 16, 1994.
Boston's poor start this season can be attributed to its play on special teams. The Bruins have scored only once in 12 power-play opportunities, and are last in the league in penalty killing, stopping just 60 percent of opponents' chances.
The Bruins have failed to win at least one of their first three games for the first time since 1999-00, when they didn't get their first victory until the 10th game of the season. NFL Tickets
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``We're trying to focus on the details that are going to help us win,'' first-year
Bruins coach Mike Sullivan said. ``We want to really establish a team that has
a relentless work ethic because that's how you have to win in this league. We're
making progress.''
The Stars outscored opponents 7-2 in winning their first two games of the season, but on Monday afternoon, they gave up two quick goals and couldn't come back in a 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
The loss snapped Dallas' six-game, regular-season winning streak dating to last season.
Captain Mike Modano and defenseman Sergei Zubov should be eager for this contest after they were benched by coach Dave Tippett for the entire third period of Monday's loss. Dallas scored twice in the third as it nearly rallied to tie the game.
``We didn't play well and didn't deserve to be out there,'' Modano said. ``I think it was a pretty straightforward message. Our heads just weren't in it at the start.'' NFL Tickets
STANDINGS (through Oct. 13): Bruins - 2 points, 2nd place (tied), 1 PB, Northeast Division. Stars - 4 points, 1st place (tied), Pacific Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Bruins - Jeff Jillson, 2 goals; Glen Murray, 2 assists; four with 2 points; Travis Green and Dan McGillis, 6 PIM. Stars - Stu Barnes, 3 goals; Zubov, 3 assists and 4 points; Bill Guerin, 15 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Oct. 13): Bruins - Power play: 8.3 percent (1 for 12), 25th in NHL. Penalty killing: 60.0 percent (9 for 15), 30th. Stars - Power play: 25.0 percent (4 for 16), 9th. Penalty killing: 81.3 percent (13 for 16), 19th.
GOALTENDERS: Bruins - Felix Potvin (0-1-1, 4.00 GAA); Andrew Raycroft (0-0-1, 1.41). Stars - Marty Turco (2-1-0, 2.26); Ron Tugnutt (0-0-0, 0.00).
2002-03 SEASON SERIES: 0-0-1. NFL Tickets
LAST MEETING: Feb. 25; 5-5. At Boston, the Stars took a 5-4 lead at 8:58 of the third on Claude Lemieux's backhander, but Murray's power-play goal with 1:40 remaining in regulation gave the Bruins the tie.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Bruins - 0-1-1-0 on the road; Stars - 1-0-0-0 at home.