Burns Preaches Patience Until Bruins Find Identity
Around the NHL
As the new coach of the Boston Bruins, who had the NHL’s worst record last season, Pat Burns faced some tough choices.
Should he change the team’s system? Change its attitude? Change his phone number, to sidestep complaints during what is sure to be another rocky season?
Burns, who compiled a .580 winning percentage in eight seasons with the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, chose to work on the Bruins’ mental approach, hoping to keep a young team eager to learn as it experiences the pitfalls of life in the NHL.
“We’re going to have to be real patient,” Burns said Monday. “The Bruins’ old identity used to be a big, bruising hockey club and we don’t have that anymore. We have a little speed up front. I want to make them find the identity of this club. It’s like saying, ‘What kind of team do you guys want to be?”’ So far, the Bruins don’t seem to know.
“I like Pat,” said goaltender Byron Dafoe, who was traded to Boston by the Kings last summer.
“He’s different than any coach I played for before. With Pat, if you don’t perform, you pay. But he rewards us if we do well.
“Being a young team, we need his kind of discipline. He teaches us not to accept mediocrity. If you want to be a winner in this league, that’s how you have to look at it. I don’t see the Red Wings accepting mediocrity.”
Hull honored
Right wing Brett Hull, who scored five goals in two games for the St. Louis Blues, was selected Monday as the NHL’s player of the week.
Hull led the Blues to a 3-2 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday by scoring all three goals. It was the 28th hat trick of his career.
Comings and goings
Daniel Alfredsson is back in the fold with the Ottawa Senators after signing a four-year, $10 million contract. … Montreal Canadiens right wing Stephane Richer will miss at least two weeks after being cut on the right calf muscle by a skate in Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. … Buffalo Sabres right wing Matthew Barnaby is expected to miss a month after suffering a bruised chest in a collision during practice Friday.
On the ice
At Vancouver, British Columbia, Martin Gelinas scored a goal before injuring his left knee and Kirk McLean made 33 saves for his 20th career shutout as the Canucks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-0.
At St. Louis, Terry Yake scored the go-ahead goal with 3:31 left as the Blues beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 for their fifth straight victory.
St. Louis goalie Grant Fuhr stopped 17 shots to move into fifth place on the career victory list with 357.