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Boston Bruins 1999-2000 Capsule
Schedule | Statistics
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Anson Carter. (Associated Press)
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SportsTicker
Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999
1998-99 record: 39-30-13, 91 points, 3rd Northeast Division
Coach: Pat Burns (78-60-26, two seasons with Bruins)
New faces: LW Dave Andreychuk, LW Joe Hulbig, D Elias
Abrahamsson, D Johnathan Aitken, RW Peter Ferraro
Gone: RW Dmitri Khristich, C Tim Taylor
Strengths: In Burns, the Bruins have one of the top coaches
in the NHL. He's a no-nonsense type who has
guided Boston to consecutive 91-point seasons
after the team missed the playoffs in 1996-97.
Boston has shaved nearly 1 ½ goals off its
goals-against average since Burns arrived in
Beantown. G Byron Dafoe was a finalist for the Vezina
Trophy and was second in the league in shutouts
but remains underrated. Forwards Jason Allison,
Sergei Samsonov, Joe Thornton and Anson Carter
are all 25 or under. D Ray Bourque remains a
force on defense, even if he is starting his 21st
season.
Weaknesses: Dafoe remains a holdout as a Group II free agent.
Role players like Taylor are hard to replace.
General manager Harry Sinden is close to stepping
aside but his public questioning of Allison, among
others, following the Bruins' playoff elimination
does nothing for morale. Boston has won only one
playoff series over the last five years and time
is running out in the two-decade quest to get
Bourque's name on the Stanley Cup.
© Copyright 1999 washingtonpost.com
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