Good news is abundant for the Bruins and their fans, even on non-game days. On Monday afternoon, the Bruins announced they'd agreed to a one-year contract extension with franchise pivot Joe Thornton.

	Joe Thornton Center Boston Bruins Profile
	2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS GM G A PTS +/- PIM 23 13 21 34 14 22

The deal is significant on two levels:

First, it takes Thornton off next summer's restricted free agent list. In the past, restricted free agents haven't had much success (read: almost none) on the market, but you never know when some big spender wants to step up and ruin Gary Bettman's day. Certainly, Thornton would be worth the financial effort.

Second, the extra year keeps Thornton under contract through the end of the current collective bargaining agreement. A new CBA, whenever it's signed, likely will create an entirely different landscape on which to negotiate a new long-term deal. At that point, the Bruins will have a much better idea what it will take to keep their best player.

Coincidentally, on the same day he signed his extension, Thornton was named the league's player of the week. In three games -- all wins -- the 6-foot-4, 220-pound center compiled three goals, four assists and an impressive plus-9 rating. For the season (through Monday), Thornton is second (behind only Mario Lemieux) in the league's points race with 34.

At the season's quarter pole, the 23-year-old Thornton stands with Lemieux as the early frontrunners for the Hart Trophy. In his sixth pro season, the top overall pick in the 1997 draft likely will establish personal highs in goals, assists and points.

On Tuesday night, against the Blues at the FleetCenter, Thornton and his Bruins hope to extend their five-game winning streak (and eight-game home winning streak). The red-hot B's are 9-1-1 in their last 11 games, outscoring opponents, 44-18, in that span.

Did you see ...
... The Devils-Flyers game Monday night? It was a passionate battle that had a little of everything. The Devs earned their second straight 1-0 win over the Flyers in Philly when Brian Gionta tapped a Patrik Elias pass by Roman Cechmanek at 2:51 of overtime. The clever Gionta made a smart move to avoid being tied up by rookie Flyers defenseman Dennis Seidenberg as they drove to the front of the net. That allowed him the room to bury Elias's pass from the left wing boards. Just 17 seconds earlier, Devils goalie Martin Brodeur made a brilliant game-saving breakaway stop of speedy Flyers winger Simon Gagne, who pickpocketed defenseman Brian Rafalski in the neutral zone. Gagne deked Brodeur to the ice, but couldn't backhand the biscuit over the goaltender's extended left arm. The Devils' all-star goalie continues to be the difference between the clubs. Brodeur has three consecutive shutouts against Philly. In Monday's win, he ran his shutout streak to 207 minutes. The rivals don't meet again until Jan. 30 in New Jersey.

E.J. Hradek writes hockey for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.