Sports

The rookie defenseman was victimized by fellow first-year player Cory Conacher in Thursday night's win over Tampa which highlighted some of Hamilton's deficiencies. "You remember me saying there are going to be periods when there'll be an adjustment for him," Bruin GM Peter Chiarelli said. "This is one right now. I think it's just focus and concentration for a young player. He's shown he has the skill and ability to do it. It's just the focus game after game for a first-time professional player. It's part of learning. He's lost his man a couple of times, he's tailed off a couple of times with the defensive zone coverage, and then there's been a couple of times with the gap. That's stuff he's going to face. He'll adjust and get better at it. We totally expected this. He's still playing very well." . . . Despite the growing pains Hamilton is a fantasy stud and worthy of roster spot this season and for seasons to come.