Bruins don't skate sharply for Keenan

[ Game summary ]

By Kevin Paul Dupont, Globe Staff, 10/30/2000

EW YORK - Maybe you expected the honeymoon from heaven? Sorry, if you want love stories, you're thumbing through the wrong section of your newly designed Globe.

The new-age Bruins, playing their third game under coach-of-the-moment Mike Keenan, stumbled and bumbled along to a 5-1 loss to the Rangers last night at Madison Square Garden. Looking tired, emotionally spent, out of synch, and equally out of talent, they lost for the sixth time in seven games, playing with the same lack of zest and poor execution that last week sent coach Pat Burns packing.

Forget uptempo. Forget attack the puck. Don't even think about jumping out to an early lead and overpowering the opposition. The Bruins were down, 5-0, before Jason Allison scored their only goal, a ricochet shot that almost issued an apology as it skipped into the net to break Mike Richter's shutout bid with 3:15 to play.

''We played like crap,'' was Allison's concise and apt analysis. ''It could have been 10-0.''

''Overall, we were flat for the full 60 minutes,'' said veteran blue-liner Peter Popovic, who teamed with Paul Coffey in a particularly painful pairing. ''You aren't going to win games like that. I don't know if emotion had anything to do with it, but that doesn't matter because it's a loss. We didn't look good.''

The warning horn was sounded at 10:06 of the first period when Keenan hooked starting goalie Andrew Raycroft in favor of Kay Whitmore immediately after Valeri Kamensky's wrister whistled past the kid for the 1-0 Ranger lead. Raycroft was without his stick in overtime Saturday night when Maple Leaf Mats Sundin's backhander beat him for the winner. This time, Keenan took the stick out of his hands.

''It's just a tough situation the young guy is in,'' said Keenan, who no doubt will ask management to find him a veteran goalie (Tom Barrasso?). ''To jump from junior hockey to this level and be consistent ... you get a sense when you're on the bench, if you think your team's prepared, and I didn't think they were.''

No matter who is behind their bench, the Bruins have found being away from home a tough road to travel. They finished their annual October sojourn with four straight losses, played well at home in their first two games under Keenan, and then fell flat as an IHOP stack again here before a sellout 18,200.

''I don't know what it was - it was embarrassing,'' said a peeved Allison. ''The last four road games have been like that. It's like we are two different teams, or something. I mean, it wasn't like a bad break here or there. To say we're confused or something, that would just be an excuse. How come we weren't confused in our last games at home? I just think it's mental - being prepared, having confidence.''

None of which was on display last night in a black-and-gold uniform. The Rangers had another goal from Jan Hlavac before the first period ended to make it 2-0 (both Coffey and Popovic were behind the goal line, attempting to kill a penalty). Theo Fleury scored a shorthander in the second to boost it to 3-0. Then old warrior Mark Messier potted a pair in the third to make it 5-0.

''I think we hit a wall,'' said Keenan, who undoubtedly will smack his own head (and perhaps others?) against a wall if similar nights follow. ''We hit a wall, emotionally and physically. Certainly it's been a real intense period in terms of trying to implement a system and get a response from the team.''

Keenan was willing to cut his charges a break. Three games in four nights. New coach. The mourning of losing a coach they liked.

''Flat from the get-go,'' said Keenan. ''And we played a desperate team.''

The Rangers had lost four straight. The goal by Kamensky marked the first time this season they scored a first-period goal on home ice. Last week, they were lambasted in a closed-door meeting with their general manager, Glen Sather (sound familiar?). The Bruins showed up as potential prey and turned out to be the perfect victims.

What's ahead in the short term? Keenan kept both Brian Rolston (ribs) and Darren Van Impe (shoulder) out because of injuries. Roster depth is an issue. Perhaps he'll make a call to Providence this morning.

''I have no idea what's in the minors,'' said Keenan. ''I'll have to talk to the managers.''

That would be Mssrs. Harry Sinden and Mike O'Connell, both of whom looked sullen and frustrated as they made their way through the stands after the loss. The new era is off to a 1-1-0-1 start, and there's another faceoff tomorrow night, 7:30, on Long Island. The honeymoon, as expected, has turned into tough love.