OLUMBUS, Ohio - You know things are in pretty dire straights when an expansion team has the same number of victories as an Original Six franchise.
That's not to malign the inaugural Columbus Blue Jackets, who are among the league's hardest-working clubs. But, really. First the Minnesota Wild blow out the Bruins. Then Atlanta, in its second season, leaves them red-faced not once but twice. And now this.
Two days after shutting down the league's best player, Jaromir Jagr, on his home ice in Pittsburgh, the Bruins surrendered to Columbus, 3-2, last night in overtime at the impressive new Nationwide Arena.
Left wing Geoff Sanderson struck with 8.6 seconds left in the extra period to lift the Blue Jackets, who now have nine victories - the same as Boston.
''They played very hard, particularly in the last 45 minutes,'' said Bruins coach Mike Keenan. ''You can't be outplayed in the last 45 minutes of the hockey game like we were tonight and feel good about yourself, particularly when you completely relied on the goaltending.''
Peter Skudra stopped 31 shots, many of which were difficult.
''I think our goaltending was spectacular,'' said Keenan, who could find little else to compliment. ''We had a chance to stay in the game because of our goaltending and Peter was exceptional.''
Once again, Jason Allison's line played well. Once again, there was too little from everyone else.
''We're not getting any support from the groups behind them,'' said Keenan. ''If you're a team that can't score goals, you'd better be able to work. We had a fine example of that tonight. [Columbus] doesn't have a great deal of offense but has a great work ethic.''
Allison was at a loss for words. ''I don't know, I ain't going to comment,'' said the Bruins' captain.
When asked if he was confused, mad, or frustrated, Allison said, ''Keep going. I can't help you. I don't know what to tell you. It's a mystery.''
If the Bruins are a confounding bunch, there was no secret to Columbus's strategy. They work hard, they hit, they confront, they never quit.
The Bruins led at 17:02 of the first when left wing Sergei Samsonov scored his 10th goal of the season in the final second of a two-man advantage.
The first period was Boston's best and was certainly eventful. It marked the return of Joe Thornton, who had missed six games with a right charley horse. It didn't take Thornton long to get involved in the action. At 6:46, he was slashed and punched by feisty Columbus veteran Kevin Dineen, neither of which was called by officials.
Thornton got mad and whacked Dineen in retaliation. The two got into a fight and, when the smoke cleared, Thornton was given a two-minute minor for roughing and five for fighting as Dineen got five for fighting and a game misconduct for not having his sweater tied down, which calls for an automatic ejection.
''He slew-footed me and I don't think the ref saw it,'' said Thornton. ''It's not very fun when you get slew-footed so I threw a punch at him. It was a pretty long shift for us. They were getting frustrated and we were getting frustrated that we hadn't scored yet. Tempers flared. Both refs said they didn't see nothing. So I'm not sure where they were looking if I had the puck. So I don't know what was going on. Maybe we need a third referee in there.''
In the middle period, the Blue Jackets tied it at 1:53 on a goal by defenseman Petteri Nummelin on a rebound.
Allison gave the Bruins the lead back at 4:23. Samsonov dished a pass to right wing Bill Guerin in the right circle. Guerin tried to shoot, but the puck was deflected right to Allison in the slot and he beat goaltender Marc Denis for his 15th of the year.
However, center Tyler Wright pulled the Blue Jackets even again, 2-2, at 8:42.
After a scoreless third, Sanderson lifted his team at 4:51 of overtime.
It was clear last night that as calm as Keenan was, he was simmering.
''It's disappointing, it really is disappointing that we can't have enough people prepare themselves,'' said Keenan, whose club will play host to the New York Rangers tonight with whom Keenan won a Stanley Cup in 1994. ''We just had too many guys who weren't interested in working that hard or working as hard as the opposition. As a result, our goaltender kept us in the game.''
For as long as he could anyway.
