f you had told the Bruins before yesterday's matinee they'd score five goals against Atlanta, their assumption would be they would come away with a victory.
The track record certainly supports it. Coming in, Boston had scored five or more goals in 11 contests and was 11-0 in them.
But when your goaltending is subpar and defense is shaky, all bets are off. They certainly were in this case as the Bruins scored five times - all on the power play - but still lost, 7-5, to the Thrashers at the FleetCenter. Boston played Atlanta four times this season and lost all four, by a combined 25-13.
The Bruins have lost four in a row, and their playoff prospects are looking grim with 13 games remaining.
''Goal scoring is not a problem for this team,'' said right wing Dixon Ward. ''It's keeping the puck out of our net that kills us.''
When asked how you address that, Ward said it was all about commitment.
''It's taking pride in keeping the puck out of your net, doing the things it takes to keep it out,'' he said. ''Our down-low coverage is killing us. It's 50 percent the defense's responsibility and 50 percent the forwards' responsibility. It's 20 guys not doing the right things in the defensive zone.''
This contest was a painful illustration of just how much the Bruins miss No. 1 goaltender Byron Dafoe (strained right hamstring). Neither John Grahame (three goals on 11 shots) nor Peter Skudra (three goals on 19 shots) was effective against the Thrashers, who received an outstanding effort from Norm Maracle (40 saves).
Coach Mike Keenan, who said Friday he wasn't going to discuss Dafoe's injury again, couldn't help but bring it up. It's obvious that without Dafoe, this team is going nowhere.
''The critical point for us is getting a healthy Byron Dafoe and going from there,'' said Keenan.
The Bruins battled back from deficits of 3-1, 4-2, and 5-4, but after they tied the game at 5, the Thrashers scored a power-play goal - off the stick of Andrew Brunette - with only 20.8 seconds remaining in regulation, then added an empty-netter with 6.5 seconds left.
The contest was certainly there to be had. Brian Rolston gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 1:51 of the first period when he potted his 15th of the season. Shean Donovan pulled Atlanta even at 8:52.
The next two goals belonged to the Thrashers, both by center Patrik Stefan, who was the first overall pick in the 1999 draft. With the Bruins' defense completely out of synch, center Per Svartvadet flipped a backhand pass from the right circle over to Stefan, who rapped it past Grahame from in front. When Stefan walked out from behind the net at 12:32 and beat Grahame from low in the right circle for Atlanta's third goal in a span of 3:40, Keenan made the switch.
The Bruins pulled within 3-2 at 18:54 when Bill Guerin racked up his 34th goal. Guerin nearly had another at 4:29 of the second on a breakaway. As he closed in on the net, he switched from his forehand to his backhand and had the goalie beaten as he lifted a shot near the left post. But in spectacular fashion, Maracle spun around in the crease and threw his glove hand behind him. Somehow he managed to get the puck.
Just 27 seconds later, the Thrashers went ahead, 4-2, on a goal by left wing Tomi Kallio, who backhanded a shot over Skudra at 4:56.
Boston took advantage of power plays to tie the game with two goals in a 41-second span. The first was by Rolston during a five-on-three, the second by Lee Goren during a five-on-four.
The Thrashers got back on top 15 seconds later. The Bruins turned the puck over behind their net and Ray Ferraro set up Donald Audette at 13:56 to make it 5-4. Boston rallied for its fifth power-play goal as Jason Allison tallied during a five-on-three advantage at 16:25.
Then the wheels fell off. When asked if five power-play goals should win the game, Allison nodded.
''Five goals, period, we should win games,'' said Allison. ''Sloppy, I guess.''
