[ Game summary ]

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 3/14/2002

EW YORK - In the last three outings, the Bruins have tightened the defensive screws, they've hunkered down effectively in their own end, and they've received superb goaltending from Byron Dafoe, whose goals-against average in that span is 1.00.

That same formula that resulted in wins over Atlanta and Calgary reaped another reward last night - a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers that extended Boston's winning streak to three. The Bruins leapfrogged the Maple Leafs, whom they host tonight at the FleetCenter, into first place in the Northeast Division and second in the Eastern Conference with 15 games left.

In addition to the precious 2 points, the Bruins also exacted a little bit of revenge.

The last time these teams met here - Jan. 23 - it proved a disaster for the Bruins. When it was over, Dafoe expressed his frustration and embarrassment at being left in the net for eight goals in an 8-4 loss. It was the most goals Boston had given up all season.

After that, Dafoe rebounded strongly and went on a six-game unbeaten tear (5-0-1) leading up to the Olympic break. Last night, he had a little extra incentive, but the netminder said it wasn't so much the Rangers that had him jazzed up as the stretch run and fight for first place.

''That was a long time ago,'' he said. ''It was more or less out of my mind. We haven't done well against the Rangers this year and usually we have in the past. So it was nice to get a big win here in New York. It's such a tight race for us for that No. 1 spot. Every game is so important.''

Both clubs were missing key personnel. The Bruins didn't have Joe Thornton (shoulder injury) or Marty Lapointe (hamstring pull), though they did have a healthy Kyle McLaren back on defense for the first time in 32 games. The Rangers were missing Eric Lindros (bruised foot), Mark Messier (shoulder), and Mike York and Michal Grosek, both of whom had the flu.

They were also breaking in two new forwards - Martin Rucinsky and Roman Lyashenko - who were acquired Tuesday from Dallas.

The Bruins took the lead for good midway through the first period with Rob Zamuner picking up his 11th goal of the season. Brian Rolston dished a backhanded centering pass for Zamuner in front and he beat Rangers netminder Mike Richter at 5:35.

Benoit Hogue, who was playing in place of Thornton with Bill Guerin and Marty McInnis, potted Boston's second goal - and what turned out to be the winner - less than a minute into the middle period.

McInnis, who picked up his 400th NHL point with the assist, started the play in his own zone when he relayed a pass up for Guerin. Guerin charged up the right side and beat defenseman Dave Karpa in the circle. Seeing Hogue racing for the net with defenseman Vladimir Malakhov right on his back, Guerin dished the puck right onto Hogue's stick and he rapped it past Richter at the 58-second mark.

The Bruins had a chance to make it a three-goal lead early in the third period as a result of some hustle by the high-energy fourth line of Jamie Rivers, P.J. Stock, and Dennis Bonvie. Stock made a terrific setup to Rivers in the slot but Richter made the stop.

Then the Rangers came back the other way and cut the lead in half. Newcomer Rucinsky backhanded a pass through the legs of defenseman Hal Gill and over to Matthew Barnaby in the slot. Barnaby's first shot was blocked by McLaren, but he buried his second to make it 2-1 at 2:48. But that was all New York could muster.

''We've gotten back to basics in our defensive zone and that's one of the areas we had to clean up,'' said Guerin. ''We just have to keep improving.''

P.J. Axelsson sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:58.

''I thought it was a pretty even game,'' said Dafoe. ''We went at them, they came back at us. Richter made a huge save in the third period that enabled them to come down and have an odd-man rush and score. But we didn't get back on our heels after that. We went right back at them. They had a couple of chances, but we still carried the game pretty well. I don't think anyone had a doubt we were going to pull it out.''

This story ran on page C1 of the Boston Globe on 3/14/2002.
© Copyright 2002 Globe Newspaper Company.