Still no breakthrough: Bruins get locked in tie

[ Game summary ]

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 4/10/2002

n some games, such as last night's, the Bruins are out of synch for long stretches and lack a killer instinct. In other contests, they're not playing the type of defense that has brought them so much success. In still others, they can't seem to find a way to score.

Whatever the problem that has befuddled them over the last half a dozen games, the red flags are flying. After a 2-2 tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning at the FleetCenter, the Bruins were a very frustrated bunch. They're now winless in four (0-1-1-2) and have just one victory in their last six (1-2-1-2). They did manage to pick up a point on idle Philadelphia and Toronto and are at 99 with two games remaining. They're still on top of the Eastern Conference but limping to the finish line.

Last night, a fluky goal by Vincent Lecavalier with 26.7 seconds left cost them a precious point. Every game, it seems to be something.

''It's not what we wanted,'' said goaltender Byron Dafoe. ''We had it in the bag with under a minute to go. Lecavalier throws it at the net, it goes off [Brian Rolston] and it's in the net.

''It's just an unfortunate bounce, but we have to look further than that. We have to put these games out of reach, and right now, we're not getting the job done. We're still getting points here and there but we need to win some hockey games. That's not the way you want to go into the playoffs.''

The evening certainly started out well enough for Boston. Just 1:16 into the first period, Glen Murray gave his team the lead with his 38th goal of the season. It was Murray's ninth goal and 13th point in his last 12 games.

Lecavalier answered at 5:12 to even it up.

The Bruins rallied at 16:35 of the second, with a perfect illustration of the value of right wing Martin Lapointe. Knocked to his knees behind the net, Lapointe dished a backhand pass to Rolston, also behind the cage. Rolston skated the puck out beneath the right circle and fired it to P.J. Axelsson, who was positioned high between the circles. With Lapointe locked in an intense battle for position in front with defenseman Dan Boyle, Axelsson teed up a slapper that beat Nikolai Khabibulin for the 2-1 lead.

It was the seventh goal of the season for Axelsson, who celebrated with a Ray Bourque-style pump of the fist.

''I have to be happy when I score,'' said Axelsson, ''because it's not that often.''

But the Bruins' celebration would turn to dismay as the final minute ticked down.

With Khabibulin at the bench for an extra attacker, Lecavalier, in the right corner, just flung the puck at the net. It went between the legs of defenseman Sean O'Donnell (who had saved a goal in the third period), then glanced off the left skate of Rolston in front before squirting under Dafoe.

''It's worse than a deflection in front because I have to open up thinking it's going to someone on the far side, and you're not expecting that, so it's disappointing,'' said Dafoe. ''There aren't a lot of positives, but we got 1 point. We've got to be better these last two games.''

Dafoe isn't sure what is ailing the Bruins, but he doesn't see the important elements that have brought them this far.

''I don't think we're playing with enough emotion or intensity,'' he said. ''We've got two games left, and if we finish strong and play the way we know how to play - with intensity, drive, and determination - we'll be in good shape.

''But these last couple of games haven't been great. I don't feel we're playing playoff hockey right now. Maybe it's because we've got a playoff spot clinched. But I really believe we should step our level up because I don't think you can turn it on and off.''

This story ran on page F1 of the Boston Globe on 4/10/2002.
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