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CAPITALS 2, BRUINS 0 Bruins' fortunes take a big dip in rematch
[ Game summary ]
The Bruins figured a home-and-home series against the Washington Capitals had the potential to be a cure for what ailed them. Both clubs have struggled this season, and the Bruins looked as if their fortunes were turning after a strong outing against Pittsburgh Tuesday.
Never mind.
The Bruins surrendered a pair of goals 23 seconds apart early in the third period last night to drop a 2-0 decision to the Capitals at the FleetCenter after falling, 3-2, Friday night in Washington.
Defenseman Joe Reekie scored on a slap shot from the top of the left circle at 3:51 - his first tally in 198 games - and left wing Steve Konowalchuk had a Reekie shot go off his right skate at 4:14 to account for the scoring.
Boston now hits the road, where life has not been very kind.
The Capitals kept the Bruins on the perimeter. There were few real scoring chances for the Bruins, who again had terrific goaltending from Peter Skudra (26 saves) only to give him no support. Another weak spot for Boston has been faceoffs. The Bruins were eaten alive Friday, mostly by center Adam Oates, and it wasn't much better last night.
''We didn't generate anything off the rush,'' said Bill Guerin. ''We tried to keep it down low but we weren't that successful. I thought they played a heck of a game. They got the puck out when given a chance.''
In the first period, Ken Belanger got the crowd going with some haymakers thrown at Craig Berube at 7:47. Belanger had drilled defenseman Dmitri Mironov into the boards with a hard, clean hit and Berube came calling. The two went after each other with Belanger getting the better of the Capitals' veteran.
The Bruins even ended up with a power play as a result of goalie Olaf Kolzig leaving the crease.
However, the Bruins couldn't cash in. Jason Allison dished a pass to Brian Rolston, who fired a shot from the slot, and Guerin followed with a bid from the left circle but Kolzig handled both. Rolston and Guerin combined for six of the club's seven shots in the first period.
''After reviewing and meeting with the players it was obvious to me that some of these players don't know how to prepare,'' said coach Mike Keenan. ''You'd think that should be the case but there's individual preparation and there's team preparation and there are team skills as well as individual skills. We got the physical response from Kenny Belanger, he did his job but we didn't have any support after that. Allison's line was extended [Friday] because they were our best players. [Last night] the support group should step forward and they didn't.''
Once again, the Bruins appeared to take the middle period off. Kolzig was barely tested as Washington outshot Boston, 13-5.
The man advantage was no help. The Bruins got their third power play at 11:58 when Reekie was whistled for holding but Washington did a terrific job of killing the penalty by keeping the Bruins to the outside. The only real threat came on a Rolston shot from long range.
With 18.7 seconds left in the period, Allison had a decent bid but Kolzig turned it back.
The wheels fell off in the third and the Bruins took yet another step in the wrong direction. If this keeps up, they'll be out of postseason contention in short order.
''We have to be very concerned,'' said Guerin. ''We're already in a playoff race. We've really got to start getting some wins here somehow before it's too late.''
This story ran on page C01 of the Boston Globe on 12/3/2000.
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ack-to-back nights. Same opponent. Same result.