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BRUINS 3, PENGUINS 2 Guerin rescues Bruins [ Game summary ]
For the second time in nine days, Boston defeated the Penguins. Last night's was a 3-2 decision at the Igloo that ended the Bruins' losing streak at three games.
Using a largely unproven defensive corps, the Bruins had a shaky first period but played tenaciously over the last two with right wing Bill Guerin scoring a pair of third-period goals to make the difference.
''The key for us was the puck pursuit in the second and third periods,'' said Bruins coach Mike Keenan. ''We were a little tentative in the first. I thought we had a lot better puck pursuit in the second. As a result, we came up with the chances we needed to put the game away. Our point was to pressure them. That was a key for us, pressure the puck and try to take their skill out of the game as much as we could.''
Hal Gill once again effectively shut down Jaromir Jagr and goaltender Peter Skudra came up big for Boston early, stopping 15 of 16 shots in the first.
It didn't hurt that the ex-Penguin knew what to expect from his former teammates. ''I know all the top guys' best moves,'' said Skudra, who stopped 27 shots. ''I know what Robert Lang likes to do, and Alexei Kovalev. I think it helps me a little bit, but you can't really think about much and start cheating. That's how you get caught. When you've been together for three years, you definitely know the guys.''
The Penguins took the lead at 16:32 of the first period on a goal by center Josef Beranek. With Brian Rolston off for holding the stick, Skudra came up with some spectacular saves early in the man advantage. But the Bruins had trouble relieving the pressure and Beranek cashed in on his fourth goal of the year.
Kovalev, who's having a breakout season, teed up a slapper from the right point. Beranek got to the rebound and beat Skudra near the right post for the 1-0 lead.
The Bruins very nearly tied it with only .6 seconds remaining in the first period. Dixon Ward tried a wraparound and the puck bounced out to Don Sweeney in front. But goalie Garth Snow snared Sweeney's shot.
The Bruins tied it at 12:32 of the second period on Ward's third tally of the season. Shawn Bates, in the left circle, dished a drop pass to P.J. Axelsson, who teed up a slapper that deflected off Ward and past Snow to make it 1-1.
Kovalev gave Pittsburgh back the lead with his 16th goal of the season at 18:32. Defenseman Hans Jonsson took the initial shot and Lang had the next one. But with Skudra trying to contain the puck, Kovalev got it free and backhanded it in at the left post.
The Bruins had plenty of offensive opportunities in the middle period. Bates and Axelsson had a 2-on-1 break at 3:24, but Snow saw Axelsson's shot all the way. Jason Allison set up Gill nicely at 4:18 with a centering pass that gave Gill a chance from point-blank range, but Snow stopped it with his pads.
Guerin, however, came through in the third to help the Bruins, who finished with 36 shots, end their skid.
Guerin's 17th of the season came at 3:27, pulling the Bruins even at 2. Allison took the initial shot and Guerin banged in the rebound. Just over a minute later, at 4:43, Guerin converted the rebound of a Gill slap shot from the left point.
The relief among the Bruins was palpable. ''Although we've come up short the last couple of games, we've been working hard,'' said Guerin. ''Guys' hearts have definitely been in it and I think we finally got rewarded. We wanted to throw the puck on net all night. I just got to pick up a couple of rebounds. I think this was the most shots we've had in a game in a long time. It paid off for us. You're not going to get out of a slump by making pretty plays all over the place. You've got to get your nose dirty and get in front of the net and that's what we did.''
This story ran on page C1 of the Boston Globe on 12/7/2000.
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ITTSBURGH - Maybe the Bruins can convince the NHL schedule-makers to add 20 or so more games against Pittsburgh to Boston's agenda.