|
 |
| |||
 | |||
|
| | |
BRUINS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 0 Defenders lost; revenge earned [ Game summary ]
The Bruins publicly played down their desire for revenge against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who humiliated Boston Nov. 5 at the Air Canada Centre.
Coach Mike Keenan, who was behind the Bruins bench for just his seventh game that night, said he had forgotten all about enforcer Tie Domi delivering a nasty blow to the head of Boston forward Joe Hulbig, a shot that resulted in a concussion.
However, like elephants, hockey players and coaches never forget - especially not an embarrassing defeat or a perceived cheap shot. That was evident in last night's rock 'em-sock 'em ode to old-time hockey in which the Bruins triumphed, 4-0, at the FleetCenter.
The Bruins were physical - matching the Leafs tough guys blow for blow - and received timely scoring as well as solid goaltending on the way to the victory, which extended their unbeaten streak to three games for the first time since the opening of the season. It was the 21st career shutout for goalie Byron Dafoe, who made 23 stops. It was also the first shutout of the season for the Bruins.
Brian Rolston had a goal and two assists, matching a career high for points and marking the fifth 3-point game of his career.
The only sour note was that Boston lost two defensemen to injury in the second period: Kyle McLaren suffered a charley horse and Darren Van Impe suffered a shoulder injury. Both are day-to-day. Peter Popovic also has a sore hand, but was said to be fine.
''This was certainly an intense game in terms of the confrontations that took place,'' said Keenan, whose team had 44 minutes in penalties compared with Toronto's 49. ''We played a team that is somewhat frustrated right now and we knew that their approach would be abrasive. We were ready for it.''
The beating of the Leafs actually started at the morning skate when coach Pat Quinn, outraged at his club's three-game losing streak coming in, blistered his players during a closed-door meeting that could be heard down the hall from the visitors' dressing room.
Either the Leafs weren't listening or the Bruins were so bent on vengeance that it didn't matter what Toronto did.
The Maple Leafs weren't dreadful, but they were not the same team that was 8-1-3-2 prior to their recent skid.
The Bruins got off to a fast start with Rolston putting them up, 1-0, just 4:49 into the first period.
Center Eric Manlow, playing his second NHL game, made a terrific feed to set up the score. Manlow, behind the Leafs' net and to the right of goalie Glenn Healy, backhanded a pass to right wing Andrei Kovalenko, who fired a shot that Rolston tipped past Healy.
Center Jason Allison made it 2-0 at 11:33 during the man-advantage. With defenseman Tomas Kaberle in the penalty box, Boston cashed in. Rolston teed up a slapper from the right point that caromed off the left post. But Allison was right there when the puck came out and he backhanded it into the net for his 18th goal of the season.
The Maple Leafs, outshot in the period, 9-5, came out stronger in the second. But that flurry didn't amount to anything and Boston came calling again shortly after.
McLaren, playing his second game back after missing 24 games with an injury, gained the blue line up the left side. He beat defenseman Dave Manson and made a pass across the slot to Mikko Eloranta, who was charging down the right side. Eloranta guided it into the net for the 3-0 lead at 3:15. It was McLaren's 100th NHL point.
At 4:02, the Maple Leafs couldn't get even so they elected to get mad as Domi squared off with Van Impe. Domi got the better of the battle as Van Impe was later forced to the dressing room because his shoulder seized up.
The Bruins scored their final goal at 5:32 when Kovalenko potted his 10th of the season during a two-man advantage. Allison, in the left circle, tried to deliver a pass in the slot but it struck the leg of defenseman Danny Markov. But the puck didn't stop and Kovalenko rapped it past Healy from in front.
Later in the period, the Bruins lost McLaren. He was drilled by forward Darcy Tucker into the right corner of the defensive zone and suffered a charley horse at 11:08. After he cleared the puck, Tucker finished his hit and McLaren seemed wounded. He skated awkwardly to the bench. He did return for the rest of the period and early in the third, but with about five minutes gone in the third, he retired to the dressing room.
Domi and Bruins left wing Ken Belanger squared off in a battle at the 12:30 mark with Belanger very much holding his own in the bout. There was some rough stuff in the third, too, but the Bruins handled all of it.
''We're seeing them develop as a team,'' said Keenan, ''and that's certainly something we were looking for.''
This story ran on page E1 of the Boston Globe on 12/22/2000.
|
hat's that they say about payback?