UFFALO - They keep getting better, stronger, even happier. They look like a team, a formidable team, these 2000-01 Bruins.
The question is: How are they going to look Sunday night?
''The good thing,'' said captain Jason Allison, after the Bruins topped the Sabres, 3-2, here last night, ''if we do get in the playoffs, we'll be a tough team to play. We're playing with that kind of mentality right now.''
The win was the sixth in eight games for the late-charging, playoff-challenged Bruins.
For more than a couple of weeks now, when it has counted most, they've been among the top performers in the Original 30. But in the Black-and-Gold scheme of things, the NHL is only a three-team league these days, and right now both Toronto and Carolina own playoff berths in the Eastern Conference.
Although the Bruins may have their own version of ''Groundhog Day'' going, winning game after game after game, they just can't seem to alter the script and write a playoff ticket.
Two games to play.
Time running out.
''There is nothing we can do about what Toronto does or what Carolina does,'' said Brian Rolston, who along with Allison and Mikko Eloranta, scored Boston's goals.
''But it sure would be nice if we could get some help from someone, no question.''
The Rangers, 3-1 losers to Carolina last night, were of no assistance. Ditto the Islanders and homeboy Rick DiPietro, who were 4-2 losers to the Leafs. The reality is the Bruins could run the table with five wins in their last five games, end the season with 90 points, and be left to sink into the Atlantic when the last lifeboat gets grabbed Sunday afternoon (Penguins at Hurricanes in a matinee).
''It's a good feeling that we are still in it, and we are still winning,'' said coach Mike Keenan, his club clicking at a torrid .813 pace in its last eight games (6-1-0-1), and now faced with games vs. New Jersey (tomorrow) and the Islanders (Saturday). ''We have to have someone stumble.''
For a lengthy stretch of the first period, the Bruins were their own best bet to stumble. After mounting a 5-1 lead in shots in the first eight minutes, they were outgunned, 11-1, up to the first intermission.
''We were nervous,'' said Keenan.
''Gripping our sticks a little tight,'' added Allison.
Meanwhile, the out-of-town scoreboard was filling those spoked-B sweaters with more anxiety. Keenan said he was watching the Carolina and Toronto scores get logged. His players admitted only the occasional glance.
Finally, early in the second, the Bruins broke to a 1-0 lead when Andrei Kovalenko picked off an errant Buffalo pass and set up Eloranta with a pretty drop relay in the slot. The Finnish forward closed to within the circles and beat Martin Biron with a wrister to the top right corner.
''Take care of our own games,'' said Eloranta, repeating the mantra of the day. ''Try to win and hope for the best.''
The situation improved early in the third when Jason Woolley spoonfed Rolston in the right faceoff circle. Biron was still struggling to get back in his net when Rolston rocketed in the 2-0 lead at 2:23.
Doug Gilmour broke Byron Dafoe's shutout bid at 11:36 of the third, cutting it to 2-1, and then Allison provided some breathing room with 5:19 left in regulation, with help from Sergei Samsonov and Bill Guerin. The Sabres closed to within a goal when James Patrick connected at 17:46, forcing the Bruins to seal their own end in the final minute when the Sabres pulled Biron for the extra attacker. The final seconds ticked off with the Bruins forcing the puck out, and keeping it out, despite what amounted to power-play pressure from their old Adams Division brethren.
''That's a tough night,'' said Keenan, who emerged from the Boston dressing room after the win, sporting a broad smile. ''That was a lot of pressure for our players to deal with - I'm really proud of 'em.''
A beaming coach. A confident club. Points getting added to the standings as if posted there as bids from eBay. All the pieces are coming together, just in time.
If only there were more time.
''We might have four guys with 30 or more goals,'' said an impressed Allison. ''It's certainly the most-talented club since I got here. That's why guys are feeling good, feeling confident. We think we can do something if we get in the playoffs. And I think we can, because I know we can win our two games, and you've got to figure not all three teams are going to be perfect the rest of the way, right?''
Maybe. Maybe not. That's the big picture, and the picture playing right now is ''Groundhog Day.'' The bedside alarm goes off. Bill Murray goes to the window, opens the blinds, and there are two guys, one in a Leaf sweater, the other in a 'Canes sweater, waving to him from the sidewalk. Every day the same.
