Bruins rescue tie in Chicago

[ Game summary ]

By Kevin Paul Dupont, Globe Staff, 10/29/2001

HICAGO - A remedy for melancholy? Perhaps. Whatever it was - and it certainly was wacky, if nothing else - the Bruins finally may have found a way to chase their goal-scoring malaise.

Down, almost out, and attacking with six forwards (did someone say midnight shinny?), the Bruins connected for a pair of goals in the final 18-plus seconds at the United Center last night and salvaged a 3-3 tie with the Blackhawks.

''I think in a game like tonight, you count your blessings,'' said Bill Guerin, whose goal with 18.4 seconds remaining in regulation pulled the Bruins within 3-2. ''And you move on - grateful for the point.''

''I guess it doesn't matter how you score,'' added Joe Thornton, who provided the equalizer with 0.4 seconds to go, ''as long as you score. I hope this gets our offense going. It's just a case of us shooting the puck and getting some bodies to the net.''

For the last 21/2 weeks, beginning with the start of their annual October sojourn, the Bruins had failed to score more than twice in any of their eight games. Here, faced with the prospects of another loss, they equalled their highest output of the last fortnight-plus in less than 20 seconds.

Need an offensive boost? Just fall behind by two goals in the third period, wait to hear the official timekeeper bellow, ''LAST CALL! MIND THE TIME, GENTLEMEN! LAST CALL!'' and then send your best hired six-shooters over the dasher.

''Those are the guys you look to,'' said coach Robbie Ftorek. ''Well, we've got other guys, too, but there are only so many spots on the ice. I felt those were the guys to get the job done, and they did.''

The six degrees of desperation were Brian Rolston, Sergei Samsonov, Josef Stumpel, Martin Lapointe, Guerin, and Thornton. Samsonov was key to both goals, each time making nice setups that led to shots on net. His first dish was to Rolston, who stepped into a slot shot that Guerin tipped from down low in front of Chicago goalie Joceyln Thibault. His second was the primary assist that set up Thornton for the winner.

The fun began with just over a minute remaining in regulation. Ftorek called John Grahame (33 saves) out of the net, and did some fast talking in the huddle at the Boston bench. It looked like Thanksgiving morning flag football - everybody GO LONG! When the planning session ended, the six Boston forwards lined up for a faceoff in the neutral zone and the Hawks scaled the puck back into the Boston end, making it seem all the more improbable the Bruins could mount a comeback.

But back up ice the Bruins came, ultimately leading to Samsonov's soft, feathery dish into the middle for the oncoming Rolston.

''Hey, they can be garbage goals,'' said Rolston. ''I think it shows we have to continue to crash the net, get guys around the cage. Goaltenders can't stop what they can't see. The ugly goals still count, no question.''

Goals and assists are the only points that matter. Style doesn't show up on the scoresheet.

''I think we learn a lesson here - we have to do better on the ice,'' said Guerin, whose goal was only his second this season, his start-of-the-season momentum cut off by a three-game suspension just before the Bruins hit the road earlier this month. ''I think the guys have been anxious. You want to go out and make things happen, but at the same time, you want to play with patience and work for each other.''

The Bruins were working against themselves in the early going. In the opening 10 minutes, they were whistled for four minor penalties, not exactly a running start. On their fourth advantage, the Hawks struck for the 1-0 lead, Eric Daze nailing in the go-ahead strike with what amounted to a centering pass that bounced in off Don Sweeney at 11:48.

Only 1:01 remained in the second period when the Bruins finally got the equalizer, delivered by Lapointe off a perfectly-threaded pass by Thornton. Then it all seemed to fall apart early in the third when Steve Thomas struck at 1:22, followed by Steve Sullivan on a power play at 8:29. The third goal looked like the killer, delivered via the power play after newcomer Glen Murray was nabbed for a stick hold while in the attacking zone.

But before you could say 2 points blown to oblivion in the Windy City, the Bruins hurried back into the picture.

''We have plenty of guys who can score goals,'' said Rolston, among the many who wish the late outburst will break the offensive dam. ''We've been peppering goalies, but the end result hasn't been there.''

It was here, right at the very end.

This story ran on page D2 of the Boston Globe on 10/29/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.