[ Game summary ]

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 11/25/2001

ORONTO - There were no long faces, no dour looks, no depressing declarations regarding the outcome of last night's game.

Yes, the Bruins were shut out, 2-0, for the second time this season by Maple Leafs goaltender Curtis Joseph. Yes, they outshot the opposition, 29-12, as they have so often this year, and, yes, it was a frustrating loss.

But it is also fair to say that if the Bruins put in that type of effort every night, they will win many more than they lose.

In several stretches, they dominated the Leafs, who committed a basketfull of turnovers.

''It was basically a 1-0 game,'' said coach Robbie Ftorek. ''We had a lot of chances again, we had a lot of opportunities, we hit posts. Pucks are going to go in for us. It just wasn't tonight. We had a great game, we got nothing out of it but it was really a good game. We'll have better outcomes.''

Joseph earned his 35th career shutout as the Leafs extended their home unbeaten streak to eight games (7-0-1). They also shut out the Bruins, 2-0, Oct. 23, the only other time this year Boston has been blanked.

The loss wasn't for lack of chances, that's for sure. Boston had them early and often.

Sergei Samsonov had two bids early in the first and Glen Murray set up Brian Rolston a little later, but all went for naught.

The same wasn't true at the other end.

At 14:23 of the first, center Travis Green gave Toronto the only goal it would need. It served as a bit of redemption for Green, who missed a wide-open net in the third period Friday night that would have tied the game with the Islanders. Green was also the one who coughed up the puck to Michael Peca for the winner.

This time, Green wound up with the winner. Robert Reichel dropped a pass back to Green, who was trailing down the slot. Green's wrister beat goalie Byron Dafoe to the stick side and the Leafs were on the board.

With 28 seconds left, the Bruins put themselves in a position to tie it when Murray fed Rolston. Murray got the puck on the right side and pulled up and waited. He gunned it to Rolston but Joseph was there.

Boston was frustrated once again in the second period when it failed to cash in on a two-man advantage that lasted for 58 seconds.

With defenseman Wade Belak off for elbowing at 6:36, Green joined on an interference call at 7:38. Ftorek sent out Samsonov, Joe Thornton, Martin Lapointe, Rolston, and defenseman Sean O'Donnell to create some offense. However, the Maple Leafs did a terrific job of killing off both penalties.

The Leafs added an insurance goal at 10:12. Defenseman Kyle McLaren was behind the Boston net as the team prepared to break out. McLaren gave the puck to forward John Emmons and Toronto center Mats Sundin came charging at Emmons, who basically gave it right to Jonas Hoglund. Hoglund, who was in front of Dafoe, accepted the gift and wristed a shot past the netminder. That was the end of the offense for both sides.

''Our center came over and took it,'' said McLaren, referring to Emmons. ''Emmons kind of threw it in front of the net instead of behind him. You don't leave a guy like Hoglund for very long in front of the net. He can bury those chances.''

Early in the final period, the Bruins had their third power play, which gave them an opportunity but they couldn't get anything past Joseph.

Even with Dafoe pulled for an extra attacker in the final minute, the Bruins couldn't score and that was the story of the night.

''They have a high-powered offense over there,'' said McLaren. ''To hold them to 12 shots is good.''

Except, of course, if you're Toronto coach Pat Quinn.

''We'd like our guys to shoot the puck,'' said Quinn. ''We were in one of our passing modes. It was our seventh game in 11 nights and we've traveled all over the place. I respect the grit they showed all night.''

This story ran on page C1 of the Boston Globe on 11/25/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.