They have no answers for Bruins' goal in third

[ Game summary ]

By Nanc Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 12/27/2001

arly in the season, if the Bruins surrendered a lead in the third period, the chances were pretty good their opponent was going to win.

Call it a lack of killer instinct, a learning process, a lack of maturity. Whatever the reason, Boston's leads, especially of the two-goal variety, were not necessarily safe.

Last night, the Bruins again gave up a two-goal lead, surrendering a pair in a span of 95 seconds early in the third period, but rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators at the FleetCenter. The win pulled Boston to within 3 points of Toronto for the Eastern Conference lead.

Jozef Stumpel potted the deciding goal at 10:28, giving Boston its third straight victory, matching a season high.

``We weren't real sharp in our end in the third period,'' said Brian Rolston, who scored his 19th goal of the year, matching last season's total. ``I don't know why that changed. Anyway, we fought back and got 2 points and that's the most important thing.

``We weren't sharp at times but after three days off, I think you can expect that a bit. Not that we're using any excuses but I think the important thing was they came back and scored two goals and we go on and get that third one. That's huge. We've let some leads slip away, but I think we're growing as a team. I think we'll continually get better.''

One player who has improved a great deal is Rob Zamuner, who missed 14 games because of a sterno-clavicular sprain. He has been back for 13 and in his last four he's had four goals and two assists.

Last night, Zamuner gave Boston a 1-0 lead at 12:34 of the first period.

Nick Boynton, positioned at the right point, dished a pass over to the left point for Sean O'Donnell. O'Donnell spotted Zamuner in the right circle and sent a hard pass to him. Zamuner, shooting from the inside edge, roofed a shot over Ottawa goalie Jani Hurme and it was 1-0.

It was the third straight game O'Donnell had recorded a point and the fifth time in the last seven games.

Coach Robbie Ftorek can see how much more comfortable Zamuner has become.

``Whenever you miss a lot of games, it takes a little bit of time to get back in shape and get your timing,'' said Ftorek. ``He made a great play moving out of traffic to get into a seam and then made a nice shot underneath the crossbar. Everything looks like he's hitting stride, so it's real nice to see.''

Rolston made it 2-0 at 10:31 of the second. During what started as a two-on-one break, Zamuner skated up the right side and threaded a pass across to Rolston. The puck hit one of Rolston's skates before landing on his stick and before he ran out of room, he was able to tuck the puck past Hurme.

``I don't know how it snuck underneath him,'' said Rolston. ``Rob made a great pass. He had to [thread it through] two sticks. I was just thinking, `Put it on the net, ' and luckily it got through.''

A few minutes after Don Sweeney rang a shot off the crossbar, the Senators thought they had scored at 18:52 when the puck went off the skate of center Mike Fisher and past John Grahame. But replays showed Fisher had kicked in the puck.

But Ottawa converted twice in less than two minutes early in the final period to pull even. Right wing Andre Roy skated the puck down the slot and roofed a backhander over Grahame to pull Ottawa to 2-1 at 2:07. Then, center Todd White scored his 14th of the year to tie it. White, who was skating with the puck behind the Boston net while being chased by O'Donnell, tried jamming a shot in at the right post. It trickled into the net past Grahame at 3:42.

That set the stage for Stumpel's heroics with 9:32 left in regulation.

Bill Guerin, who was behind the Ottawa net, chipped a backhanded pass over to Scott Pellerin, who also was behind the net, off to the left of Hurme. Pellerin centered it to Stumpel in the slot and he slammed it home.

``I don't like to say we expect it,'' said Rolston, ``but those guys have been making big plays all year, and they made another one tonight.''

This story ran on page C1 of the Boston Globe on 12/27/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.