Win lifts Bruins into first place in the conference

[ Game summary ]

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 3/20/2002

he Bruins' impressive victory over the Detroit Red Wings Saturday had the feel of a late-round playoff game.

Brian Rolston said last night's contest against the Phoenix Coyotes had a completely different feel - like that of an exhibition game.

It may not have been a work of art, but in the end, Boston won it, 4-2, at the FleetCenter and this morning the club is sitting atop the Eastern Conference. The Bruins have 86 points, 1 ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers, who were idle last night. The Maple Leafs kept pace with an overtime win over the Islanders and are now tied with the Flyers.

The Bruins say they're not celebrating their lofty status. They're keeping their eyes on the next opponent - Buffalo tomorrow - and then the next, etc.

''These last 12 games here, we want to build for the playoffs,'' said Rolston. ''We want to be playing well going in, that's the most important thing. Is winning the conference or the division important? I don't know. I think it is. I think if we just play our game and keep winning hockey games down the stretch, I think we're going to be there.

''These next four games are huge for us on the road. Most importantly, what we should be thinking about is getting our game ready for the playoffs. I've been on teams in the past where we've really made a push to win the conference. It seems like you're really concentrating on that instead of concentrating on maybe the little things, what you want to get done going into the playoffs.''

That means correcting some bad habits that might creep in from time to time and putting together more of an effort that resembles Saturday's and not one that resembles last night's.

The Bruins started well enough, taking a 2-0 lead less than halfway into the first period. Forward Rob Zamuner (No. 12) and defenseman Hal Gill (No. 3) potted goals to put Boston in the driver's seat against the Coyotes, who came in unbeaten in seven games (6-0-1).

Zamuner's came on the power play at 3:50 and Gill's was at even strength at 8:28.

The Coyotes should've had a goal at 12:48 of the second but a communications breakdown cost them.

Michal Handzus, with the puck outside the left post, took a forehand shot that hit the body of Byron Dafoe. The goaltender fell backward, and part of his left arm and shoulder were over the goal line when he landed. The puck rolled up under his arm and over the line before Dafoe swept it out.

Video goal judge Mark Messier tried calling the officials at ice level to tell them it was a goal. However, either the phone didn't work or nobody heard it ringing, because the puck was dropped after that stoppage in play.

As in football, there's no going back once play resumes. Phoenix ended up robbed.

''He couldn't get through,'' said referee Paul Devorski. ''We have no idea what happened. Messier said he dialed three times, but once the puck is dropped, we can't go back. But there was an attempt to call down.''

Messier said he has been lobbying for a different system; he wants a light to go off when the video judge calls, so that on-ice officials won't be responsible for hearing a ringing phone.

Coyotes coach Bobby Francis was understandably peeved.

''The guy in the video booth either had a German shepherd by his side or they don't pay their phone bills here,'' he said.

The Bruins made it a three-goal lead when Glen Murray tallied his 31st of the season at 1:10 of the third. It turned out they needed the breathing room. The Coyotes pulled within one a little more than halfway through the period with goals 55 seconds apart.

Defenseman Todd Simpson put the Coyotes on the board with his first of the season at 9:22. In the aftermath of that, forward P.J. Stock was assessed a roughing minor, and Phoenix converted on the power play with Mike Johnson picking up his fifth of the year.

But that's as close as they would come. Right wing Marty Lapointe, playing in his first game since March 6 when he aggravated a hamstring pull, closed out the scoring with 26.6 seconds left.

''We knew we didn't play as strong a game as we did against Detroit,'' said Rolston. ''But we snuck out the 2 points, which is great.

''We want to get on that every night you're going out there, working hard and feeling confident about our system and everybody going on all cylinders - because in the playoffs, that's what we're going to need to win.''

This story ran on page C1 of the Boston Globe on 3/20/2002.
© Copyright 2002 Globe Newspaper Company.