A payoff in OT

Bruins cash in on Rolston strike

[ Game summary ]

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 1/26/2003

oaltender Jeff Hackett went into his first game as a Bruin last night with one goal - he wanted to impress his new teammates.

Mission accomplished. Hackett, acquired Thursday in a three-team deal with San Jose and Montreal, stopped all 24 shots he faced as he led the Bruins to a 1-0 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the FleetCenter. It was his first shutout this season and 23d of his career.

The Bruins extended their unbeaten streak to four games (3-0-1-0), knocking off an opponent that had won 10 of 12.

With Hackett in command at the Bruins' end, Brian Rolston made the difference at the other end. His slap shot from the left circle beat Flyers goalie Robert Esche to the far side just 31 seconds into the extra session.

Hackett made a stop on Flyers defenseman Kim Johnsson, who had been fed for the bid by Jeremy Roenick. The rebound started a two-on-one break the other way. Jozef Stumpel relayed the puck to Sean O'Donnell and he dished it to Rolston for the winner.

''I thought we played a strong game,'' said Rolston, whose tally gave him 20 for the season. ''Obviously, we got great goaltending. He was very calming back there. I think he's going to give us a lot of confidence to know that he's behind us. It always happens in a game like that where once he makes the huge save on a guy and we're going the other way, then you get the opportunity and it was a great win.''

On four occasions this season, the Bruins have had only one power play in a game. Last night marked the first time they had none. The Flyers, who came in rated No. 27 on the man advantage, failed to convert on three opportunities.

In the first period, Boston outshot the Flyers, 8-6, but didn't have many great chances. Both teams were playing tight defense. There was plenty of hitting, especially by Bruins defenseman Bryan Berard. In one shift, Berard took out both Pavel Brendl and Roenick.

Hackett was tested a few times in the opening period. One of the best was at 12:27 when right wing Radovan Somik tipped the puck in front of the netminder but he turned it back. Early in the second, Bruins captain Joe Thornton got into a scrap with Flyers veteran defenseman Eric Desjardins, sending both to the penalty box for fighting. Thornton didn't like Desjardins's hit from behind and dropped his gloves at the 57-second mark.

Meanwhile, Berard continued to leave bodies in his wake. With about 11:30 gone in the period, Berard crushed Somik and center Michal Handzus.

Boston's best scoring chances in regulation came midway through the third. Rolston, who had three shots on net in the first 40 minutes, rattled one off the left post. Right after that, Marty McInnis stole the puck from defenseman Dennis Seidenberg in the Philadelphia zone and fired on Esche but the goalie got his glove on it.

The Bruins continued to threaten as the period went along with Thornton putting a shot on Esche that went off the netminder's shoulder. Stumpel had an even better opportunity with 1:54 left in regulation. Berard took a shot from the point that Esche stopped but Stumpel got to the rebound. He tried to put a forehander inside the right post but the goalie kept it out.

Hackett was smiling afterward. The former Montreal netminder was asked the last time he saw just 24 shots in a game.

''I don't know,'' said the onetime Blackhawks goalie. ''Probably sometime in Chicago.''

This story ran on page C11 of the Boston Globe on 1/26/2003.
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