Bruins fend off Predators

It's 2 points for win - but none for style

[ Game summary ]

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 1/29/2003

t wasn't the playoff-style game the Bruins played Saturday against Philadelphia. It wasn't like the offensive show they put on against Columbus and Pittsburgh. It wasn't like the comeback effort against Washington that resulted in a tie but felt more like a victory.

No, last night's contest against the Nashville Predators didn't win many style points. For long stretches, it was more tractor pull than crowd-pleaser because of the visitors' tendency to clutch and grab.

But after a six-week malaise, all that matters to the Bruins is points in the standings. They eked out a 2-1 win at the FleetCenter, extending their unbeaten streak to five games (4-0-1-0) and their win streak to three. It is their longest stretch without a loss since they won five in a row from Nov. 21-30.

What's different? Better team defense, for starters. Improved special teams. And a different attitude.

"A month ago, we would've gotten blown out," said captain Joe Thornton, who scored the winning goal and assisted on the other. "But tonight we played patient. We got the timely goal and that's what mattered.

"Lately, it just seems like we're moving the puck really well [on the power play] and finding each other and getting good scoring chances and burying them. We're talking more, we have more confidence in each other. We're not complaining as much about the referees. I think that's a big part. We're just focusing our energy on the other team. We're just kind of forgetting the no-calls. We've been more focused."

Boston's first goal came in the opening period. Left wing Mike Knuble was at the end of the shift and was about to go to the bench. However, something told him to remain on the ice. He soon had his 13th goal of the year.

Right wing Glen Murray was along the boards behind the net with Thornton, battling for the puck with a pair of Predators. Murray came away with it and skated into the left circle. He saw Knuble, who maneuvered his way behind defenseman Andy Delmore, and threw it toward his teammate heading toward the right post. The feed went under the stick of Delmore, and Knuble shoveled it past goalie Tomas Vokoun at 4:29.

The first period wasn't all good news for Boston. Defenseman Rich Brennan suffered a bruised right ankle after absorbing a slap shot. X-rays were negative, but he will be reevaluated today.

In what must seem like night and day from his days in Montreal, Bruins goaltender Jeff Hackett faced only two shots in the opening 20 minutes, only 19 for the game. Only left wing Andreas Johansson and center Dave Legwand were able to get anything on the new Boston netminder. On Saturday, Hackett stopped all 24 shots he faced in his debut, beating Philadelphia in overtime, 1-0.

The Bruins doubled their lead to 2-0 in the second. Coach Robbie Ftorek, who altered his lines to try to generate some energy, put young Kris Vernarsky, playing just his second NHL game, with Thornton and Murray.

Marty McInnis moved to a line with center Brian Rolston, but they lost their other wing, Martin Samuelsson, for a little while after he was nailed in the chest by Delmore in the neutral zone and had the wind knocked out of him.

Thornton potted the deciding goal during a power play. Murray faked a shot at the left point and found Michal Grosek in the slot. Grosek's shot rattled off the crossbar and defenseman Jason York tried to clear the rebound. However, his clear attempt wound up on Thornton's stick, and he fired it into the far side of the net to make it 2-0, his 24th goal of the year.

The Predators closed within 2-1 at 11:26 of the third on a goal by Johansson, the first goal Hackett has given up as a Bruin. Right wing Scott Walker dished a pass to Johansson in the right circle and he one-timed a shot between the legs of Hackett.

But the Bruins held the fort the rest of the way.

Thornton said it wasn't the prettiest performance, but climbing the standings is the top priority.

"This was obviously a little bit slower," he said, "but we just kept patient and played our game and we won the game and that's all that matters."

This story ran on page F1 of the Boston Globe on 1/29/2003.
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