Bruins lose grip

They can't hold off Devils in the third

[ Game summary ]

By Chris Snow, Globe Correspondent, 2/22/2003

AST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - On bended knee, Jeff Hackett buried his facemask in his blocker, disgusted with himself and seeking asylum from the 15,220 celebrating fans at Continental Airlines Arena.

Moments earlier, at 13:33 of the third period last night against New Jersey, the Devils' Jeff Friesen barreled down left wing and from the top of the circle blew a slapshot past Hackett low to the glove side. The blast, which Hackett overplayed to the short side, completed a two-goal New Jersey third period that transformed a promising 40 minutes and 2-1 Boston lead into yet another loss. The Bruins, who lost for only the second time in 24 occasions when leading after two periods, are 1-4-1 on their seven-game road trip that concludes tomorrow on Long Island.

The Islanders' 4-1 win over Colorado last night coupled with Tampa Bay's 2-2 tie at Carolina leaves the Bruins, with 64 points, clinging to eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 22 games to play.

''I just don't know what to say,'' said Hackett, who stewed at his locker for 15 minutes before addressing the media. ''The puck dropped. But there's no excuse. I just don't understand what's going on. It's very frustrating. The guys played hard. They deserved better than this.''

The Devils, who entered last night winless in three games, struck first at 7:51 of the opening period, marking the fourth straight game that the Bruins have allowed the game's first goal. Defenseman Sean Brown dived for a loose puck just inside the Boston blue line, beating the Devils' Jay Pandolfo to the puck but fanning on his clearing attempt. New Jersey's John Madden gathered it in at the left-wing circle, hesitated, and squeezed a wrist shot between Hackett and the near post.

In the second period, though, Joe Thornton broke through twice in a five-minute span, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead. His first of the night, and 30th of the season, should go down as one of the most impressive of the NHL season because, while the teams were playing four on four, Thornton made the play happen one on three. At 4:32 of the second, the Bruin captain reeled in a loose puck just north of the Jersey blue line, whizzed by Patrik Elias, sneaked through New Jersey's top defensive pairing of Scott Stevens and Brian Rafalski, eliminated goalie Martin Brodeur from relevance with a forehand fake, and tucked a backhander into the open net.

Thornton cashed in again at 9:23, capitalizing on a strong play along the right-wing boards by Glen Murray. Murray blocked an attempted clear and sent the puck toward the near post, where a cutting Thornton got enough wood on it to tip it past Brodeur for his 31st.

Hackett, meanwhile, turned aside 14 second-period shots, including an Elias breakaway when the Czech lost the handle going from the forehand to backhand.

Hackett would be called upon again midway through the third to stop Madden, who walked in alone. While Hackett made the initial stop, Pandolfo again beat the Bruins to the puck. His pass to Jiri Bicek ended up in the back of the Boston net for a 2-all tie.

''There were times in the game,'' said Bruins defenseman Bryan Berard, ''when we were back on track. But it seems that every mistake we make ends up in the net. This is a game of mistakes, and they're killing us now.''

For all of the blame he accepted, Hackett did bail out the defensively shorthanded Bruins on numerous occasions, stopping 27 of 30 shots. Still, Hackett, who was 8-7-2 with a 2.54 goals-against average and.926 save percentage at the time the Bruins traded for him, is 4-5 with a 3.20 GAA and .892 save percentage wearing Boston threads.

Asked if he is rethinking Hackett as his No. 1 goaltender, Ftorek said, ''No. Goaltending is goaltending. He made some great saves and kept us in the game.''

And the Bruins threatened to tie when they found themselves on the power play with 3:01 to play. Three times following a timeout with 2:07 left they nearly knotted it. First, winger Mike Knuble found himself in front of Brodeur, who turned aside a backhander with his glove.

''The second I shot that one I wanted it back,'' Knuble said. ''I wanted to go just a little higher.''

He got a second chance with 1:25 to play, when he redirected a slapshot on Brodeur, who calmly and effortlessly tipped the rebound into the air, batted it twice with his stick to keep it from falling to the ice, stood up, and gloved it for a whistle. Off the ensuing faceoff, Brian Rolston, who turned 30 yesterday, stepped into a low slapshot that Brodeur again snagged with his glove.

The lack of a power-play strike, there and on the one earlier chance the Bruins enjoyed, left them 0 for 2 with the man advantage. They have just three goals on 24 power-play opportunities (12.5 percent) on the trip.

''We had unbelievable pressure there,'' Knuble said. ''But it's getting kind of old to take things away from losses. We keep saying we're learning from our mistakes, but we can't be learning from mistakes 60 games into the season.''

This story ran on page F1 of the Boston Globe on 2/22/2003.
© Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company.