|
 |
| |||
 | |||
|
| | |
BRUINS 2, FLYERS 2 Bruins make a point on the fly Late lead is blown in short order by Amonte [ Game summary ] By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 3/28/2003
Last night, the Bruins played an effective defensive game against one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and picked up a point with a 2-2 tie at the First Union Center. O'Connell's record improved to 2-1-1. For long stretches, the Bruins got the better of the Flyers, outshooting them, 28-18, through 60 minutes. Bruins goalie Steve Shields stopped 24 shots, including eight in overtime, when the Bruins did not register one. It was the fourth time in four meetings this season that the teams needed an extra session. The Bruins haven't secured a playoff berth but inched closer and felt as if the atmosphere in the sold-out building (19,527) had a postseason feel. ''That's a big point coming into this building,'' said defenseman Dan McGillis, a former Flyer. ''They're one of the elite teams. They're one of the teams I think you're going to see in the East. They're a big team, they're a strong team, and they've improved their team at the [trading] deadline. It's a good point.'' Not only were the Bruins' defensemen tough on the Flyers, they also accounted for 13 of Boston's 28 shots, as both goals were scored by blue liners - Bryan Berard and Nick Boynton. Tony Amonte scored both Philadelphia goals, the second of which was shorthanded. ''It was like a playoff game,'' said Bruin Brian Rolston. ''It was tight checking, there were opportunities here and there, and I think both goalies made some big saves. I thought we played well. That's a good hockey team over there. They're well coached and their goaltender [Roman Cechmanek] played well. Maybe that's a team we're going to see in the playoffs.'' The Flyers got on the board first, scoring 38 seconds into the middle period. Defenseman Kim Johnsson, in neutral ice, chipped the puck up to Jeremy Roenick, who charged up the right side. Roenick dished a pass to Amonte in the slot and Amonte beat Shields to the stick side. It was Amonte's 19th goal of the season. The Bruins came storming back in short order, scoring a pair in a span of 1 minute 15 seconds. Martin Lapointe teed up a slapper from the top of the right circle that got deflected in front. It bounced out to the left circle, where Berard was positioned, and he took a shot that glanced off the stick of Flyers forward Joe Sacco and past Cechmanek (26 saves) to tie it. The Bruins took their only lead at 6:21 of the second on Boynton's sixth goal of the season. Glen Murray, positioned in the left circle, relayed a pass to the right circle, and Boynton beat Cechmanek to make it 2-1. The Bruins had some penalty-killing work to do for much of the rest of the period, but held the Flyers at bay. As well as everything was going, though, one shot in the third brought the Bruins back to earth. Flyers forward Mark Recchi was in the penalty box for hooking P.J. Axelsson, but instead of a power-play goal, Boston gave up a shorthander when Shields couldn't clear the puck. Roenick then fed Marcus Ragnarsson for a slapper, which Shields stopped, but Amonte was there for the rebound at 13:11. ''I wouldn't call it a miscommunication, but I went all the way out to get the puck and I got out there and all of sudden I didn't have any options,'' said Shields. ''I didn't want to go across the ice with it with a one-goal lead or up our side [because] they had two guys. So I did what I thought would do the least amount of harm. ''I probably made a mistake by not being more assertive with the puck, and we continued to make a few more mistakes. We didn't get back and the guy got a shot away from the point and then the rebound. It started with me. I should've probably gone up the boards and had a little more confidence getting out of the zone.'' Shields came up big in the extra session as the Flyers peppered the net. ''We got the 1 point, it would've been nice to get the other 1,'' said O'Connell. ''But I think the team played well. They should be proud of the way they played in spurts. I think it was a step in the right direction. It helps continue to build confidence in this team and confidence in each other. ''I thought it was a very hard-played game by both teams. There are definite areas we can still work on. But the players have been extremely cooperative and their work ethic has been very good so far.''
This story ran on page E1 of the Boston Globe on 3/28/2003.
|
HILADELPHIA - The Bruins looked at last night's game against the Flyers as a litmus test. General manager Mike O'Connell has only been behind the bench for four games since firing Robbie Ftorek, but as the regular season draws closer to an end, the team is hoping to parlay the coaching change into a strong run into the postseason.