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BRUINS 3 DEVILS 1 [ Game stats ]
One more giant step into their recovery, the Bruins picked up their fifth consecutive win last night, a 3-1 win over the Devils at the Vault that was yet one more 60-minute dissertation in the art of basic defense, solid netminding, and that thing that eluded them most when things were at their worst - a little bit of fortune around the net.
''Breaks,'' said coach Pat Burns, noting the difference between his club's play of late and its play back in October when it went a dismal 0-5-4. ''We're getting the breaks.''
In the process, win No. 5 also brought the previously-beleagured B's back to .500 (5-5-4). Backed by John Grahame's 30 stops, including a game-saver on Patrik Elias with 5:44 to go in the third, they moved to 3-0 on their current homestand. Over the course of the five straight wins, they have outscored the opposition, 18-7, rebuilding a good deal of the stride and pluck they showed at the outset of last year's playoffs.
''The system we play away from the puck, we're not going to give teams very much,'' noted captain Ray Bourque, who, it's worth noting, finished third in total minutes played - behind fellow blue liners Kyle McLaren and Don Sweeney (take note, you statheads). ''We're playing with that added confidence you get when you are going well, it's that ingredient that can get you over the hump. You finish the nice play, score the nice goal. Right now, we're finding ways to win. Before, we were finding ways to lose.''
They did it against the Devils after falling behind, 1-0, in the first period, rookie Scott Gomez slipping behind the defense and knocking in a doorstep rebound Grahame left from a John Madden slot shot at 14:58.
As it turned out, it was about the only mistake Grahame made. He turned back the next 26 shots, making it all the harder for Burns to decide just when he'll put his $3 million-a-year netminder, Byron Dafoe (last night's backup), back in the cage.
Burns doesn't want to carry three netminders, but right now has Dafoe, Grahame, and Rob Tallas on his puck-stopping staff. For his part, Grahame wants no part of going back to Providence (AHL).
''You can only learn so much down there,'' he said, after improving his mark to 3-3-2 and lowering his goals-against average to 1.72.
Grahame was back even with the Devils less than a minute after Denis Pederson (charging) and Lyle Odelein (slashing) were both whistled off at 6:39 of the second period. Stationed just above the right faceoff circle, Darren Van Impe hammered home a sizzling slapper, Bourque sending over the velvety relay from above the opposite circle. Tied, 1-1, with 7:15 gone.
Steve Heinze then sent a laser wrist shot to the top right corner for the winner at 3:18 of the third period. Bumped up to the first line in the absence of Jason Allison (wrist injury), Heinze curled off the half board, left wing, and dotted the corner for his fourth of the season. Devils goalie Martin Brodeur looked surprised to find Heinze shooting from that range.
''He definitely didn't look like he was ready,'' said Heinze. ''Sometimes, when you shoot in stride like that, you'll catch the goalie a little by surprise. Dave Andreychuk is the king of that.''
The Devils had eight more cracks at Grahame the rest of the way and he stifled every one. The best chance came off Elias's stick with 5:44 to go, but Grahame made a brilliant stop to keep it at 2-1. With 6.7 seconds to go, and Brodeur out of his net for an extra attacker, Mikko Eloranta picked off a Sheldon Souray relay, moved into the neutral zone, and nailed in a mid-ice wrist shot for an empty-netter.
Two weeks ago, the Bruins were stumbling through their worst start since the 1965-66 season. Today, they've equaled their best winning stretch in the two-plus seasons Burns has been behind their bench. Win tomorrow night, and it will be their best streak since a 6-0 run in the 1993-94 season.
''Anytime you win five games in a row, guys are smiling,'' said a beaming Heinze. ''They love each other, and it snowballs. There's nothing better than winning.''
This story ran on page E01 of the Boston Globe on 11/05/99.
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