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BRUINS 5, RANGERS 2 [ Game stats ]
Carter gets offensive as Rangers implode
In contrast, the Bruins, who are known for prudence, have completely turned their season around. The Rangers were their latest victim as the Bruins romped over New York, 5-2, last night at Madison Square Garden. After starting the year 0-5-4, the Bruins are now 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and have won two straight.
Pat Burns, who has never been one to let his team run away with itself, understated the victory. ''There were a lot of things we didn't do wrong,'' Burns said.
Anson Carter, who had two goals and two assists in a checking role, said he didn't always like to listen to his coach stressing defense. ''You're not getting as frustrated when you're not scoring if you're not in an offensive role because you're focus is on shutting the other team down. It's funny how that happens. Coach Burns says it all the time and sometimes you don't want to listen but it's so true. Whenever you focus on solid defense you're going to get your chances,'' said Carter.
Both clubs were coming off emotional overtime victories Thursday night and Boston was playing its third game in four nights, but it certainly didn't show in the first period.
Goalie Byron Dafoe, making his fourth straight start, was called upon to make a couple of tough stops early. Just 6:05 into the game, Rangers right wing Mike Knuble redirected a shot that Dafoe kicked out with his right skate.
The Rangers had a two-on-one break with Adam Graves on the left side and Theo Fleury on the right wing carrying the puck. Fleury tried to rap the puck past Dafoe at the right post but Dafoe nullified the threat.
After a strong display on defense, the Bruins capitalized on offense. Rookie defenseman-turned-wing Jonathan Girard potted his first NHL goal at 11:04 giving Boston a 1-0 lead. Girard buried the rebound of a Darren Van Impe shot from the left point. Jay Henderson, who made the pass up the left boards to Van Impe, picked up his first NHL assist.
It was only the beginning as the Bruins upped the lead to 2-0 over 2 1/2 minutes later. With Joe Thornton battling Fleury in the left corner and Carter battling defenseman Brian Leetch down low, Carter moved from the corner with the puck into the left circle. He made a quick dish to P.J. Axelsson in the right circle and Axelsson one-timed it past Rangers goalie Mike Richter inside the right post at 13:39. It was Axelsson's third goal and second in two games.
It was a three-goal cushion when the Bruins scored on the power play at 17:09 on just their seventh shot. The Rangers had a shorthanded chance on a two-on-one break. Former Bruin Tim Taylor tried to pass across the slot but Van Impe put his body in perfect position to break up the play.
The Rangers didn't convert but Sergei Samsonov did, picking up his fifth goal as Carter earned his second assist of the game. Ray Bourque dumped the puck in, Carter went after it and fed Samsonov in the slot. Richter was caught moving and Samsonov, who made a quick little move, put the puck between the goalie's pads.
In the second, instead of sitting back on the lead, the Bruins went into full trapping mode. They continued to clog the neutral zone and although the Rangers were able to generate a few shots, the Bruins prevented New York from forechecking or creating any real pressure on Dafoe.
The Rangers had two power plays in the period but failed to get anything going.
Carter, in a remarkable performance in a checking role against the Rangers' top guns, made it a four-goal lead with his fourth goal at 8:09 of the third period. After Shawn Bates, back after missing four games with a shoulder injury, hit the post on a backhand shot, the Bruins kept the pressure on. Axelsson, in the far right circle, made a quick pass to Carter in the slot and Carter one-timed it between Richter's pads.
Jan Hlavac broke the Rangers' power play drought and Dafoe's shutout bid at 12:37 with his first NHL goal. The Rangers are a league-worst 5 for 79 with the man advantage.
Carter gave the Bruins a 5-1 lead with his second goal and the Rangers' Mathieu Schneider ended the scoring with one second left, beating Dafoe on a long slap shot.
This story ran on page C01 of the Boston Globe on 11/14/99.
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EW YORK - Money doesn't buy happiness and it doesn't always buy a very good team either. Just ask the Rangers. Management went on a spending spree last summer and the club's payroll ballooned to $60 million. So far, that sum has bought nothing but a huge disappointment.