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PENGUINS 4, BRUINS 2 [ Game stats ]
Unable to build on win, they are toppled by Penguins
The Bruins had hoped to use their impressive victory over Phoenix Monday as a springboard to something greater: a bona fide winning streak.
However, only 24 hours after beating the Coyotes, they fell back down to earth with a 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Igloo last night.
The effort was there, but, as has been the problem all year, the Bruins couldn't finish their offensive opportunities and didn't generate nearly enough of them.
''We had some chances we had to bury,'' said coach Pat Burns. ''When you get opportunities like that and don't bury them, it really hurts you.''
Meanwhile, the honeymoon continued for the Penguins, who remained perfect under new coach Herb Brooks. Brooks ran his record to 3-0 since replacing Kevin Constantine last week.
The Bruins attempted to get something going right out of the gate when they peppered goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin with six shots in the first few minutes while the Penguins didn't have any. However, they went for naught.
The momentum swung dramatically when the Bruins turned over the puck and Penguins defenseman Hans Jonsson tried to make them pay. But Jonsson's slapper from just inside the blue line ricocheted off the right post at 6:29.
From there, the Penguins kept coming. Jaromir Jagr, the league's leading scorer, had a bid at 7:26 but Rob Tallas, making his first start in a month, made the stop.
The Bruins had a shorthanded opportunity at 8:13 when Jason Allison relayed a pass up for P.J. Axelsson. Axelsson tried to put a shot through the five-hole from the slot but Aubin turned him back.
The Penguins took the lead on an even-strength tally by Martin Straka at 13:17 of the first period. Jiri Slegr fired at the net but it was blocked by Hal Gill. It ended up on the stick of Straka, who slid a backhand shot under Tallas to make it 1-0.
Tallas had a little help from his goalposts and some from his teammates in the middle period. With 5:05 gone, Alexei Morozov ripped a shot that rang off the post. Then, at 6:09, Morozov tried to tip a shot past Tallas at the left post but the iron stopped it again.
The Bruins pulled even at 9:02 on Anson Carter's 10th goal of the season. Sergei Samsonov, down low on the left side, took a pass from Allison, who was behind the net. Samsonov dished the puck up for Carter along the inside edge of the left circle, and Carter's seeing-eye shot sailed past Aubin, making it 1-1.
A turnover on a Boston power play led to the Penguins' second goal. It was only the second time in 31 games that the Bruins had given up a shorthanded tally. Alexei Kovalev took the puck and danced up the ice, skating over the red line and across the blue into the Bruins' zone. He raced through the right circle, beating defenseman Kyle McLaren inside, then tried a backhand shot that caromed off McLaren's stick and Tallas's pad. German Titov swept in and banged the rebound past Tallas for a 2-1 lead at 14:58.
Matthew Barnaby was credited with what proved to be the winner at 3:13 of the third. Morozov skated the puck up the ice, cut into the slot, and took a shot that hit the post and then hit Barnaby's jersey and went in.
''Any other time, that puck would've come right back out in front of me or hit me,'' said Tallas. ''It hits him in the jersey and goes back in. That being a game-winning goal, that's the tough goal.''
With 5:26 left, Dave Andreychuk got his 16th goal of the year - and first in eight games - to pull the Bruins within one. But the Boston scoring ended there. Jan Hrdina closed things out with an empty-net goal at 19:34.
''We were off and on all game,'' said right wing Rob DiMaio. ''We're still trying to get everybody in a role they're comfortable with. I think this will all come. If we just play within the system and everyone buys into it properly, we'll be fine. Some nights you're going to get bit by some pretty good teams in this league and tonight was one of those nights.''
This story ran on page F01 of the Boston Globe on 12/15/99.
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ITTSBURGH - One step forward, another one back.