|
 |
| |||
 | |||
|
| | |
ISLANDERS 3, BRUINS 0 Ship keeps sinking against Islanders
Before the Christmas break, the Bruins talked about ways to work themselves out of their slump. Unfortunately for them, all that optimism and stoicism didn't translate into results as they were shut out, 3-0, by the New York Islanders last night in front of 9,644 at Nassau Coliseum. The Bruins held a closed-door, players-only meeting afterward.
There was plenty to talk about, since the Bruins are winless in their last four (0-3-1) and 2-7-4 in their last unlucky 13.
These Islanders may one day be a powerhouse, considering the wealth of young talent on the club, but the Bruins should be beating them now and they're simply not able to. Boston has dropped five straight decisions to this club, which is tied for last in the Eastern Conference.
It certainly didn't help that the Bruins' best forward, Jason Allison, was out of the lineup because of a chronic wrist ailment. Even at less than 100 percent, Allison at least brings the promise of offense. But it was the same old story, same old song and dance: lack of finish. Boston has scored a total of four goals in the last four games (no need to do the math on that one).
''We can't expect to win games without scoring goals,'' said left wing Dave Andreychuk. ''Winning is contagious. It brings everyone's morale up. Sometimes it's tough for guys to stay positive, especially when you're going through something like this.
''Hopefully, this is rock bottom for us. We got beat by a team we should beat. We did a lot of talking after the game about, `OK, now is the time to put everything aside and start winning some games because we know we can.' A month ago, we were the best team in the league. We have to stay positive and push each other to play better.''
The scoreless first period was evenly and very conservatively played, with each team generating 10 shots. Both Islanders goalie Roberto Luongo, who had 34 saves in his first career shutout, and Boston's Rob Tallas had big saves.
The Bruins' fortunes took a bad turn when a turnover led to an Islanders goal only 38 seconds into the second period. Andreychuk, in the Islanders' zone, gave up the puck to former Bruin Mariusz Czerkawski. Czerkawski charged up the left side of the ice, with defenseman Hal Gill in pursuit, and spun around at the left point. He delivered a backhand feed to center Mats Lindgren, chugging down the slot, and Lindgren deked Tallas and fired a high shot for the 1-0 lead.
At 11:55, the Islanders made it a 2-0 advantage when right wing Bill Muckalt potted his fifth goal of the season. Defenseman Jamie Rivers, who got the puck after another lost Boston faceoff, blasted a slap shot from the left point that appeared to carom off a Bruin skate in front. Left wing Gino Odjick got to the puck and fired a shot on Tallas that was saved, but Muckalt was there for a quick backhand rebound that he jammed past the goalie.
Then came the killer. At the 13:08 mark, defenseman Darren Van Impe teed up a slapper from the left point that appeared to hit net but was ruled no goal.
Left wing Niklas Andersson closed out the scoring at 15:28 of the third, and the Bruins were left to ponder their situation.
''We obviously sat in here and again talked about it,'' said Tallas, who had 24 saves and was making his first start since Dec. 14. ''We're making simple mistakes sometimes, mistakes we know we can't do.
''I understand the urgency of trying to get a goal - sometimes you've got to take those chances. The way we were doing it, it just wasn't right. We're really struggling right now.''
Coach Pat Burns said he had no issue with how hard his team is working, only that the results aren't there.
''It's not because the effort wasn't there,'' said Burns. ''There's no confidence, no confidence at all. We have to keep working, that's all you can do.''
This story ran on page E01 of the Boston Globe on 12/28/1999.
|
NIONDALE, N.Y. - The struggle continues.