Another trend-setting tie

Bruins look sharp in deadlock

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 10/12/99

You might not know it from looking at the standings -- the 0-3-2 start does look woeful on paper doesn't it? -- but the Bruins are worlds better than they were a week ago.

They have tied their last two games -- 3-3 yesterday with Colorado after a 1-1 deadlock Saturday with Philadelphia -- but the difference between the Bruins who started the season and the Bruins now is startling.

"We had a real bad first two games, a good half a game in Ottawa and the last two have been good,'' said center Jason Allison, who was one of the Bruins' best players against the Avalanche at the FleetCenter. "[Yesterday] I thought we played excellent.''

The Bruins peppered young Avalanche netminder Marc Denis with 47 shots and the acrobatic goalie made some mind-boggling stops. And that didn't count the half-dozen posts the Bruins hit or the 21 shots blocked by Colorado that never even made it to Denis.

"I thought we deserved better than what we got,'' said coach Pat Burns. "It was certainly a good effort from all four lines. You have to stay positive and hope we're going to get out of it. I thought the last game we had a pretty good effort, too. It's a question of things have to go our way someday.''

The Bruins skated better, were more polished offensively, and more reliable defensively.

The Avalanche took the lead at 10:58 of the first period on the first of two goals by right wing Milan Hejduk. But 15 seconds later, Boston tied it. New addition Sean Pronger, called up from Providence, forced defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh to give up the puck behind the net and right wing Rob DiMaio beat Denis with a shot from the slot at 11:13.

Colorado went ahead at 16:44 when Chris Drury scored on the power play. Adam Deadmarsh fired a pass from the left circle that glanced off Ray Bourque and went right onto the stick of Drury, who tipped it past goalie John Grahame.

The Bruins made it 2-2 on a Steve Heinze goal at 1:47 of the third and then went ahead, 3-2, at 5:36 on a strike by Dave Andreychuk. Allison set it up by beating defenseman Martin Skoula behind the net. He skated the puck left to right and when Aaron Miller came over to challenge, Allison backhanded it between his legs and right to Andreychuk, who popped it past Denis.

"I didn't know how open he was but I knew he'd at least get a good shot off,'' said Allison of Andreychuk. "It's good for me if [Miller] comes because it leaves him alone in front. If I see [Miller] come, I can look for an opening maybe between his legs or maybe between his stick but he reached out and there was a big hole through his legs.''

A miscue by Grahame led to the third Colorado tally, which Hejduk scored at 11:56. After a pileup in the crease, Grahame punched Drury in the head and was called for roughing, leading to the power-play goal.

No matter, there was more positive to look at yesterday than negative. One of the biggest pluses for Boston the last two games has been the terrific play of Allison. There was plenty of worry a week ago about the health of the center's ailing right forearm. Allison said all is well now.

"I feel more confident in my shot even though I flubbed a couple,'' he said. "I feel good and I'm feeling better. My strength isn't 100 percent but I'm not thinking about it and it's not hindering regular play.''

He said part of the problem was being unable to play any exhibition games in camp because of a bad ankle and not practicing with the team for four weeks. "I'm kind of disappointed in no goals yet but the last couple of games, I've felt good,'' he said. "I could've had a couple tonight so I'm feeling pretty optimistic.''

It was a strong game across the board. Another standout was Kyle McLaren, who hit a couple of posts and did everything but score.

"I was laughing out there,'' said McLaren. "An inch this way or an inch that way and I have two goals. Those are the breaks sometimes. We were shooting the puck today so that was a positive.''

Burns put center Joe Thornton back on an offensive line and Pronger gave a good account of himself on the checking line.

"I asked [assistant general manager Mike O'Connell] to bring him back so we could free up Joe a little bit and put him into an offensive role a little bit more with Anson Carter and Steve Heinze,'' said Burns. "Anybody you put between those two guys usually plays well. Joe had a good week there and Tim Taylor did for a couple of years. It's a good opportunity for Sean.''

As bleak as things looked a week ago, even though the Bruins are still looking for their first win, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"We're getting there, we're getting to the net, we're getting shots,'' said Burns. "I see much better things now.''