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FLAMES 4, BRUINS 3 [ Game stats ]
Flames win in OT
The latest setback was a 4-3 overtime defeat at the hands of the Calgary Flames last night. It was the second straight game the Bruins lost in the extra session.
''It's hard to believe and it's hard to swallow,'' said defenseman Kyle McLaren. ''This team has to find ways to win, especially at home.''
Three times the Bruins came back from deficits last night, but when the game went to overtime, it heavily favored the free-skating Flames, who are now 10-1-5 when the game goes beyond regulation.
The clincher came at 1:56 when Marc Savard potted his second goal of the game. Jarome Iginla won a battle for the puck behind the net with defenseman Mattias Timander, who was in a tough position, having logged only one shift and 28 seconds of ice time. Savard walked out in front and wristed a shot past goalie Byron Dafoe.
The Bruins have managed at least 1 point in each of their last seven games (a total of 9 points out of a possible 14) but they are frustrated nonetheless.
''We've got to find what's going on here,'' said Dafoe. ''Home games have to be an advantage and right now they're a disadvantage to us. It seems like we're a little tighter at home, worrying about the fans. I don't know why. All I can say is we have to somehow play through it. We are playing well but we're making some major errors that are costing us hockey games or points. If we can eliminate those, we'll be fine.''
Part of this recent adventure is attributable to the team changing styles from the neutral-zone trap to a more attacking mode. Consequently, the defense has suffered.
''We're definitely opening it up,'' said Dafoe. ''That's fine if we're exchanging [odd-man rushes]. It's definitely different than last season, there's no question.
''I've got to adjust to it, more mentally than physically. I have to realize there will be more chances in games and that's fine as long as we start scoring more goals than they do. I can see why we're doing it because we were playing the trap before and we weren't being successful. These last seven games we have played well. We're getting points.''
Coach Pat Burns said the coaching staff felt compelled to make the change, even though it means more chances for the opponents.
''If you're going to force, that's what is going to happen,'' said Burns. ''We're trying to force the play a little bit more. Obviously the other way wasn't working, so we're trying it this way. The good news is in the last seven games, we've picked up points. There's still a bright spot in all this.''
Things didn't look bright early on when the Flames took a 1-0 lead as Savard scored just 2:11 into the game.
Boston tied it on a power play at 5:35. Joe Murphy, working a give-and-go with Steve Heinze, took the puck and charged toward the net. Goalie Fred Brathwaite made the initial stop but Murphy got his own rebound in the crease and jammed it past Brathwaite for his seventh goal of the year.
Calgary took the lead again at 8:51 on a goal by right wing Valeri Bure.
The Bruins took advantage of their power play once again to pull even. Defenseman Darren Van Impe, who went into the contest without a goal in his last 34 games, picked up his fourth of the season when he teed up a slapper from the right point at 11:34 of the first to make it 2-2. It was the first point for Van Impe in 10 games, since he had a pair of assists against the Islanders Jan. 4.
The Flames went up, 3-2, at 17:15 of the second period when Andrei Nazarov scored his eighth of the year. Sergei Samsonov made it 3-3 with his 11th goal of the season at 9:41 of the third, setting up overtime and the loss.
''We're having problems in our own zone,'' said Murphy. ''That's just the fact of the matter.''
This story ran on page C01 of the Boston Globe on 1/25/2000.
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uick, when was the last time the Bruins won at home? The answer? Dec. 13 against Phoenix. Before that? Nov. 18 against the Rangers. Otherwise, it's been a very tough time. They have exactly two victories in the last 17 games at the FleetCenter.