Another costly miss for Bruins

Miserable second period fatal

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 3/1/2000

When the Bruins returned from their weekend games in Washington and Pittsburgh with three of four points, there was a glimmer of optimism, a ray of hope that this club had what it takes to make a strong push for a playoff spot. As tight as the race is in the Eastern Conference, it seemed possible they could turn their fortunes around.

The fact is, it's very likely a mirage. With 19 games left, the Bruins last night blew a golden chance to gain ground as they lost to the Ottawa Senators at the FleetCenter, 5-3. With a roster that has as many American Hockey League players as NHL players, one that is decimated by injuries, one that lacks passion and consistency ... well, it's not over yet, but the light at the end of the dark tunnel is looking more and more like an oncoming high-speed locomotive.

''There are some serious issues with this team, bigger than we know,'' said goalie Rob Tallas, who had the thankless task of mopping up for John Grahame after defensive errors put the Bruins down, 3-0, in the second period. ''We've all kind of tried to figure it out and there are some big issues. It's all mental. Physically, we're in great

A rthroscopy for Dafoe; Carter on injured list. D5.

shape, but it's the mental part of the game. The excitement is not there, it's almost like it's not fun playing a hockey game. This is the greatest game, we've grown up doing this our whole lives, what is a better job? I don't know if we're putting pressure on ourselves. It's a job, but it's also a game.''

A game the Bruins couldn't do anything with. After a scoreless first in which neither team did much, the Senators turned on their offense, thanks to some rookie-caliber mistakes.

The first Ottawa goal came result of a tough turnover by defenseman Kyle McLaren. McLaren's attempted relay up ice was picked off by Ottawa center Kevin Miller, who dished the puck to right wing Marian Hossa, and he beat Grahame with a backhander for a 1-0 lead at 3:11.

Another poor play led to the second Ottawa goal, only 36 seconds later. Again, it was Hossa doing the damage as he potted his 24th of the season.

This time is was left wing Sergei Samsonov who got picked off. Hossa stole the puck in the right circle and fired a high shot that beat Grahame at 3:47.

''You can't give the puck to the opposition,'' said coach Pat Burns. ''That's basic hockey. You give the puck to the opposition, like the flat pass Kyle gave right on the guy's stick. I can understand the young players making mistakes but I do have a lot of difficulty with that one. We just can't do that. It's those things that are costing us. I was really disappointed.''

It went from bad to worse.

Sloppy coverage led to Ottawa taking a commanding 3-0 lead at 12:42. Left wing Colin Forbes walked out of the right corner and with no one stopping him, beat Grahame to the short side. After that, Burns, looking for a spark, turned to Tallas.

''I had to do something at that point to maybe try to get things going,'' said Burns.

Tallas, whose workload the last few months has been sparse to say the least, allowed a goal at 15:16 as the Senators ballooned the lead to 4-0, this time courtesy of veteran right wing Kevin Dineen.

In the third, the Bruins apparently decided it was time to play. Cameron Mann got it started when he potted his third of the year at 3:08. With the Bruins on the power play, Ray Bourque got the puck at the right point. He dished it across to Don Sweeney at the left. Sweeney faked a shot and fed a perfect pass into the slot for Mann, who beat Ron Tugnutt at 3:08. Joe Thornton made it 4-2 at 18:03, and Samsonov pulled the Bruins within one at 18:28. But, as has so often been the case, it was too little, too late and Chris Phillips's empty-net goal at 19:48 sealed it.

''We're in a desperate, desperate race right here,'' said Tallas. ''We made no ground. That was a team that slept tonight, and we could've taken advantage of that and we didn't. I look at teams we're playing, in Pittsburgh and in Washington. Washington is a team on a great winning streak. I look at [Capitals center] Adam Oates and he's smiling before he takes a faceoff, they're talking on the ice, they're enjoying themselves in the game. Right now, our eyebrows are down ... We were a bunch of Bad News Bear guys a couple of years ago. Everyone took us lightly and we were a young team and we had so much fun. When you have a losing season, it brings a cloud over you.''

This story ran on page D01 of the Boston Globe on 3/1/2000.
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