By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 3/19/2000

Bruins coach Pat Burns was spitting tacks after Thursday's overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. He was still furious during practice Friday, angry at his team for its mistakes, frustrated at the club's inability to hold two-goal leads on three occasions.

But his goodwill was greatly restored yesterday after the Bruins held off the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2, at the FleetCenter.

It was pretty hairy at times, especially in the final minute with Penguins goalie Ron Tugnutt pulled for an extra attacker, but in the end, the young Bruins held on.

''That was inexcusable the other night,'' said Burns. ''I was mad at them, I was mad at them at yesterday's practice. You can't do that. But then, I sleep on it and say, `How many times have they been involved in games like that, maybe five or six in their careers?' Some of them none. But you've got to put them out there, you've got nobody else. Then I sort of forgive them.''

The Bruins' offense was sparked by defenseman Kyle McLaren, who had 3 points - a goal and two assists. It's been an eventful week for McLaren, who last Wednesday became a father for the first time when his daughter Madison Star was born. McLaren's output yesterday tied a career high set back on April 7, 1996, his rookie year, in a contest against Philadelphia.

The Bruins got off to a flying start, dominating an opening period in which they outshot the Penguins, 13-2.

Cameron Mann put Boston ahead, 1-0, with his fifth goal of the year as he finished off a three-on-two and beat Tugnutt from the left circle with a shot into the top right corner.

Eric Nickulas made it a two-goal advantage with his second strike of the year. Nickulas's tally came as a result of a booming shot off the right wing reminiscent of former Bruin Cam Neely. The shot, a slapper from atop the right circle, rocketed past Tugnutt's glove at 16:04.

The Bruins got a scare just 1:05 into the second when Brandon Smith was drilled into the boards from behind by Pittsburgh's Jan Hrdina. Smith had just moved the puck up ice when Hrdina slammed him into the boards and drew a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding. Smith was shaken up but played the rest of the way.

''I don't think Hrdina really meant to do that, I think he lost his balance at the time of the contact,'' said Burns. ''But it was still hitting from behind, [Smith] was lucky.''

As the period went on, the Bruins inexplicably stopped skating and the Penguins picked up steam.

Pittsburgh cut the lead in half at 9:56, cashing in on a three-on-one rush. Martin Straka dished a pass to Tyler Wright in the right circle. Wright beat John Grahame over his glove.

The momentum shifted dramatically in Pittsburgh's favor after the goal as Boston had a hard time handling the surging Penguins.

The Bruins received the biggest lift of the game from McLaren with only 2.4 seconds remaining in the second when his hard slapper from the right point buzzed past Tugnutt to restore Boston's two-goal lead at 3-1.

McLaren nearly had another strike only 1:18 in the final period when he got the puck from Andre Savage and blasted a low shot from the right side. It went under the glove of Tugnutt but hit the right post.

At 3:48, Matthew Barnaby brought the Penguins as close as they would come. A shot by Michal Rozsival pinballed off a Bruin skate and over to Barnaby, who redirected it past Grahame for his 10th goal of the year. Late scoring bids by Straka and Janne Laukkanen had everyone on the edge of their seats but Grahame held the fort.

''There were six guys on the ice trying to get a goal,'' said Grahame. ''Sometimes it was a bit chaotic but we came out on top so it's good.''

As the season winds down, Burns said he and the club are enjoying the role of spoiler.

''We're certainly going to cause some chaos in this conference right now,'' said Burns. ''Some other people are probably a little bit worried.

''We'd really have to be very, very fortunate for teams to lose a lot of games and us to win a lot for us to make it. There are six teams fighting for two spots. Games are running out. I think just the question of spoiling the parties for certain teams, that's going to be our motivation.''

This story ran on page D02 of the Boston Globe on 3/19/2000.
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