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BLUES 3, BRUINS 2 [ Game stats ]
They put up fight but lose to Blues
In the end, the team that was expected to win - the St. Louis Blues - did, but the Bruins put up a gallant fight in a 3-2 decision last night at the FleetCenter. Goaltender John Grahame was sensational in making 32 saves and kept his club in it through a very hairy second period.
Boston hasn't been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but with only five games remaining, it could happen as soon as tomorrow, when the Bruins play the New York Rangers.
There were more than a few reasons to fear the Blues going into this one. They had lost only one of their 17 previous road games and had the best overall record away from home in the league (26-9-4). They also had been beaten Wednesday by Toronto, the first time this year the Blues were defeated by a Canadian-based club. St. Louis came in with the most victories (48) and points (106) in the NHL and is considered a serious contender for the Stanley Cup.
The Blues have been buoyed by the play of Roman Turek, who came in with a 1.92 goals-against average, .914 save percentage, and 40-14-8 record. The Blues are playing like a well-oiled machine while the Bruins are trying to find parts that fit.
''I've been pleased with all the efforts we've had,'' said coach Pat Burns. ''Guys played well. They're a good team but we could've beaten them.
''They're a very well-balanced club and they get goaltending and that's the big key. Turek has been the biggest surprise for them. He kept them in the game. He made saves at the right time. Each guy plays an individual role. The checking line checks, the scoring line scores, that's what they do.''
The Bruins scored first, on Joe Thornton's 22d goal of the season at 6:47 of the first. Thornton, who before the game was presented the Seventh Player Award, picked up the puck off the boards from Mikko Eloranta and backhanded a shot past Turek.
Jochen Hecht tied it less than five minutes later with his first of two goals and the Blues were off and running. Marty Reasoner, a former Boston College standout, centered a pass that Thornton tried to intercept. But it found its mark and Hecht backhanded a shot past Grahame at 11:16.
Grahame came up huge on many occasions, once at 17:54 when he robbed Hecht with his glove after Ladislav Nagy fed a pass across the crease that Hecht tried to bang in at the right post.
Grahame was even more impressive in the second, when the overmatched Bruins were outshot, 18-7, in the period and 10-1 by the 8:25 mark.
''He made some unbelievable stops,'' said Thornton. ''He's already a great goaltender and he's going to keep on getting better for us.''
At 2:16, defenseman Chris Pronger, a leading candidate for the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP, had two bids. Grahame stopped one, and the other hit the crossbar.
Shortly after that, as the Blues continued swarming, Pronger tested Grahame with a shot from the left point, then former Boston University standout Scott Young had a chance at 5:36.
Hecht broke through again on the power play at 14:34 with his 12th goal of the year. Stephane Richer teed up a slapper that struck Grahame's glove and landed at his feet. The goalie lost sight of it and defenseman Don Sweeney unsuccessfully tried to clear it. Instead, Hecht rapped it past Grahame for the 2-1 lead.
The Bruins survived some penalty trouble at the end of the period, but could only stem the tide so long. Young came up with the winner at 4:37 of the third with his 21st of the year.
Boston closed within 3-2 when Sergei Samsonov took a pass from Eric Nickulas, skated down the right circle, and lifted a shot over Turek for his 19th goal of the year. But that's as close as the Bruins could come.
''Their goaltending and defense are so solid,'' said Thornton. ''Every pass is on the tape. They're going to have a legitimate shot at winning the Cup.''
This story ran on page D3 of the Boston Globe on 3/31/2000.
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t was David against Goliath, wily veterans against willing but inexperienced kids, a contender against a rebuilder.