Great effort falls short

Flyers capitalize on young Bruins' third-period woes

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 4/9/2000

HILADELPHIA - The Bruins did what they could for two periods yesterday. For 40 minutes, Boston held the Philadelphia Flyers scoreless, which is no mean feat for a club made up of mostly American Hockey League players.

But in the end, a couple of mistakes, a disallowed goal, and the opponent's superior talent added up to a 3-0 Flyers victory at the First Union Center. The Flyers can clinch the Eastern Conference championship by earning 1 point against the Rangers in New York today. A loss means the New Jersey Devils take the crown.

''It was a great effort, the guys played hard,'' said Boston coach Pat Burns. ''We can't blame the goaltenders today, can we?''

For the most part, the patchwork-quilt Bruins played very effectively. But a miscue early in the third gave Philadelphia all the offense it would need.

Center Joe Thornton, at the offensive blue line, made a blind pass to no one and it resulted in the Flyers getting a three-on-one rush.

Exciting rookie center Simon Gagne skated the puck to the right point and relayed it over to rookie defenseman Mark Eaton. Eaton charged down the left circle on his forehand, drew Rob Tallas out of the net, and scored on the backhand at 2:06 for his first NHL goal.

''I saw like three of our forwards but it hit someone's skate and then they're off three-on-one the other way,'' said Thornton. ''It was just one of those weird plays.''

Up to that point, the Flyers were pressing in the Bruins' zone but the young Boston squad was able to hold them at bay.

''We came out a little slow at the start,'' said Tallas. ''We knew we were going to be in for a tough game because they were playing for something. I thought as the game went on, the young defensemen that we have played outstanding. It was a good, solid effort from our team.''

Tallas was tested many times and came up big, making 28 saves in the first two periods. He said it was a matter of personal pride.

''I particularly like to play here,'' he said. ''It meant a lot to me to play because it was probably my last game as a Bruin. It meant a lot to me to play well. I felt really good.''

The Bruins came oh so close to tying it on the power play at the 7:17 mark. With defenseman Dan McGillis off for cross-checking Boston forward Peter Ferraro, Thornton fired a shot that hit the crossbar and sat there for a split-second before dropping. Rookie goalie Brian Boucher snagged the puck with his glove and pulled it into his body. It appeared Boucher and the puck were over the goal line and referee Paul Stewart ruled it a goal. But after video replay, it was disallowed, although the video seemed inconclusive.

''It was a hard angle from where I saw it,'' said Thornton. ''It was on top of the net and then it came down on his glove. I didn't get a good look at it. [Stewart] seemed pretty excited that it was a goal and I thought it was. Then they went upstairs. It was a tough call.''

Just 12 seconds after a Boston power play expired, the Flyers got some breathing room with their second goal.

Defenseman Eric Desjardins got the puck up the wall in his own zone to send the Flyers out on a two-on-one. Center Keith Primeau, in the left circle, made a perfect pass to right wing Mark Recchi and he finished off the play at 14:03. John LeClair tallied an empty-net goal at 19:07, giving him at least 40 goals for five years straight. Boucher picked up his fourth career shutout and second against Boston.

The Bruins close out the regular season tonight at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

This story ran on page D2 of the Boston Globe on 4/9/2000.
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