NCAAbbs

PLAYOFF SERIES: Eastern Conference quarterfinal; Bruins lead 2-1.
A return home and a return to form by their best players was just what the Montreal Canadiens needed.

Buoyed by the performance of their new top line, the Canadiens will try to even their quarterfinal series against the Boston Bruins when the longtime rivals meet in Game 4.

Facing the prospect of an all-but insurmountable 3-0 series deficit, the Canadiens returned home for Game 3 on Sunday and responded with a 3-2 victory.

Alex Kovalev scored two first-period goals, both assisted by goalie Jose Theodore, and defenseman Andrei Markov also scored for Montreal.

``It was a must win for us,'' Canadiens captain Saku Koivu said. ``The first game at home and being down 2-0, obviously there's a chance of being too emotional and getting away from the game plan. But I thought we controlled our emotions pretty well and we were able to get the first goal, and that kind of helped us at the beginning.''

The two-goal performance was particularly satisfying for Kovalev, who has been a disappointment with the Canadiens since he was acquired from the New York Rangers on March 2. Kovalev had one goal and two assists in his first 13 games with Montreal, but has two goals and an assist in his last two contests.

``There was frustration at the end of the season because I hadn't scored many goals, but the fans stayed behind me,'' Kovalev said. ``I wanted to show them the player I am and to come up big. I knew that if I kept working on my game that eventually it would turn around. I knew I was getting close. I was getting more comfortable.''

The line of Kovalev, Koivu and Richard Zednik combined for two goals and three assists in Game 3 after the trio was held to two assists in the two games at Boston.

Though Theodore denied the Bruins the tying goal Sunday, he knows still hasn't played his best in this series.

``For sure, two bad goals tonight,'' Theodore said. ``You're lucky to get away with a win.''

Boston's Andrew Raycroft allowed three goals on 32 shots in his first career postseason road game.

``I thought Razor was terrific,'' Bruins coach Mike Sullivan said of his rookie goalie. ``He made some timely saves for us in the first two periods that kept the game close and gave us a chance to win.''

Brian Rolston and Andy Hilbert scored for Boston, which played without center Michael Nylander, scratched with what was described as symptoms stemming from the flu.

Nylander's absence was magnified because Bruins captain Joe Thornton is clearly not 100 percent from the ``upper body injury'' that kept him out of the final two regular season games. In the first three games of this series, Thornton has no points and four shots on goal.

With Thornton struggling to find his game, linemate Glen Murray has yet to register a point in this series. With two assists Sunday, Theodore has one more point than Boston's top line in the first three games.

``We have to elevate our game more,'' Murray said. ``Obviously, Nylander's line has been carrying us and I think we have to step it up. We can't worry if Joe's not 100 percent. Mike (Knuble) and myself, we have to do more to help him out for what he can't do.''

The Bruins hope to have Nylander back for Game 4. He is tied for the team playoff scoring lead with four points.

``He skated Saturday. He felt all right,'' Sullivan said. ``It just came on, so I'm sure it will be a day-to-day thing.''

While getting Kovalev back on track provided the Canadiens with a huge lift, an ineffective power play remains a concern. Montreal went scoreless in four chances with the man advantage Sunday and is 2-for-40 in the last 11 games.

Canadiens forward Steve Begin isn't likely to play Tuesday. He was carried from the ice late in Game 3 after injuring his knee and left the arena on crutches.

The series moves back to Boston for Game 5 on Thursday.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Bruins - 104 points; 2nd seed. Canadiens - 93 points; 7th seed.

PLAYOFF TEAM LEADERS: Bruins - Nylander, 2 goals; Sergei Samsonov, 4 assists; Nylander and Samsonov, 4 points; Thornton, 6 PIM. Canadiens - Kovalev, 2 goals; Koivu, 3 assists, Kovalev and Koivu, 3 points; Koivu and Mike Ribeiro, 6 PIM.

PLAYOFF SPECIAL TEAMS: Bruins - Power play: 14.3 percent (2 for 14). Penalty killing: 93.3 percent (14 for 15). Canadiens - Power play: 6.7 percent (1 for 15). Penalty killing: 85.7 percent (12 for 14).

GOALTENDERS: Bruins - Raycroft (2-1, 1 SO, 1.33 GAA); Felix Potvin (no appearances). Canadiens - Theodore (1-2, 2.31); Mathieu Garon (no appearances).

Watched the game. Bizarre ending. 4-3 in 2OT. Kovalev runs into Souray turning the puck over and Glen Murray scores the GWG. What a tough break.

Oh, and Go Boston!

T-Monay820 Wrote:Oh, and Go Boston!

:thumbdown:

Boston 4, Montreal 3, 2OT

April 14, 2004

MONTREAL (AP) -- Glen Murray took advantage of his good fortune and made a goat out of Montreal's Alex Kovalev.

Murray pounced on Kovalev's mistake to score on a breakaway 9:27 into the second overtime Tuesday night, giving the Boston Bruins a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens.

Boston, which took a 3-1 series lead, tied it when Mike Knuble scored with 30.7 seconds remaining in regulation.

Murray beat goalie Jose Theodore with a wrist shot after Montreal's Kovalev -- who scored his third goal in two games in regulation -- collided with teammate Sheldon Souray in the neutral zone.

``The puck was just laying there for me,'' Murray said.

Kovalev was shaking his hand after appearing to be slashed on the glove by Travis Green and lost sight of the puck -- and Souray and Murray.

``There's nothing you can say about that,'' said Kovalev, whose right hand was wrapped in a bag of ice. ``We ended up in the middle of the ice and Sheldon ended up losing the puck.''

Canadiens coach Claude Julien felt Kovalev made a bad decision.

``I think that when the referees don't call a penalty on a play, you can't stop playing,'' Julien said. ``They decided not to call it and then they collided. Murray got the breakaway and he doesn't miss many of those.

``It's a crappy way to lose a game''

Souray also felt Kovalev should have been more concerned about playing the puck.

``It's crazy,'' Souray said. ``I was just caught by surprise that he left the puck there and there was no one behind me. It's frustrating that it happened right now, in a game that was so important.''

Green wasn't surprised no penalty was called on the play.

``If I double-handed slashed him, I'm sure his arm would be broken,'' Green said.

Bruins goalie Andrew Raycroft made 42 saves. Theodore stopped 40 shots.

Michael Nylander and Jiri Slegr also scored for Boston, which won its second overtime game of the series. Bruins rookie Patrice Bergeron scored 1:26 into overtime Friday to give Boston a 2-1 home win, its second straight to open the first-round series.

``Whoever comes out of this game with a win has a lot of momentum going with them,'' Raycroft said. ``To close out and get a split here in Montreal was huge for us.''

The Bruins can end the series with a win in Game 5 Thursday in Boston.

Knuble tied the game in the final minute of the third period, though he had to wait several anxious moments for a video review to award the goal.

Knuble put a backhander past Theodore's left pad from the edge of the crease, though play continued for another eight seconds.

Play was stopped with 22.1 seconds remaining and video replay officials reviewed the play. The replay showed Knuble put the puck just across the goal line inside the left post before it quickly rebounded out of the net.

``It was a hope and a prayer,'' Knuble said.

The Bruins' bench erupted in cheers and the sellout Bell Centre crowd of 21,273 moaned its disappointment when referee Mick McGeough pointed to center ice to signal the goal. The clock was reset to 30.7 seconds remaining.

Mike Ribeiro scored twice and Kovalev had his third goal in two games for Montreal, which scored just once while losing the first two games in Boston.

Ribeiro, who many Bruins accused of faking an injury late in Montreal's 3-2 win in Game 3, found a much better way to get under their skin. He scored his first career playoff goal 4:41 in before the Bruins could lay a hand on him. By the time Boston forward Brian Rolston knocked him to the ice, Ribeiro had already deflected a bouncing puck backward past Raycroft's right leg and inside the left post.

He got his second of the game early in the second period to put Montreal up 3-1. Kovalev had given the Canadiens a 2-1 edge with 4.9 seconds remaining in the first period.

Ribeiro, who didn't practice Monday, writhed in pain on the ice with less than a minute remaining in Sunday's game after what appeared to be an innocuous collision with Knuble. He remained on the Canadiens' bench through the end of that game and smiled while trading barbs with the Bruins, drawing the visitors' ire.

Nylander returned and scored his third goal of the series in the first period. Nylander, who has five points in three games, missed Game 3 because of flu-like symptoms.

Slegr drew Boston within 3-2 when his shot deflected off Montreal defenseman Francis Bouillon's skate and past Theodore midway in the second period.

Notes: The Canadiens lost defenseman Stephane Quintal to an apparent hip injury in the second period. Quintal had to be helped off the ice after he struck his right hip on the boards when he was upended by Boston defenseman Hal Gill. ... The Bruins are 11-21 against Montreal overall in playoff overtimes. ... In response to scattered booing heard during the ``Star Spangled Banner'' before Sunday's game, the Canadiens broadcast a recorded message from Jean Beliveau on the video board. The Hall of Famer asked fans to show respect during both national anthems. Less booing was heard, while most fans applauded through the end of the American anthem. ... Canadiens C Steve Begin was out because of a leg injury from Sunday's game.