Boston
Globe - December 8, 1991
Boston
Globe - December 8, 1991
t
was sort of like the consummate fish story. It's more fun to talk
about the one that got away even though the ones you brought home
weren't too bad.
Last night, center Rod Brind'Amour scored the tying and winning goals against the Bruins in the third period, effectively breaking Boston's back in Philadelphia's 5-3 win.
Brind'Amour helped his team snap an eight-game winless streak (0-7-1), but the No. 1 star of the game had plenty to say about the one that got away.
"He referee Ron Hoggarth said I was in the crease before the puck got there," said Brind'Amour, who had a goal called back at 11:50 of the third period, less than five minutes before scoring his second of the night. Brind'Amour was penalized for interfering with goalie Reggie Lemelin, who wasn't even in the crease at the time.
"I was robbed because I've seen the replay," said Brind'Amour. "I thought he was calling it back because I kicked it in, then he said I was in the crease and that made me even more furious because I know the puck was there before I was there. I think it was a bad call. It's frustrating because he was there to see the whole thing. He was there and he was blowing it right away. He was emphatic that he knew what the call was. But it was wrong, so it kind of bothers me."
Teammate Mike Ricci, who tied the game, 2-2, 1:06 into the third, joked that the officials were just evening things off.
"He was saying he was in the crease on his goal, so it works out, but that's not the way I look at it," laughed Brind'Amour. "I got a penalty and that could've changed the whole complexion of the game."
But it didn't. Philadelphia walked out of Boston Garden with a win born of desperation.
"Tonight we finally got a couple of bounces," Brind'Amour said. "It's something we haven't had all year. All these games have been desperation the last little bit. We're going through some turmoil, coming off a coaching change."
Former scout Bill Dineen took over for Paul Holmgren, who was fired last week. Despite the team liking Dineen, whose son, Kevin, plays for the Flyers, Brind'Amour said it's been a tough transition.
"Everyone liked Paul," he said. "You kind of take it personally because the reason he gets fired is because we're not performing, not him. We were sad because we cost him his job."
Brind'Amour said he's just hoping the win over Boston will be something to build on.
He gave his team a big boost when he teamed up with Andrei Lomakin at 2:28 of the third, tying the game, 3-3, after Craig Janney gave Boston a brief lead.
"Andrei got the puck right in the slot and passed it over to me and everything opened up," said Brind'Amour, centering a line with Lomakin and Brad Jones for the first time. "Jonesy went through and took a defenseman with him and then it was just one on one with the goalie."
The line teamed up on the winner at 16:30.
Brind'Amour had a chance at his first career hat trick with less than a minute left, but opted to try to make a play instead.
"I don't know what I was thinking there," laughed Brind'Amour. "I'm sure I'll hear about that one for awhile."
Despite that, coach Dineen was very happy with Brind'Amour.
"He's been playing so hard," said Dineen, who got his first win. "For him to come up with a couple big goals the way he did and unselfish as he is to have an open net and not take advantage to try to make the play, he could've had a hat trick."
Ah, the ones that get away.