Boston dispatches division rival Ottawa with a textbook display of top-notch hockey.

01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, March 24, 2004

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- If last night's game was any indication, the Boston Bruins appear ready to make a serious run at Lord Stanley's Cup.

But there are still six games remaining in the regular season and this week has been and will be a huge test. It began on Saturday with a 5-4, come-from-behind victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bruins followed it up last night with a tremendous 60-minute effort that resulted in a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators.

Now, with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens coming in tomorrow and Saturday, respectively, Boston coach Mike Sullivan is running off the carbon copies of last night's game as a template for the rest of the season and the playoffs.

"It was one of the best 60-minute efforts we've had all year," said Sullivan. "We played against a really good hockey team that played hard, and our guys, from the drop of the puck, were ready to play."

Travis Green, Sergei Samsonov, Glen Murray and Nick Boynton provided the offense and Andrew Raycroft earned his 27th victory of the season while making 28 saves.

Sound defensive play, solid goaltending and a relentless attack stand out in this one.

"For sure," said Bruins defenseman Sean O'Donnell. "We wanted to use it as a building (block) to see where we're at. We knew Ottawa was coming in desperate because they needed this win to give themselves a really good chance at the division. This whole week we are going to get every team's best effort, and it's a time to really measure ourselves."

Something that has plagued the Bruins this season is slow starts. Last night they took the early lead, kept it, and responded when the Senators gained momentum.

"We didn't start the first period on Saturday (against Tampa Bay) the way we wanted to," said Raycroft. "Our last five periods are exactly how we need to play, and exactly how we want to play."

The first period was one of the Bruins' best this season and Green continued his recent scoring surge. He now has scored four goals in the last four games. Last night, he controlled the puck through neutral ice and let a blistering slap shot fly from just inside the blue line. It was deflected into the corner and ricocheted out front. Green never stopped his relentless forecheck and when Ottawa goalie Patrick Lalime attempted to clear it, Green was there for a one-handed tap-in for a 1-0 advantage.

Samsonov added to that lead, scoring his 12th of the season, at 7:03 of the second period. He broke in 2-on-1 with Murray, dished it and quickly got a pass back before knocking home a one-timer.

Ottawa ended the Bruins' chances of recording their first shutout on home ice this season when Martin Havlat converted a power play at 3:08 of the third period.

Murray helped Boston regain a two-goal lead at 6:53 of the period. With the puck rolling toward Lalime, it was a footrace between the goalie and the Bruins' forward. Lalime got to the puck first, put his clearing attempt was gloved by Murray. His slap shot beat the sprawled goaltender for a 3-1 lead.

The two-goal advantage didn't last long.

Just 24 seconds later the Senators responded as Jason Spezza sneaked one by Raycroft at 7:17 to make it 3-2.

Boston, 22-0-4-3 when leading after two periods this season, regained their edge when Boynton blasted a one-timer past a screened Lalime at the 13:01 for the 4-2 final.

Ottawa 0 0 2--2

Boston 1 1 2--4

First Period--1, Boston, Green 10 (McGillis), 4:45. Penalties--Murray, Bos (holding), 6:53; Chara, Ott (slashing), 10:55.

Second Period--2, Boston, Samsonov 12 (Murray, Gonchar), 7:03. Penalties--Neil, Ott (slashing), 7:49; Leschyshyn, Ott (holding), 16:45.

Third Period--3, Ottawa, Havlat 29 (Alfredsson, Bonk), 3:07 (pp). 4, Boston, Murray 30, 6:53. 5, Ottawa, Spezza 21 (Havlat, Schaefer), 7:17. 6, Boston, Boynton 5 (Gonchar, Samsonov), 13:01. Penalties--Gonchar, Bos (tripping), 2:42; Van Allen, Ott (holding stick), 10:57; McGillis, Bos (high-sticking), 15:42 .

Shots on goal--Ottawa 9-10-11--30. Boston 14-11-11--36.

Power-play Opportunities--Ottawa 1 of 3; Boston 0 of 3.

Goalies--Ottawa, Lalime 24-23-7 (36 shots-32 saves). Boston, Raycroft 27-16-8 (30-28).

A--15,887 (17,565). T--2:11.