Bruins Rally To Beat Rangers

The Boston Bruins got the bounces and the victory.

Bill Guerin scored two goals to tie New York's Theo Fleury for the league lead with 20, as the Bruins beat the New York Rangers 6-4 on Saturday night.

"A few goals went off skates and we were fortunate to get some bounces," said Bruins' captain Jason Allison. "We could have had a few more though, and we kept the momentum for the majority of the game."

The Rangers lost for the first time this season when leading after two periods. It was the first time this season the Bruins won by two goals since Oct. 26.

"We were our own worst enemy," said Rangers coach Ron Low. "It seems like, when we get something going, we kick ourselves down."

Guerin scored the go-ahead goal on a 2-on-1 breakaway, and converted a pass from Allison, which he fanned on, but the puck went in off his skate to give the Bruins a 4-3 lead.

The line of Allison, Guerin and Sergei Samsonov has combined for 24 points in the last four games.

"We have been playing together for twelve games," Guerin said. "Allison could be the best player in the NHL from the top of the circles down, and people don't realize how big and strong he is."

Guerin has eight goals and six assists since being acquired by the Bruins.

The Bruins and Rangers entered Saturday's game tied for the NHL lead in goals allowed with 100. New York has allowed 29 goals in the last six games.

"Six goals is way too many to allow anywhere, especially when you are trying to win on the road," said Rangers captain Mark Messier. "If you're not doing the right things, you get fluky goals against you."

Messier scored the Rangers' second power-play goal of the game when Fleury's shot bounced off the boards and onto his stick. The goal gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead at 6:13 of the second.

Mike Knuble and Guerin gave the Bruins an early two-goal lead when their shots deflected off the skate of defenseman Rich Pilon in a 3:47 span in the first period.

Knuble scored on a shot from behind the net, and Guerin's goal caromed off Pilon as he was backing up in front of Richter.

Trailing 2-0, Brian Leetch took advantage of a double-minor penalty to the Bruins' Joe Thornton, and beat Bruins goalie Peter Skudra at 18:30.

Thornton was involved in a tussle with Petr Nedved, who had whacked him over the head with his stick, but Thornton drew the extra penalty.

Bruins coach Mike Keenan took out his anger on referee Paul Stewart when he smashed a stick over the boards. When the period ended, Keenan slammed the bench gate after all the players had left the ice and stared at the officials.

"I wasn't asking him out for pizza," Keenan said. "It is never good when a player hits another player over the head with a stick, and this game will be going back to New York so everybody can see it."

The Bruins outshot the Rangers 12-2 in the first period, and had a 20-4 advantage midway through the game.

Leetch also added two assists and leads NHL defenseman in scoring with 40 points.

Valeri Kamenski scored his 10th goal of the season for the Rangers.

Patrick Traverse notched a career-high three assists for the Bruins, who hadn't scored six goals in a game since Feb 21.

Messier added two assists, and Fleury also recorded a goal and an assist.

Rookie Jonathan Girard had a goal and an assist for Boston, who snapped a three-game winless streak against the Rangers.

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