clarinews@clarinet.com (02/02/90)
_A_l_t_e_r_n_a_t_e_ _L_e_a_d BOSTON (UPI) -- Montreal netminder Patrick Roy, who turned aside 31 shots to key the Canadiens' 4-2 triumph over Boston Thursday night, still isn't convinced the Bruins are the NHL's best team. ``I never believed that Boston is better than us,'' said Roy. ``I always believed that we have a better team. I respect them a lot and I know that have a good team, but I think we have better players.'' The Canadiens, who trailed 2-1 entering the third period, rallied for their first come-from-behind win of the season, scoring three goals in the final 20 minutes to snap Boston's seven-game unbeaten streak at 5-0-2. Shayne Corson and Stephane Richer scored 56 seconds apart in the closing four minutes as Montreal ended a 17-game winless stretch (0-14-3) when trailing after two periods. On the Canadiens' prior trip to Boston back on Nov. 16, the Bruins erased a two-goal deficit with three scores in the closing three minutes. Montreal Coach Pat Burns recalled the earlier trip and felt Thursday night's win was important for the team's morale. ``I can still remember earlier in the season when they scored three goals late in the game after we had a 2-0 lead in this building,'' said Burns. ``I just wanted us to come out of here forgetting that game.'' The win moved fourth-place Montreal to within 7 points of first-place Boston in the NHL's Adams Division. Boston owns the NHL's best mark with 67 points. ``We were in really good shape entering the third period, but we didn't capitalize on our chances,'' said Boston defenseman Ray Bourque, who was beaten in the Bruins' zone on Corson's game-winner. After Montreal had tied the game 2-2 on Russ Courtnall's goal 2:12 into the final period, Corson put the Canadiens ahead with 3:44 left. The winger moved ihto the Boston zone, shifted around Bourque and beat goalie Andy Moog with a short wrist shot for the game-winner. On the ensuing shift, Richer skated alone down the left wing and beat Moog with a 25-foot slapshot inside the far post to complete the scoring. Montreal, which dropped the opener of the home-and-home series 2-1 Monday, tied the game 2-2 when Courtnall's 40-foot slapshot beat Moog inside the left post 2:12 into the third period. Boston's Greg Hawgood appeared to have pushed the Bruins in front 3-2 with 6:18 left when he fired a shot from along the goalie that trickled behind Roy. Referee Denis Morel signaled the puck had crossed the goal line, but waved the goal off after the red light, signaling a score, did not come on. ``The story of the night was they capitalized on their chances and we didn't,'' said Hawgood. ``I think we kept our composure pretty good after they took the lead (3-2). We had some pretty good chances, but Roy made the key saves.'' The Bruins grabbed a 2-1 lead 2:21 into the second period on Cam Neely's second goal of the game. Craig Janney, who setup the first Bruins' score, fired a pass from along the right boards to Neely and the Bruins' leading scorer redirected the pass past Roy for his 37th goal. Trailing 1-0 in the first period, Boston tied the game on Neely's powr-play goal at the 13-minute mark. The Canadiens jumped in front 1-0 when Mike McPhee finished off a two-on-one break with Courtnall, slipping a rebound past Moog 2:45 into the game.