clarinews@clarinet.com (01/16/90)
BOSTON (UPI) -- This time, Boston Coach Mike Milbury decided it was worth sticking around until the end. On Saturday, Milbury left the bench to watch the third period of a loss to the New York Rangers from the radio booth. On Monday night, no moves were needed because he thoroughly enjoyed the Bruins' performance in a 4-1 victory over the Hartford Whalers. ``I loved it,'' said Milbury. ``I haven't enjoyed a win more than this at home this season.'' ``Hartford came in here and beat us two times and they haven't showed us any respect,'' said Milbury. ``We wanted to establish some respect. I throughly enjoyed the hockey game.'' Cam Neely and Ray Bourque provided the offense that pleased the coach and Andy Moog was solid in the Bruins' net, stopping 33 shots to key the win. ``It was a tight-checking game and you have to capitalize on the few chances you get,'' said Hartford's Kevin Dineen. ``That's the difference in the games against Boston. You only get a few chances and you have to make them count.'' The win was Boston's 10th in its last 12 games and improved the Bruins' overall point total to 57, tops in the NHL. Hartford, which entered with the league's best road mark, at 13-7-2, is now 3-1-1 against Boston and the only team with three victories against the Bruins. ``We had to pick it up a little bit tonight, especially after Saturday's game,'' said Neely, who scored the tie-breaking goal 6:58 into the second period. Center Craig Janney collected a loose puck at the left side of the Whalers' net and slipped a perfect pass out front to Neely, who redirected a shot past goalie Peter Sidorkiewicz for his team-leading 32nd goal of the season. The Bruins, who posted their seventh win in their last eight home contests, increased their lead to 3-1 on Randy Burridge's power-play goal 6:02 into the final period. Bourque, who scored the Bruins' first goal, added an empty-net score on a 170-foot shot with seven seconds left to complete the scoring. ``We played solid checking hockey,'' said Bourque. ``Teams were coming in here and trying to take advantage of us. It was the type of hockey we need to play in here to win.'' The Whalers moved in front 1-0 on Ray Ferraro's goal 9:37 into the opening period. Ferraro collected Mike Tomlak's pass off a faceoff, cut in front of the net and shifted from his backhand to forehand before slipping a shot behind Moog. The Bruins tied the game at the 13-minute mark of the first period when defenseman Bourque collected Neely's pass and fired a 25-foot wrist shot past Sidorkiewicz.