If they end up missing the playoffs by a point - and, yes, it is possible after just one victory in their last seven games - the Bruins can look back and circle this loss and curse a wasted chance.
"It's getting down to crunch time and we can't let this go on too much longer," coach Claude Julien said last night, after his struggling hockey team dropped a 3-1 decision to the last-place Tampa Bay Lightning before an unfulfilled 13,373 at the Garden.
With just 11 games left in the regular season, including a huge one here against Philadelphia tomorrow afternoon, this was one the Bruins had to have, a date with the bottom-of-the-barrel bunch from a place where people go to retire and play golf.
"These are big games, must-wins," said left wing Marco Sturm, whose rocket from above the left circle set up Boston's only goal. "And we've got to learn that."
Tampa Bay had won only two of its previous 10 games and just 2 of 28 lifetime on Causeway Street. Yet, the Lightning went up, 2-0, on a power play and a breakaway and that was enough to do in the hosts, who lately are packing less punch than 3.2 beer.
"Besides the goals that were being scored, I thought we had a better game than they did, but that's where we are right now," said Julien, whose club is a shadow of the one that ran off six straight victories from Feb. 19 through March 1. "You hope that your players can find the bottom of that net sooner rather than lat er."
It was the unlucky seventh straight time the Bruins had been held to two goals or fewer. Their one tally, with 12:03 to play, came on a deflection by Chuck Kobasew, who hadn't scored since Groundhog Day. So has it been for his fellow forwards, most of whom have been colder than Punxsutawney Phil since the end of January.
In their last 20 games, Phil Kessel has two goals and Marc Savard and Milan Lucic one apiece and Glen Metropolit is 0 for 18. "We aren't going to make the pretty ones," said defenseman Dennis Wideman, who was wearing a black "Who Wants It?" T-shirt. "We have to do it the ugly way. Get to the net and whack them in."
Not that there weren't chances last night. Boston had three power plays, the last with 7:43 left, and came up with nothing. And shortly after the Bruins went down by two, Kessel had a breakaway snuffed by Lightning goalie Mike Smith, who made 35 saves. "If he scores, we're right back in the game," said Julien.
Tampa Bay, which scored as many goals (eight) on the Islanders Tuesday as Boston has in its last seven games, cashed both of their best chances, then added an empty-netter from Vincent Lecavalier with eight seconds left. "It's nice to get rewarded for a change," said defenseman Dan Boyle. "It wasn't pretty, but we sacrificed the body, we blocked some shots, we deserved the win."
