Stanley Cup Playoffs : Bruins Push Canadiens to Brink of Elimination, 2-0

The Boston Bruins are on the verge of ending 45 years of frustration.

Goaltender Rejean Lemelin, with considerable help from defenseman Ray Bourque turned back every Montreal threat Sunday night at Boston to lead the Bruins to a 2-0 victory over the Canadiens.

Rick Middleton’s goal in the second period and sterling defense until Gord Kluzak scored into an empty net in the closing seconds enabled the Bruins to take a 3-1 lead in the second-round Stanley Cup series.

The Bruins, who have lost 18 consecutive playoffs to the Canadiens dating to 1943 and including the last four seasons, have three chances to end the string. It could come Tuesday night in Game 5 at Montreal.

The third consecutive Bruin victory was another sterling defensive performance.

Lemelin, who missed a shutout at Boston Garden in Game 3 Friday night when Chris Chelios scored with 3:42 to play in a 3-1 victory, stopped 22 shots.

Bourque, as good a defensive player as there is, played all but three minutes of the third period. He made it almost impossible for the Canadiens to get a clear shot at Lemelin.

He also started the play that led to the goal that gave the Bruins a working margin. Bourque, guarding the area around the net in his usual manner, grabbed a rebound, and spotted Lyndon Byers speeding up ice. The pass led Byers perfectly and Byers, going full speed sent a pass across ice to Middleton, who went in alone and beat goalie Patrick Roy from 20 feet midway through the middle period.

Lemelin, a 10-year veteran at 31, was Calgary’s No. 1 goalie for most of the previous seven seasons, but was signed as a free agent by the Bruins last August.

After being the Bruins top goalie most of the season, he started alternating with Andy Moog late in the regular season. When Moog played in the first game, a 5-2 loss, Lemelin asked for his chance.

He has almost completely thwarted the Canadiens, who considered themselves the team to beat for the Stanley Cup. In this game he robbed Shayne Corson, Petr Svoboda and Chelios from point blank range in the first period. He also had several difficult stops in the last 10 minutes.

Washington 4, New Jersey 1--The Capitals battled back from a 10-goal humiliation Friday night to knot the series, 2-2, at East Rutherford, N.J., with an outstanding defensive performance.

Even the loss of goaltender Pete Peeters and defenseman Garry Galley with injuries failed to deter the Capitals.

Peeters was hit in the mask by John MacLean’s blistering shot from 15 feet away, was knocked flat and carried out on a stretcher midway through the second period.

Dave Christian’s two goals helped the Capitals to a 3-1 lead before Clint Malarchuk replaced Peeters and stopped 13 shots the rest of the way. Peeters had 11 saves.

Galley injured his head in a third-period melee and also was carried off on a stretcher.

The series will resume Tuesday night at Landover, Md. Peeters suffered a gash in his forehead and may not be able to play.