THE NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS : Moog Stops Canadiens, Bruins Go to Semifinals

From beginning to end, the difference between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens was Andy Moog.

Moog, the only goalie used by the Bruins in this year’s playoffs, stopped 35 shots and weathered Montreal’s desperation attack in the final minute to give Boston a 2-1 victory Monday night and a spot in the Stanley Cup semifinals.

“He is definitely the difference,” Montreal Coach Pat Burns said. “Their whole team played well, but Andy made the big saves at the right time, even down to the end. If he doesn’t make them, it goes into overtime.”

Boston won the Adams Division final, four games to three, reaching the semifinals for the third time in four years. The Bruins play the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday night in Boston.

The Bruins got there because Moog allowed only 18 goals in the seven games against the Canadiens.

The Bruins took a 2-0 lead on goals by Dave Christian at 6:30 of the second period and Cam Neely on a power play at 1:59 of the third period.

Moog had a shutout until Stephan Lebeau scored a controversial goal with one minute remaining.

Lebeau backhanded the puck over the goal line during a scramble after Moog knocked the net off its moorings.

The Canadiens continued to besiege Moog in the final minute. “It was wild,” Moog said. “They just rushed the net and were right on top of us. The pucks just hit me.”

In the final 15 seconds, Moog kicked one shot out with his leg and it popped up in front of him. The puck came back at him and he knocked it into the corner with his glove as time ran out. “We just couldn’t put it in,” Montreal’s Russ Courtnall said. “Andy Moog was great for the entire series.”

The Bruins had several scoring chances after the Canadiens pulled goalie Patrick Roy for an extra skater with 2:49 left. Four shots on goal were blocked by Montreal skaters and several others went wide.