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Khristich keys Bruins win

BOSTON (The Associated Press 03-14-1998 19:47 EDT) -- Dmitri Khristich set up three Jason Allison goals and added a pair of scores himself as the Boston Bruins rolled to a 5-1 win over the New York Rangers Saturday afternoon.

Khristich's five-point performance was a career best. It was Allison's second career three-goal game, the other coming Jan. 8 against Phoenix, and tied his career high with five points. The other member of the line, winger Sergei Samsonov, had two assists. The trio has 42 points in its last eight games.

"It's definitely fun when your line's clicking and you're scoring goals," said Allison, who raised his team-leading goal total to 28.

"They're in a zone," said teammate Anson Carter. "When you're playing like that, it makes the game look easy. They're on a roll right now and it's fun to watch."

The Bruins, coming off what coach Pat Burns described as "the worst game he had ever seen a Boston Bruins team play" Thursday in a 5-2 loss to Calgary, broke to a 4-1 lead after two periods. Allison collected his three scores in building the lead.

"We couldn't contain their big line. We couldn't score on their goaltender," said New York coach John Muckler, "and they won all the battles in the corners."

Boston had dropped its last two home games and 2-of-3 overall.

Brian Leetch scored a second-period power-play goal for the Rangers, who remained winless this season when they score two goals or less (0-21-11).

The Rangers outshot Boston 32-22 in the contest.

The Bruins moved ahead 1-0 when Khristich tipped Ray Bourque's shot past goalie Mike Richter 3:35 into the first period. It was Bourque's 1,400th career point.

Allison beat Richter with a slapshot from the top of the left circle after taking a well-placed drop pass from Khristich, making it 2-0 at 15:09 of the opening period.

The Rangers sliced the score to 2-1 when Leetch one-timed Wayne Gretzky's pass by goalie Byron Dafoe at 6:37 before Allison completed his three-goal effort with scores 7:41 apart.

Khristich's shot from the right circle deflected into the net off Allison's body, making it 3-1 at 11:30. Allison, cutting in from the slot, then finished off a 3-on-2 break with his third goal by redirecting Khristich's centering pass by Richter.

Allison then set up Khristich when he sent him in alone on Richter for a score 5:11 into the third period, ending the goalie's day. Dan Cloutier replaced Richter.

"Some (games) it's clicking like today," Khristich said.

Copyright 1998, The Associated Press All rights reserved.


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