Bruins snap streak

Bruins roster

"We were aware of what the press said, `We suck, this or that,'" Boston goaltender Byron Dafoe said. "The only way to quiet them is to start winning."

Boston had a 2-0 lead going in the third period from goals by Sergei Samsonov and Dmitri Kristich. The Rangers rallied in the final period tying the game with Brian Leetch and Adam Graves scoring. New York's hopes were crushed by 19-year old Thornton who beat Mike Richter for his 10th of the season and the game-winner.

"I got a good break off (Jeff) Beukeboom," Thornton said. "I think he and (Brian) Leetch had a miscommunication. I got a step and waited as long as I could to take my shot."

Dafoe broke a six-game winless streak as he stopped 25 of 27 Rangers shots including 13 in the second period.

"It wasn't an easy win, that's for sure," Bruins coach Pat Burns said. "Up 2-0 in pretty good shape, then Leetch gets a nice goal, then a fluke goal and it's a tie game."

The Rangers fell to 3-7 in their last 10 games and four points behind Boston for eighth place and the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"You can call this what you want," Rangers center Wayne Gretzky said. "But we know the situation we're in."