Byron Dafoe

In 10 of 16 starts goaltender Byron Dafoe has given up two goals or fewer and is 8-2. "Keep your goals [against average] to two and under and you're pretty happy with yourself because . . . we're going to score two or three goals," said Dafoe, whose average is slightly more than 2.6.

-- Montreal Canadiens (36-31-12-3, 8th) vs. Boston Bruins (43-24-6-9, 1st) Schedule: Thu.; Sun.; Tue.; Apr. 25, 27 , 29 , 30 ( -if necessary, best of seven) Season series: Boston, 3-2 Series preview: Montreal goaltender Jose Theodore will have to be on top of his game to hold off Boston's assortment of skilled players such as Bill Guerin, Joe Thornton, Glen Murray and Sergei Samsonov. In the five regular-season games between the Northeast Division rivals, the Bruins outshot the Canadiens, 182-110.

-- Montreal Canadiens (36-31-12-3, 8th) vs. Boston Bruins (43-24-6-9, 1st) Schedule: Thu.; Sun.; Tue.; Apr. 25, 27 , 29 , 30 ( -if necessary, best of seven) Season series: Boston, 3-2 Series preview: Montreal goaltender Jose Theodore will have to be on top of his game to hold off Boston's assortment of skilled players such as Bill Guerin, Joe Thornton, Glen Murray and Sergei Samsonov. In the five regular-season games between the Northeast Division rivals, the Bruins outshot the Canadiens, 182-110.

Talking and working with Coach Pat Burns paid off for Boston Bruin goalie Byron Dafoe. Dafoe, the NHL shutout leader last season with 10, stopped 32 shots for his first this season as the Bruins beat the Phoenix Coyotes, 2-0, Monday night at Boston to stop a six-game winless streak. During practice Sunday, Burns and Dafoe had some time to discuss things before the pair worked together. "He came out with me and actually did goalie drills, which was kind of interesting," Dafoe said.

Boston Bruin goaltender Byron Dafoe ended his holdout Friday, signing a three-year contract that could have him back in goal as soon as next week. "Four or five practices and I should be ready to go," said Dafoe, who has been skating every day on his own in preparation for his anticipated return. "I want to play as soon as possible, and I want to make sure that I'm at the highest level before I enter a game." Negotiations have been stalled for months.

Boston goaltender Byron Dafoe, a former member of the Kings, came into the Great Western Forum on Friday night, figuring he was hotter than he has been in his life. "I've never had a streak like this," said Dafoe who hadn't given up a goal in 151 minutes 29 seconds when the game started and extended that bit of perfection to 162:19 until the Kings' Josh Green ended it with a power-play goal at 10:50 of the first period.

It had been more than two weeks since goaltender Byron Dafoe started a game, so he was feeling the layoff immediately after Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss in Philadelphia. "I'm really tired," said Dafoe, who last played in an exhibition on Sept. 24. "My legs are heavy. It doesn't matter how much you practice, there's nothing like being in a game." Dafoe was worked so hard last season, he seemed to be melting away as he lost a lot of weight early on.

Talking and working with Coach Pat Burns paid off for Boston Bruin goalie Byron Dafoe. Dafoe, the NHL shutout leader last season with 10, stopped 32 shots for his first this season as the Bruins beat the Phoenix Coyotes, 2-0, Monday night at Boston to stop a six-game winless streak. During practice Sunday, Burns and Dafoe had some time to discuss things before the pair worked together. "He came out with me and actually did goalie drills, which was kind of interesting," Dafoe said.

King goaltender Byron Dafoe has become the team's winless-streak breaker. For the fifth time this season, Dafoe ended a winless stretch of at least two games as the Kings held on to defeat the Hartford Whalers, 5-3, Thursday night, their first victory since the All-Star break. Before an announced crowd of 11,036 at the Forum, Dafoe made 29 saves to improve to 11-9-2 and end the Kings' five-game winless streak.

Both were headed in the right direction. The Ducks' Guy Hebert and the Kings' Byron Dafoe, goalies who have labored through recent difficulties, were on the upswing at the right time. Both had three-game winning streaks that helped their teams in the chase for the final Western Conference playoff spot. They had struggled and been questioned. The opportunity was there Sunday to put those things a little farther in the past. It was Hebert who took another step forward.

Boston Bruin goaltender Byron Dafoe ended his holdout Friday, signing a three-year contract that could have him back in goal as soon as next week. "Four or five practices and I should be ready to go," said Dafoe, who has been skating every day on his own in preparation for his anticipated return. "I want to play as soon as possible, and I want to make sure that I'm at the highest level before I enter a game." Negotiations have been stalled for months.

Boston goaltender Byron Dafoe, a former member of the Kings, came into the Great Western Forum on Friday night, figuring he was hotter than he has been in his life. "I've never had a streak like this," said Dafoe who hadn't given up a goal in 151 minutes 29 seconds when the game started and extended that bit of perfection to 162:19 until the Kings' Josh Green ended it with a power-play goal at 10:50 of the first period.

For a few minutes early in the third period Saturday night, the Kings looked like they would lose their second goaltender within a week to an injury when Byron Dafoe got tangled with Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson. As trainer Pete Demers examined Dafoe's right leg, backup goalie Jamie Storr warmed up and received encouragement from his teammates.

King goaltender Byron Dafoe has become the team's winless-streak breaker. For the fifth time this season, Dafoe ended a winless stretch of at least two games as the Kings held on to defeat the Hartford Whalers, 5-3, Thursday night, their first victory since the All-Star break. Before an announced crowd of 11,036 at the Forum, Dafoe made 29 saves to improve to 11-9-2 and end the Kings' five-game winless streak.

In 10 of 16 starts goaltender Byron Dafoe has given up two goals or fewer and is 8-2. "Keep your goals [against average] to two and under and you're pretty happy with yourself because . . . we're going to score two or three goals," said Dafoe, whose average is slightly more than 2.6.

King goalie Stephane Fiset returned off the injured list to face his old team and turned in one of his best efforts of the season in the Kings' 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche Saturday night at the Forum. Too bad he wasn't there to finish it. The Kings received a scare when Fiset left the game 1:08 into the third period after falling to the ice in pain.

For a few minutes early in the third period Saturday night, the Kings looked like they would lose their second goaltender within a week to an injury when Byron Dafoe got tangled with Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson. As trainer Pete Demers examined Dafoe's right leg, backup goalie Jamie Storr warmed up and received encouragement from his teammates.

King goaltender Kelly Hrudey has the league's best save percentage, .943, and his goals-against average of 2.19 ranks second, behind the 1.91 by Detroit's Chris Osgood. Then there is the other King goaltender, Byron Dafoe, who has not won a game since beating Winnipeg on Dec. 6. He has made four appearances since then and was pulled at Calgary and Edmonton, going 0-3 in that stretch. His goals-against average is 3.55 and his save percentage .902.

It had been more than two weeks since goaltender Byron Dafoe started a game, so he was feeling the layoff immediately after Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss in Philadelphia. "I'm really tired," said Dafoe, who last played in an exhibition on Sept. 24. "My legs are heavy. It doesn't matter how much you practice, there's nothing like being in a game." Dafoe was worked so hard last season, he seemed to be melting away as he lost a lot of weight early on.

Both were headed in the right direction. The Ducks' Guy Hebert and the Kings' Byron Dafoe, goalies who have labored through recent difficulties, were on the upswing at the right time. Both had three-game winning streaks that helped their teams in the chase for the final Western Conference playoff spot. They had struggled and been questioned. The opportunity was there Sunday to put those things a little farther in the past. It was Hebert who took another step forward.