Bruins have backs to wall; Habs could clinch series.

Byline: Bud Barth

A game of inches is one thing - pucks going just wide of the net, jumping over sticks in scoring situations, bouncing to instead of fro - but a game of seconds?

That's what has put the Bruins on the precipice of playoff elimination heading into Game 5 of their first-round series against the Canadiens at 7 tonight in Montreal (Charter TV-3, Comcast CN8, WBZ-AM 1030).

What was supposed to be a hopeless mismatch between top-seeded Montreal and eighth-seeded Boston has turned into a dogfight despite the Canadiens' commanding 3-1 lead in games.

And that advantage might not exist at all if not for the first 122 seconds of Game 1, when Montreal jumped on the jittery Bruins for a pair of quick goals that have been the real difference in this series.

Take away that first 2:02, when brothers Sergei and Andrei Kostitsyn put Boston in an early 2-0 hole, and it's been pretty much an even series. The Canadiens hold a slight edge in goals (7-5) since then, and in shots (119-115) and power-play goals (2-1) for the series, but Boston has dominated in faceoffs won (126-115) and scoring opportunities, enjoying a truckload in their 1-0 loss on Tuesday to offset Montreal's big edge in the first six minutes of overtime in Boston's 2-1 victory in Game 3.

"It should be a cause for hope," goaltender Tim Thomas said. "The series could be 3-1 for us very easily, or at least 2-2. We've played good enough to win the last three games."

Which brings us to today's bulletin-board material, courtesy of Habs defenseman Patrice Brisebois, whose power-play goal with 42 seconds left in the second period was the winner on Tuesday.

"They have only won one game," Brisebois said when asked about the Bruins' supposed momentum after winning Game 3. "People said that they found the solution (to beating us). Either way, I thought we deserved to win the third one. They won that one, but I don't think they had the momentum or the solution to beat our team."

After the Bruins failed to finish off what, by this correspondent's count, were 11 good-to-outstanding scoring opportunities in Tuesday's heartbreaking loss, coach Claude Julien may be considering restoring forward Phil Kessel to the lineup tonight. The 20-year-old has been a healthy scratch the last three games because of defensive shortcomings.

But after watching Marco Sturm, Glen Murray, David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Vladimir Sobotka fail to bury two good scoring chances apiece on Tuesday, Julien's hand may be forced.

"I think it was more about us (not finishing) than anything," Lucic said when asked if Montreal goalie Carey Price had frustrated them in Game 4. "You've got to score goals if you want to win. It's not really about first shots, I think it's more so getting the rebounds, those second shots and third shots, going hard to the net and paying the price."

Questions persist about the health of the 35-year-old Murray, a former 44-goal scorer who slumped to just 17 this season, and has just two goals in his last 22 games.

"I feel OK," Murray said. "Obviously, I want to put the puck in the net to help this team out. I'm not doing it."

It's clear the Bruins know how to stay with the Canadiens defensively now, and they've been rescued by Thomas (110 saves on 119 shots) when there have been gaffes. But guile, guts, grit and gusto are nothing without goals, and the B's have to find a way to score more than 1.25 a game - their average in this series.

The Boston power play has been abysmally bad, going 1 for 17 - the one goal coming in a five-on-three situation - and averaging a measly 1.5 shots per opportunity.

But one goal could lead to one win, which could lead to another, although the Bruins need three straight, including two at the hostile Bell Centre, where they've lost nine in a row since their last victory in December 2006.

It's an even tougher task when fans and media already are declaring the series over.

"I guess you just don't listen to those people," defenseman Andrew Ference said. "I don't think there's a lot of newspaper readers in this room, I know that. It's a very resilient group in this locker room. We know it's a challenge, but we have no other choice. That's our situation, so deal with it. There's no time to feel sorry for yourself, and I think this is one of the last teams you'll find that will ever feel sorry for itself."

What's Bruin

Defenseman Aaron Ward, who suffered a knee injury when he was hit by Tomas Plekanic with about two minutes left Tuesday night, might not be available tonight. If he can't go, he'll be replaced by Andrew Alberts, who was scratched in three of the four games of this series because of rustiness from his 3-1/2-month absence with a head injury. ... Julien had no comment on a report that defenseman Zdeno Chara has been playing with injured ribs. Former Bruins GM Harry Sinden made the comment to Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy. ... As of yesterday, B's defenseman Mark Stuart had the next-to-worst rating (minus-4) in the playoffs, while center Marc Savard ranked ninth in faceoff percentage (55.7). Lucic continued to lead the NHL in postseason hits (23), with Montreal's Steve Begin second (19). The Canadiens are dominating in blocked shots with Michael Komisarek (16), Josh Gorges (13) and Roman Hamrlik (11) ranking 1-2-3. Ward led the Bruins with 11, while Chara had nine. ... If a sixth game is necessary, it will be played Saturday in Boston (time TBA).

NAME: BOSTON BRUINS

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Montreal players celebrate Patrice Brisebois' goal Tuesday night that has put the Bruins on the brink of playoff elimination.

PHOTOG: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS