No monkeying around

That subject is now closed. The Bruins finally have a home victory, thanks to a 4-1 decision over the Dallas Stars last night at the FleetCenter that gave them a 1-1-2-1 mark here.

Raycroft, who was the principal reason Boston shut out the Stars in Dallas Oct. 15, came up big again in this one with 27 saves, improving his record to 4-2-1.

When asked about the gorilla's disappearance, Raycroft smiled.

"It's real comforting," he said. "We're not going to get asked that question anymore and that's nice. We weren't too worried about it in here but, obviously, it's a little something that's off your back and off your mind."

The Bruins got goals from four sources -- Michal Grosek, Travis Green, Sergei Samsonov, and Glen Murray -- to send Dallas to its third straight defeat.

The Bruins knew the Stars would be coming hard, looking to end their skid. Dallas got off to a strong start, thanks to a mixup in the Boston zone that led to a turnover and a goal. Bruins defenseman Sean O'Donnell pulled up along the back boards to elude a Dallas player and tried to pass to blue line partner Nick Boynton. But O'Donnell's attempt missed its mark and went to Stars forward Steve Ott. Ott dished it to captain Mike Modano, who teed up a slapper from the slot that rocketed up under the crossbar at 4:03.

Despite giving up the first goal for the 10th time in 14 games, the Bruins didn't sag after the strike.

Late in the period, Dan McGillis, one of Boston's top performers, took the puck in the Boston zone. He moved it up to Samsonov, who relayed it to Grosek charging up the right side. Grosek drove through the right circle and beat goalie Ron Tugnutt with a forehander at 17:32.

The Bruins added their other three in the middle period, the first the fluke of all flukes.

Brian Rolston, battling along the left-wing boards in the Dallas zone, fed Hal Gill at the left point. Gill flung it up in the air toward the net and it caromed off Green's back and sailed past Tugnutt for the 2-1 lead at 4:04. It was the first goal as a Bruin for Green, who was moved from center to wing for the first time.

Boston put it away midway through the period, converting on a three-on-one break. Once again, it was McGillis who got things going. McGillis outbattled the Stars' Sergei Zubov at the Boston blue line and swept the puck out into neutral ice for Marty Lapointe. Lapointe one-handed a relay to Samsonov, who raced up the left side. Samsonov passed to Bergeron, who was coming up the middle behind him, and Bergeron dished it right back from high in the slot. Samsonov swept it into the net from deep in the left circle and the Bruins were up, 3-1, at 9:50.

"I ended up being a little higher than I wanted," said McGillis of the play's origin. "They do a good job getting their defense into the play. I saw the opportunity. I thought the stick was long enough to get there and, fortunately, I took him down with me at the same time, so I think we did a good job defensively getting the puck up to the forwards."

Seeing it go in at the other end didn't hurt, either.

"I didn't know where the puck was until I got up," said McGillis. "It was certainly nice to know it was going the other way."

Murray closed it out with his second goal in two games and third of the season at 16:34. Mike Knuble helped do the dirty work, fighting for the puck with Stars Jason Arnott and Brenden Morrow along the right-wing boards. Morrow fell down and Knuble took possession of the puck, dishing it into the slot for Murray. Murray, with Philippe Boucher draped on his back, shook him off and tucked a backhander under Tugnutt's right pad.

"I think we played well last game, too," said Grosek, referring to the tie with San Jose Thursday. "I think we should have won that."