Knuble again steps to fore

Yet last night against Vancouver, in a game that pitted the NHL's conference leaders against each other and at times had the intensity of a playoff game, it was Knuble who had the largest impact. He potted his eighth goal of the year and assisted on Brian Rolston's winner at 4:15 of overtime.

"He's one of those guys that doesn't get the credit he deserves," said Bruins coach Mike Sullivan after the 2-1 win over the Canucks, the Western Conference's top team. "He's on a line with two pretty gifted players. Mike's a guy that just really comes to the rink every day and works his tail off and does all the little things."

Last night, he did the big things, too.

With less than a minute left in overtime and both teams pushing for the winner, Knuble took a pass from Ian Moran -- who did a nice job of keeping the puck in the zone -- skated behind the net, and flipped the puck in front to Rolston, who chipped a light shot past Vancouver goalie Dan Cloutier.

"I tried to set the puck down and my first thought was to come out and kind of try to jam it [toward the goal], but then I finally gained control of it and I saw Brian over there," Knuble said of the play that gave the Bruins their fourth straight win. "I looked up and thought about coming out [from behind the net], and I think two guys slid on me, so I just went around the other side and was able to spot [Rolston]. He just hovered where he was and was able to chip it in."

The goal, Rolston's seventh of the year and second in as many nights, put an end to a chippy affair in which six roughing penalties, three unsportsmanlike conduct, and two fighting penalties were called. Cloutier even got into the mix when he tossed his gloves aside and threw a number of haymakers at Bruins forward Travis Green.

Both teams had quality chances in overtime before Knuble found Rolston to wrap it up. "The overtime was played to be won -- no one was sitting back on either team; both teams we're going for it," Knuble said. "We're happy that we ended up with the extra point."

Knuble may not be as flashy as his linemates, but he understands his role and knows where he has to be on the ice to be effective. That was evident midway through the second period when he parked himself in front of the goal and redirected home a Dan McGillis blast from the left point.

"I work around the net and down in the corners; I'm not out trying to get passes," Knuble said. "My job is to get the puck in [the zone], and then, when it's up for grabs, go get it and be strong with the puck. I also try and knock pucks out of the air around the net and just hang around the net -- every puck has to come there."