Dafoe, obtained from the Los Angeles Kings in August 1997, had an outstanding first season with the Bruins with a career-high 65 games and a career-low 2.24 goals against average.

Khristich, Boston's second leading scorer last season, gave the Bruins the lead when he slid a 5-foot wrist shot by Salo after taking a pass from behind the net from Jason Allison.

"I couldn't see the net," Khristich said, "but I had an idea where it was."

Heinze scored his second goal of the season 1:18 later on a rebound. Ted Donato, who missed Boston's first seven exhibition games during a contract hold-out, tipped Grant Ledyard's shot. Salo stopped the deflection, but the puck went to Heinze, who put a 10-footer past the goalie from the left side of the net.

Canucks 4, Kings 2

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--The NHL reduced the size of the goal crease in an attempt to stimulate scoring, but that didn't satisfy Los Angeles Kings coach Larry Robinson, whose team had two goals disallowed.

"All you ask is to get a fair shake and I don't think we got a fair shake tonight," said Robinson, whose Kings lost 4-2 to Vancouver in the Canucks' season-opener yesterday.

Robinson was especially upset after referee Stephen Walkom waived off Rob Blake's goal which would have tied the game 3-3 with 2:31 left in the third period. While the Kings' Sandy Moger had his foot in the crease, a replay showed that he was clearly pushed in by Canucks defenseman Murray Baron.

"Apparently, you're the only ones that saw it," said Robinson to a group of reporters. "You look up at the Jumbotron [video scoreboard] and there it is right in front of your eyes. Blake didn't even shoot the puck, yet and the guy knocked [Moger] into the crease. It's too bad."

Although he said he was going to bite his tongue, Robinson added Walkom "had a bad night" and called this a good example of the need to have two referees on the ice for all games.

"That's why I like the two-referee system because you have four eyes watching, you don't have those types of calls."

Peter Zezel led the Canucks with two goals, including the game-winner 10:48 into the third period, and set up another as the Canucks erased 1-0 and 2-1 deficits.

Zezel's go-ahead goal came on the power play after the Canucks had squandered their first seven opportunities. Set up at the bottom of the right circle by Brad May, Zezel rifled a rising shot that beat Kings goaltender Jamie Storr on the short side. Earlier, Zezel had tied the game 1-1 when he deflected Todd Bertuzzi's point shot with 5:12 left in the second period.

"It was nice. The [second] one was just a reaction. There was room, but there wasn't much room and I just thought that if I got it on net, I'd have the chance," Zezel said.

Blues 4, Rangers 2