BOSTON, Mass. – The Boston Bruins sent a message to the Canucks in an 8-1 win in a physical game three. The Canucks still lead the series 2-1.
There were no goals during the first period; however a late hard hit near the blue line from Aaron Rome that lifted Nathan Horton off his feet, and falling flat on his back on the ice led to the first major penalties of the game. Rome was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for the hit.
The game was delayed while Horton was tended to on the ice, and then taken away on a stretcher.
Late in the period, Boston’s Tim Thomas made some incredible saves, including a big stop on a shot from the slot. Boston was lagging on shots during the period, in fact, didn’t rack up a single shot for the last ten minutes of the period.
Horton was ultimately transported to a local Massachusetts hospital for further medical care, but it was reported he was moving his extremities prior to transport, and would be kept hospitalized for observation over night.
Despite a scoreless first period, the Bruins seemed to come alive in the second period, perhaps as a tribute to Horton’s absence. Four unanswered goals were scored on only 13 shots.
The Bruins opened the scoring just after the face off, with a long slap shot by Andrew Ference from just inside the blue line that riffled past Roberto Luongo in the net. At 4:22 into the period, Mark Recchi was credited with a power play goal when the puck deflected off Ryan Kesler into the net , with assists credited to Michael Ryder and Ference.
Boston extended their lead with a shorthanded goal by Brad Marchand, as he stole the puck, and quickly wheeled back towards the net in the outside lane, cutting back along the crease, patiently stick-handling the puck, then after Luongo committed to the lower part of the net, he wristed the puck top shelf from the far side deep in the Cancucks territory.
With less than five minutes remaining in the period, Boston’s David Krejci scored, leaving the Bruins to sail into the second break with a 4-0 lead on the Canucks.
In the third period, tempers flared on both sides, leading to a number of post-whistle activities. A righteous shoulder to shoulder hit between Daniel Sedin and Ference in the Bruins defensive zone, led to both players being issued ten-minute misconducts at 6:59. Shawn Thornton was sent off the ice after a roughing call, as well as a ten-minute misconduct a minute later.
Emotions were running high and players from both teams pushed and shoved. Then, following a whistle near the Bruins net, Burrows and Milan Lucic exchanged some blows that led to two more misconducts, followed by Kesler and Dennis Seidenberg dropping the gloves. Ultimately 56 penalty minutes were assessed at 11:16.
But it would be the Bruins to send the final message with four goals in the third period. At 11:38, the Bruins extended their lead by five, with a short-handed goal by Daniel Paille. Canucks Jannik Hansen scored Vancouver’s only goal at 13:53 on a quick wrist shot that beat Tim Thomas to the net.
Mark Recchi scored his second goal of the night at 17:39, followed only 27 seconds later by a goal from Chris Kelly from the slot. The Bruins put the icing on the cake and ended their scoring run with a big power play goal by Michael Ryder to end the game 8-1.
The Bruins cut Vancouver’s series lead in half and trail 2-1, with game four in Boston on Wednesday night.
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
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