BOSTON – It was clear after Game Three that Vancouver would have to return to a disciplined approach involving team speed and solid defense to turn the momentum of the Series in their favor. A faster pace would make it difficult for the slower Boston Bruins to keep up with the highly skilled and speedy Vancouver forwards. The home team had other things in mind though and as a result, the Canucks will take a long flight back to Vancouver searching for answers on how to prevent a total collapse in what has been a historic season.
In the opening few minutes, Bruins forwards applied a punishing forecheck to the Canucks.
Line after line of Canucks could be seen skating to the bench after their shifts slow and wounded from the relentless Boston assault.
Had this game been held in Vancouver, there might have been several arrests made.
Although the Bruins wanted to dictate the tempo from the opening face-off, they also wanted to gauge how tight the officiating would be after the rules were liberally applied in Game Three. Boston kept their physical game within what is allowed in the rule book.
The Canucks were back on their heels all period starting with solid, glass-rattling checks in the Vancouver zone by Daniel Paille and Michael Ryder. For the Canucks, there was nowhere to hide. If a player was wearing white, a player in black had them on radar and the results were painful. Wave after wave of Bruins advanced on the Canuck zone hemming them behind their blue line leaving them unable to mount any sustained attack.
When the Bruins had possession of the puck, they wasted no time either keeping it in the Vancouver zone or as in one case in the opening period, in the back of the net. Rich Peverley drew first blood after accepting a pass along the boards inside the Vancouver line from David Krejci and slipping a snap shot through Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo’s legs.
The TD Garden erupted and it began a night of high decibel noise the remainder of the game.
Although the Canucks outshot the Bruins 12 to 6 in the opening period, few were quality chances and might have been a better a reflection of a generous scorekeeper with an itchy trigger finger. Although of a lesser amount than Vancouver, nearly all of Boston’s chances were solid requiring Luongo to keep his team in the game.
Still, there was a sense this game was already out of the Canucks’ reach by the time the first period ended. Boston had already forced Vancouver to play in a highly physical environment, something which was clear the Canucks wanted no part of tonight.
At the other end of the ice, Boston goaltender Tim Thomas was masterful. His confidence resonated among the Bruins and the team gained strength as the game wore on. Thomas made key saves at critical moments holding onto rebounds when possible or steering sharp drives into the corner with purpose. Throughout the game, he seemed to see the puck coming at him like it was a beach ball.
Momentum continued to shift Boston’s way as the Bruins tightened their grip on a Game Four victory. Midway through the second period, Tyler Seguin fired a pass to Michael Ryder who broke down the left side sending a harmless snap shot toward the Vancouver net. The puck fooled Luongo dipping just under his catching glove and tickling Vancouver twine for a 2-0 lead.
Boston increased its’ lead to 3-0 after a broken play behind the Vancouver net. Patrice Bergeron intercepted a clearing attempt to the side of the net and centered a bouncing puck to Brad Marchand who lifted a backhand over Luongo’s glove. Vancouver continued to lead in the shot column, but failed to have any of those shots cross the goal line.
Boston finished off the night by adding a fourth goal on a shot fired toward the Vancouver goal by Milan Lucic. Lucic’s centering attempt went off a streaking Rich Peverley as he and Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler battled for position. Luongo was pulled after the goal in favor of reliable Cory Schneider. Luongo allowed four goals on twenty shots.
With the game winding down, tempers flared with lots of stickwork and post-whistle punches and slashes. Even Tim Thomas got in on the action. Although the nastiness had no effect on the game’s outcome, it seemed as though Vancouver wanted to leave Boston with a message that they can play physical too. Sadly for them, it was far too late.
When asked about how he would prepare for Game Five in Vancouver Thomas made clear there is no secret, “I plan to get plenty of rest and focus on keeping sharp.” Thomas also addressed how the fans were chanting the name, “Nathan Horton”, his fallen teammate, as a means of keeping him in their thoughts, Thomas said, “We are all thinking of him, he’s our teammate, but we’re also doing this for ourselves.”
The series returns to Vancouver with Boston firmly in full control. The Bruins have allowed just six goals while scoring fourteen in four games. Vancouver looks like a far less dangerous team than they were during the regular season. Unless the Canucks figure out how to save their historic season on that flight back to Vancouver, the Boston Bruins will be looking at closing out the Final at home Monday night.
Contact Dennis.Morrell@prohockeyunews.com
