Game 1 Canucks 1 Bruins 0, Game 2 Canucks 3 Bruins 2
VANCOUVER - The drama and excitement builds with every Stanley Cup Finals game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins. Just when you think Raffi Torres’ goal with 18 seconds left to win Game 1 cannot get any more dramatic and exciting; the Canucks find a way to come back again and one up themselves. Alex Burrows scored a wrap-around goal just 11 seconds into overtime as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 in game two of the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Bruins won the face-off in overtime but a bad pass off the boards was picked up by Burrows who skated in hard to the left and caught an aggressive Tim Thomas out to defend. Thomas was caught out of position while Burrows skated behind the goal with Zdeno Chara on his back and extended his stick to knock the puck into the empty net causing an uproarious surprising celebration all throughout Canucks Nation.
While all the controversy leading up to game two revolved around the Burrows bite of Bruins center Patrice Bergeron's fingers during a scrum in game one, it was debated if Burrows would be suspended for game two. Not only did he play but ended the game in exciting fashion and named the first star. Burrows made his mark on Saturday, with two goals while adding an assist as part of all three of Vancouver's goals.
The first goal opened the scoring in the first period on a power-play with a quick shot from 10 feet out that slipped past a tight spot between the left post and Thomas' shoulder.
Down a goal in the third period, Burrows was part of nifty passing give and go play with Daniel Sedin as he delivered a perfectly timed pass to Daniel who skated right in front of the net and one-timed in the the open net while Thomas was unable to slide over in time. Burrows was positioned right in front of the goal and while Thomas was concerned with Burrows firing a shot, Daniel got open and chipped the puck in for the equalizer.
After the Canucks battled before a double-overtime win against the San Jose Sharks, nobody could have expected Vancouver to score so quickly in overtime against Thomas, or receive a gift of a turnover from a top-flight defender like Chara.
The Bruins looked like they were ready to get back into the series when Milan Lucic scored a power-play goal in the second period to tie the game at 1. A lot has been made about the inefficiency of the Bruins power-play, scoring only seven percent of the time on the man-advantage. The goal was the first in the series for the Bruins after Roberto Luongo shut them out in game one. Boston seemed primed to win after when Chara slapped a shot from the point and Marc Reechi redirected the puck past Luongo as the Bruins took a one goal lead going into the final period. But Vancouver, who has played great in the third period, bounced back with Daniel Sedin's ninth goal of the playoffs. Then Burrows shined in overtime and the Canucks find themselves only two wins away from hoisting the elusive Stanley Cup Trophy.
Now the Bruins must regroup as game three shifts to Boston Monday night. While defense and goal-tending is the best part of Boston's game, they will need more from their offense if they want to make this a series and if they have any hope of derailing a determined Vancouver Canuck squad destined for greatness.
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