Vancouver native Milan Lucic's goal late in the third period proved to be the difference as the Bruins downed Lucic's hometown Vancouver Canucks 3-1 at Rogers Arena to win their fourth straight game and stay undefeated on their road trip.
The Canucks got on the scoresheet 16:58 into the game. Tomas Kaberle's clearing attempt was picked off by Christian Ehrhoff out near the blue line. Erhoff directed the puck towards the net, which was deflected by Raffi Torres. Manny Malhotra crashed the crease to bang in a loose puck for his 9th goal of the season.
Nathan Horton knotted the game up at 1-1 at 9:56 of the second period. The Bruins worked the puck down low to Milan Lucic in the trapezoid behind Roberto Luongo's net. Lucic spied Horton at the top of the crease and sent a pass out front. Horton's first bid was stopped by Luongo, but he was able to jam his own rebound home for the equalizer and his 16th goal of the season. Tomas Kaberle picked up a secondary assist on Horton's goal, to record his first point in a Bruins sweater.
Milan Lucic's 27th goal of the season gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead with 4:38 to play in the third period. David Krejci did his best Bobby Orr impression by skating through several Vancouver players and looping around behind the net before sending the puck back out to to Seidenberg, who let a shot go from the high slot. The rebound from Dennis Seidenberg's shot found its way onto the stick of Milan Lucic in front and Lucic chipped the puck in to create a one-goal edge late in the third period.
Patrice Bergeron cemented the win for the Bruins by gliding the puck into the empty net for just inside the blue line with 1:13 left to play.
Notes:
- Tim Thomas made 27 saves in the win.
- Milan Lucic factored into all three goals and finished the game with 3 points (1-2-3). He was +3 on the night.
- This game had a playoff intensity feel to it.
- It was nice to see the Bruin crash the net tonight.
- Uncharacteristically, Patrice Bergeron won just 4 of the 15 draws he took (27%).
- Adam McQuiad blocked a team-high 6 shots.
- Andrew Ference left the game with a lower body injury. The Canucks have a guy named Glass. The Bruins just have a guy made out of glass.
- I know Christian Erhoff jumping between Brad Marchand and Keith Ballard is not technically a third man in, but it is bush league. I think the 5'11" 208 lb Ballard (who cross-checked Marchand in the back) can handle himself against the 5'9" 183 lb Marchand.
- Is it me or are the Vancouver Canucks like the Habs West. They were flopping all over the ice and refused to drop the gloves.
- The Bruins are back at it tomorrow night when they travel to Edmonton to take on the Oilers (8:00 PM ET).
- For more on tonight's game, head over to Nucks Misconduct