Everyone expected the Boston Bruins to storm out of the gates with plenty of energy and fight for game 3 in Boston, no one expected the Bruins to rout the Canucks 8-1.
It all started with a late hit from Canuck blue-liner Aaron Rome that sent Nathan Horton, the Bruins best offensive player to the hospital in a stretcher. Rome received a game mis-conduct and loss of their leading scorer seemed to spark the Bruins to play with an intensity they had lacked in the previous two games. The two teams finished the first period in a scoreless tie.
Eleven seconds into the second period the wheel came off for Vancouver. In a blink of an eye Boston scored two goals. In another blink they scored two more, including a beauty short-handed goal by Marchand.
The third period was much of the same. Luongo stayed in net for four more goals in the third, but the highlight of night was when Tim Thomas body checked H. Sedin at the goal mouth. Despite the Bruins dominance, Thomas still had to stop 40 shots, and he did so in his typical unorthodox but highly effective, style.
Game three not only pulled Boston back into the series, but it may prove to be the turning point in this Stanley Cup Finals. Aaron Rome has been suspended four games by the NHL for his late hit on Nathan Horton, so he’ll miss the remainder of the playoffs. The Canucks are already short-handed on the blue-line without Dan Hamhuis, who Rome was filling in for. This suspension could give the Bruins the edge they lacked in the series and put an extra charge into their forecheck.
However, the Bruins did lose their leading scorer, and arguably their best offensive player, someone will need to step up for the Bruins to fill that void, and it might have to be rookie Tyler Seguin.
The party and parade plans are on hold for now in Vancouver after that 8-1 drubbing and the riot police are probably being briefed.
