Alex Burrows father had some sound advice for his son prior to Game 2: score a big goal and people will stop talking the controversies of Game 1.
Burrows clearly was listening. Just 11 seconds into sudden death overtime Burrows scored a dramatic wrap-around goal to win the game out-hustling giant defenseman Zdeno Chara in the process. It was the second goal of the game for Burrows, and he drew an assist on the only other Canuck goal. Not a bad game for a player who quite possibly could have been suspended for this game after an alleged Game 1 biting incident.
I’ve got to admit, even the most apprehensive Canucks fan (that’s me!) is feeling pretty good about their chances right now. Still, there’s lots of time left in the series:
Here’s some more Pucks on the ‘Net:
- Burrows’ goal is not an NHL record for fastest overtime goal. Montreal’s Brian Skrudland scored nine seconds in to Game 2 of the 1986 Stanley Cup Final.
- Daniel Sedin made a beautiful chip to spring Burrows. Daniel has been upstaged by his brother Henrik somewhat in these playoffs. In Game 2, Daniel scored the game-tying goal and set up the winner. Henrik was held pointless, and continued to struggle in the face-off circle. He’s now a combined 12-26 in the series.
- Apparently it was the first time either Sedin had scored a point against the Boston Bruins since Dec. 12, 2005! Mind you, these two teams hardly ever play each other.
- Great story with Manny Malhotra’s return from a scary eye injury. He was 6-1 in face-offs, taking 13 shifts with 7:26 time on ice. Coach Alain Vigneault must have enjoyed having a solid 4th line to trust. I thought both Jeff Tambellini and Victor Oreskevich were skating very well early in the game. But Malhotra is the catalyst.
- Much was made of inserting Andrew Alberts into the lineup. For the most part big Alberts was not noticeable, which is a good thing given his role. But I thought Aaron Rome struggled in his increased role.
- The Bruins really are unfortunate not have won at least one game in Vancouver. They played a very good road game in game 1, and were only a bounce away from stealing a victory. In game 2 I felt they really responded in the final 40 minutes, following a weak opening frame. The Bruins looked very good at times in game 2. The key for them is to play the game at their pace, and to keep pressuring the puck.
- I always wonder how losing in sudden and dramatic fashion – 19 seconds left in Game 1, just 11 seconds into OT in Game 2- can effect a team psychologically.
- The Bruins will be pleased to know that this was the last Saturday game of the season. In 27 Saturday contests this season, the Bruins won just nine.
- In their history the Bruins are 1-26 when trailing a series 0-2. There only successful comeback? Earlier this spring against Montreal.
- In NHL history, teams leading the Stanley Cup Final 2-0 go on to win the series 91.3 per cent of the time. However the likelihood of that leading team also taking game 3 falls to just 54 per cent.
