Stanley Cup Finals: Canucks' Overtime Win Over Bruins Gives Vancouver 2-0 Lead

Alex Burrows Canucks

First Posted: 06/04/11 11:58 PM ET Updated: 08/04/11 06:12 AM ET

THE CANADIAN PRESS -- VANCOUVER - After listening to some advice from his father, Alex Burrows found a better way to frustrate the Boston Bruins.

The scrappy forward scored his second goal of the game 11 seconds into overtime for a 3-2 victory Saturday night that gave the Vancouver Canucks a 2-0 lead over Boston in the NHL Stanley Cup final. Watch the winning goal here.

"In the Stanley Cup final, those are the goals you want to score,'' Burrows, who also had an assist, said after being mobbed by his teammates.

Burrows was the centre of controversy this week after television replays appeared to show him biting the finger of Boston's Patrice Bergeron in a scrum during Vancouver's 1-0 win in Wednesday's series opener.

He avoided being suspended, but his parents back in Quebec didn't like what was being written and said about their son.

"The negative press I got the last few days, it doesn't affect me at all," said Burrows, who has nine goals in the playoffs and five in five games. "I don't read you guys, I don't listen to you guys a lot.

"It affected my parents. My dad listened to everything. It affected him. He told me 'score some goals. That's what is really going to hurt them.' I listened to his advice tonight and it worked out.''

Burrows' goal was the second fastest in overtime in Stanley Cup final history. The fastest was scored just nine seconds into overtime by Brian Skrudland of the Montreal Canadiens in Game 2 of the 1986 Stanley Cup final at Calgary.

The game was decided when a streaking Burrows took a pretty pass from Daniel Sedin. He faked a shot at goaltender Tim Thomas, then appeared to lose the puck as he swooped behind the Boston net.

Burrows regained possession, managed to fight off a check from six-foot-nine defenseman Zdeno Chara, then scored on a wrap-around as Thomas scrambled to get back into position.

"He likes to challenge,'' Burrows said about Thomas. "If I shoot there, I think he stops it and covers all angles.

"I lost the puck but was lucky enough to be able to wrap it around.''

It was Burrows' second overtime goal of the playoffs. He scored in overtime of Game 7 to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks in the opening round.

Burrows is part of the Canucks' top line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin. People like to talk about the Swedish twin's polish, but Burrows is usually more noted for his grit and grind.

"I don't want to say he's underrated, but he brings a lot to the table,'' said Daniel Sedin, who forced the overtime with his goal at 9:37 of the third.

"He works hard, forechecks, brings puck to us. He he showed today, he can score big goals.''

Centre Ryan Kesler could only shake his head over Burrows' performance.

"His battle level was extra high tonight,'' said Kesler. "I don't even know how he scored, but he did.''

It was a frustrating loss for the Bruins, who again played well enough to win.

Milan Lucic and Mark Recchi, on the power play, scored goals 2:25 apart in the second period to give Boston a 2-1 lead heading into the third.

"I think we lost the game ourselves,'' said David Krejci in a quiet Bruins dressing room. "They played well but we had the game in our hands and we just gave it away.

"We did some good things. The positive thing we can take back home with us is that we lost both games by just one goal."

Bruins coach Claude Julien became agitated when asked if his team would have enjoyed a different outcome if the league had suspended Burrows.

"That has nothing to do with that,'' he snapped. "If we start using that as an excuse, we're a lame team."

The Bruins outshot Vancouver 33-30 and beat Luongo for the first time in the series.

The best-of-seven series returns to Boston for games Monday and Wednesday. The Bruins will need at least one win to force a Game 5 back in Vancouver Friday.

Vancouver won the opening game 1-0 when Raffi Torres scored with just 18.5 seconds left in the third period.

Game 2 was another goaltenders' battle between Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and Thomas. Both are finalists for the Vezina Trophy.

In the first period, a Michael Ryder shot hit Luongo in the face, knocking his mask off. Luongo calmly covered up the puck, then had a chuckle with the linesman as he put his mask back on. In the second he got an arm on a Krejci shot.

Thomas bounced around his net like a rubber ball, challenging shooters and then scrambling back into position. He slid across the crease to stop a wide-open Jannik Hansen in the second period, then got a pad on a Daniel Sedin shot.

It was a warm spring day outside Rogers Arena, but that didn't melt the enthusiasm of a loud, sellout crowd of 18,860.

Veteran Canadian rocker Randy Bachman sang "Taking Care of Business" on the big screen before the game. Former Canuck captain Trevor Linden was in the house, raising a cheer from the fans, and the Green Men parked themselves in their seats beside the opposition penalty box. There was even a wedding in one of the suites.

After weeks of speculation and false starts, centre Manny Malhotra was in the Canucks lineup. It was Malhotra's first game since being hit in the left eye by a puck on March 16, an injury that required several surgeries.

He took his first shift 1:48 into the first period, earning chants of "Manny, Manny'' as he won a faceoff.

"It was a great feeling, the ovation I got for my shift,'' said Malhotra, who played 7:26.

"Right from the warm-up, it was kind of sensory overload. Just the noise, the crowd into it, all the towels waving. I guess I really didn't settle down until after my first shift.''

Defenseman Dan Hamhuis, who was injured in Game 1, did not dress. He was replaced by Andrew Alberts.

Notes: With Hamhuis hurt, the Canucks decided not to dress defenseman Keith Ballard, who earns US$4.2 million a season. … It was Alberts first game since May 3 and only his fourth of the playoffs. …Luongo's shutout in Game 1 was the first in an opening match of a Stanley Cup final since Grant Fuhr stopped 33 shots in a 1984 victory over the New York Islanders. …Teams winning Game 2 of the final have gone on to win the Stanley Cup in 54 of 71 years since the best-of-seven format began in 1939.

Jim Morris, The Canadian Press

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THE CANADIAN PRESS -- VANCOUVER - After listening to some advice from his father, Alex Burrows found a better way to frustrate the Boston Bruins. The scrappy forward scored his second goal of the g...
THE CANADIAN PRESS -- VANCOUVER - After listening to some advice from his father, Alex Burrows found a better way to frustrate the Boston Bruins. The scrappy forward scored his second goal of the g...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
stanschurman
07:08 PM on 06/05/2011
Give your head a shake. I'd hardly call winning in overtime "burying".
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Snerdgronk
co(R)po(R)atoc(R)acy plutoc(R)acy
10:44 PM on 06/05/2011
I think they meant Pavel 'Bure-ing', in reference to the style of the OT goal ... But more probable 'Burrowing', in reference to Burrows 3 point night.

Maybe there should be a new lexicon, for a Burrows Hat Trick ... Some goals, an assist and a bite!

Snerd
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
CJWebber
I think we all love teachers.
02:28 PM on 06/05/2011
Vancouver Buries Boston? Bad headline. It wasn't an easy win.
02:37 PM on 06/05/2011
buries // burrows
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sonoffestus
Got smart & got out!
04:23 PM on 06/05/2011
Agreed!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
bbertaud
Je ne regrette rien, rien de rien
02:11 PM on 06/05/2011
Go Canada!!!
12:37 PM on 06/05/2011
It has been SO exciting...usually I pay attention to the playoffs as long as there's a Canadian team in the game, and once they're all out, I don't care anymore. This year has been completely different...my Canucks jersey has been worn continuously. You GO, boys :-)
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Aleka4
Searching for the purest blue...
12:50 PM on 06/05/2011
Yea I picked a good time to move back to BC! I recall cheering them for the cup when I was just a teenager, going to live games and being crazed about the Canucks. So, this is all like a dream come true. I will bawl like a baby when they win the cup!
11:42 AM on 06/05/2011
Embrace your inner Orca......YEAH BABY!!!!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Erewhon7
Join atheists, our non-prophet organization
11:30 AM on 06/05/2011
Not a huge Canucks fan, but I'll take them over Bruins any day.
10:55 AM on 06/05/2011
As a citizen of Southern Ontario, I have two important questions: 1 ) What IS the Standley Cup. 2) What does it mean?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Democrab
Pretty far so good
09:32 AM on 06/05/2011
Grrrr.
09:04 AM on 06/05/2011
Two sweet wins! The first with seconds to go and the second within seconds.
Go Canucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I need to find a Canucks flag today. Its going to be hard the stores here are empty.
08:45 AM on 06/05/2011
Well played game, but Burrows aka "The Biter" should not have been on the ice.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
rickthaluddite
What noisy cats are we
08:49 AM on 06/05/2011
Look at me, I'm a crybaby :'-)
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
frameofmind
12:16 PM on 06/05/2011
LMAO!!!!!
10:14 AM on 06/05/2011
Don't make the Boston fans look like crybabies. Were you whining when Chara wasn't suspended for nearly decapitating Pacioretty or when Horton wasn't suspended for spraying a fan with water?
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Snerdgronk
co(R)po(R)atoc(R)acy plutoc(R)acy
03:32 PM on 06/05/2011
Wow! You really 'Ptounced' on that whinging. Kinda made the point 'E-pee-Q' could be a bit more 'Chara-ta-bull'...

Snerd
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
headly67
Well raise my rent
08:21 AM on 06/05/2011
Tim Thomas what were you thinking?

Go Nucks
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SiameseTrainer
...we are Sia..mese if you don't please..
12:37 PM on 06/05/2011
He was busy being run over by that monstro Chara.
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Snerdgronk
co(R)po(R)atoc(R)acy plutoc(R)acy
05:02 AM on 06/05/2011
Swimmin' Timmy was in another time zone when Burrows finished his OT wrap-around. I mean some fans were closer to the action than Tim ... This must be a little embarrassing for all them Luongo 'doubting thomases', as it were, like CBC, TSN, etc.

Snerd
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RIPRNC
On the first day, man created god.
04:59 AM on 06/05/2011
I can tell you that there are a lot of happy people in Seattle.... GO CANUCKS!!!
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Snerdgronk
co(R)po(R)atoc(R)acy plutoc(R)acy
05:03 AM on 06/05/2011
Yes ... we'll be the 'raining' west coast champs!

Snerd
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Snerdgronk
co(R)po(R)atoc(R)acy plutoc(R)acy
05:36 AM on 06/05/2011
Seattle and Vancouver ... Hockey's 'raining' champs, eh!?

Snerd
02:21 AM on 06/05/2011
The Canucks pretty much have to win this thing. They were the strongest, deepest, and most successful team of the regular season, and so it is only fitting that they win.

More importantly, Canadians collectively would fall into a deep, dark funk if they were to blow it at this stage. Winning the Cup at this point is at least as important as when Canada stuffed it to the USA during the Winter Olympics gold medal game last year.

This is Canada's game, and it is high time that the Cup was brought back to Canada.
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photo
03:36 AM on 06/05/2011
In the NHL I don't care who wins, most of the time, as all teams have about 50% or more Canadian players. Take the Penguins (cause I know them well) 29 players this year, a lot of injuries. 17 Canadians/29 Players.

I have a Bruins friend, a couple Leafs fans and so, so many Canadiens fans for friends. Canadian teams get a pass in my books as I hope they win.

Honestly, I just like the Pens first as they are my team since the mid-80's, then the Leafs as they are my surragate city. (Originally from Hamilton, hope we get a team eventually) Then far away from the main 2, Bruins.

This series is hard on me. I want them both to win. If either loses though I'll be fine. I wouldn't fall into a deep, dark funk. That only happens when Canada loses the Olympics or when Detroit wins the cup.

Sorry I got rambly there.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
happylonersarah
Of all the Planets, WHY was I born on this one?
10:23 AM on 06/05/2011
Detroit will win next year, get ready for the deep dark funk......
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
stopgeorge
Paper Ballots WORK. Unverifiable e-voting doesn't
02:20 AM on 06/05/2011
Here's an interesting statistic you may not know...

Every Canadian city that has hosted the Olympics has won the Stanley Cup the following year.

1977 - Montreal
1989 - Calgary
2011 - Vancouver (?)

Go Canucks! By the way -- I was downtown tonight and the party is almost near the same level as it was during the Olympics last year. And this is only game 2. What an amazing place to live these last 2 years!!!
04:44 AM on 06/05/2011
Not to mention Lake Placid NY in 1932. NY Rangers win in 1933.

Also Lake Placid hosted again in 1980. NY Islanders won that year and the next.

The other two US winter Olympics, Squaw Valley and Salt Lake City, had no NHL team in the state at the time.
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agness nutter
What fresh hell is this?
01:46 PM on 06/05/2011
To be fair, it's always been an amazing place to live, even back in the days of the Original Six.