Bruins alive and kicking

http://bostonherald.com/sports/ ^

[outpostinmass2]

You might have been hard-pressed to find a hockey expert who thought the Bruins [team stats] were a more skilled team than Vancouver before these Stanley Cup finals began. But hockey is also a game of emotion and, boy, did the Canucks ever stir those emotions in the B’s during Game 3 last night at the Garden.

After Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome knocked Nathan Horton out of the game with a blatant, scary shot to the head early in the first period, a shaken B’s team finally got off the mat and buried the Canucks with a second period full of figurative haymakers before landing a couple of literal ones in the third.

The B’s won, 8-1, and climbed back to within a game of the Canucks, who have a 2-1 series lead. Mark Recchi scored two goals, Michael Ryder posted 1-2-3 totals, and five other Bruins had multiple-point nights.

Tim Thomas, meanwhile, returned to his excellent form to get the win, making 40 stops, many spectacular. And in a must-win situation, the B’s left no doubt.

[outpostinmass2]

Good action last night for those who missed it.

I hope Nathon Horton comes back from that hit. He is a great player and a great person.

[canuck_conservative]

Burrows bites Bergeron’s finger in Game 1, gets no penalty or suspension, and then Vancouver’s Bieksa has the nerve to say Peverly has some kind of karma coming to HIM?

What an idiot.

(BTW, Games 1 & 2 were REALLY close - Canucks have nothing to brag about)

[massgopguy]

Recci sticking his glove in Burrow’s face and saying bite it was the play of the game.

[nhwingut]

Marchand’s shorthanded goal was a thing of beauty; one for the ages. And Thomas cross checking Sedin in the crease was my second fav moment of the game.

The hit on Horton was a turning point IMO. I think the Canucks woke up a sleeping bear.

[Wurlitzer]

As one who played hockey from high school until I was 35 I find the current game to be a cross between WWE, cage fighting, faining injuries from soccer, a smidgen of roller derby and when time permits a little hockey.

Last nights game had elements from all the aforementioned sports. Entertaining yes but I would prefer to see a higher percentage of hockey.

Still some rather great saves by the goaltenders. Never seen a great fight in hockey as anyone who as ever played the game and tried to throw a good punch will tell you, it sucks to be on skates and ice when fighting.