Bruins canuck all over Vancouver

As each game ticks off the schedule, the Boston Bruins find themselves in a race towards the playoffs. Meanwhile, their opponent for the night's matchup was in even more of a dogfight, scrapping for the last seed in the Campbell Conference. Robbie Ftorek had the team on full alert, knowing this would be a slobberknocker of a matchup.

The Bruins went right after the Canucks, taking eighteen shots in the first period - more than doubling the Canucks attempts. Alas, the barrage of shots were unable to get by Alexander Auld, as he all were deflected harmlessly. Additionally, the Bruins were unable to capitalize on two different one-man advantages after a highsticking and roughing call on the Canucks.

In the second period, the Bruins continued to crash the nets, taking twelve shots on net, compared to eleven for the Canucks. This time, though, the Bruins broke through, as Lars Jonnson was fed by Richard Jackman for his ninth goal of the year at 08:39 to put the Bruins up 1-0.

As the frustration grew, the Canucks got sloppier than Tom at a pie-eating contest. Ruslan Salei was whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at 15:48, and less than two minutes later, Scott Walker was boxed up for another elbowing penalty, this time earning a misconduct as well.

Fourteen seconds into the five-on-three. Brett Hedican spotted the puck to Lee Goren as he swept around the farside of the rink. Hearing the crowd count down the return of Salei, he fired a scorching shot that somehow slipped past Auld with only seven seconds left in two man advantage. The Bruins retreated to the lockerroom with a 2-0 advantage and momentum on their side.

The team came out spirited, sensing another victory in the works. The Canucks won the opening faceoff, but Tomas Kopecky stepped in front of their centering pass as the Canucks went on the offensive. Picking it up at the center line, Kopecky skated in untouched, deked left, then beat Auld topside off the upper crossbar for the 3-0 lead.

As the Bruins celebrated, they relaxed more than necessary, allowing Mattias Norstrom to get past the defense and leave Andrew Raycroft tangled in his own way, making the score 3-1. The Bruins tightened down the defense in prevent mode, sewing up the victory in front of 16,752. Andrew Raycroft picked up the win as he improved to 24-16-3 on the season. Lars Jonnson and Lee Goren completed the Bruin Game Star Sweep, then began with their teammates to prepare for the Edmonton Oilers' visit to town the next night.