Third Period, 19:29, Bruins 8-1: With Raffi Torres in the box for charging, the Bruins strike on the power play as Michael Ryder scores from the left slot.
Third Period, 18:06, Bruins 7-1: The Bruins add yet another goal as Chris Kelly joins in on the fun.
Paille took the puck out of the corner to the front of the net and Kelly banged it home at the top of the crease.
Third Period, 17:39, Bruins 6-1: The Bruins get that goal back as Mark Recchi scores his second of the night.
Bergeron and Marchand came down on a 2 on 1, but Marchand couldn’t get off the shot after taking the pass. He was able to collect the puck again in the corner and fed it out front to Recchi for the goal.
Third Period, 13:53, Bruins 5-1: The Canucks finally get one past Thomas on their 39th shot of the night, as Jannik Hansen scores on a one-timer at the left post on a crossing pass by Raffi Torres.
Third Period, 11:38, Bruins 5-0: The Bruins add another goal, as Daniel Paille gets on the board with a drive down the middle for Boston’s second shorthanded goal of the night.
Third Period, 11:16, Bruins 4-0: Thing finally break out as Milan Lucic gets involved with Burrows behind the Boston net. The linesmen don’t let that one get going, but away from the main scrum Dennis Seidenberg and Ryan Kesler drop the gloves for a brief scrap, with Kesler throwing the only real punches, but not until after they both were on the ice.
Third Period, 10:00, Bruins 4-0: Thomas robs Higgins again, this time on a clean breakaway as he gets in behind the Bruins defense, but can’t get the puck behind Thomas.
Third Period, 9:11, Bruins 4-0: The Canucks finally get a penalty as Ryan Kesler is called for boarding. It will be 4 on 4 for 47 seconds before the Bruins go on a power play.
Third Period, 7:58, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins are shorthanded again, this time with Thornton picking up a roughing minor and misconduct on a brutal reputation call from the referees. Just before that scrum, Thomas robbed Chris Higgins after a Bruins giveaway in front.
Third Period, 6:59, Bruins 4-0: Things are getting nasty, as Tim Thomas decks Henrik Sedin when he made the mistake of coming into the crease, then Andrew Ference levels Daniel Sedin. They get into it as a scrum ensues and both go off with matching 10-minute misconducts.
Third Period, 4:50, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins kill that penalty off as well.
Zdeno Chara and Alex Burrows each got two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct for some jawing off a faceoff during that penalty kill.
Third Period, 2:50, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins will have another penalty to kill as Michael Ryder is sent off for roughing after a high hit on Andrew Alberts.
Third Period, 1:36, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins kill off the rest of Boychuk’s penalty, a penalty kill punctuated by a huge hit by Dennis Seidenberg on Daniel Sedin.
Third Period, 0:00, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins are 20 minutes away from their first win in this Stanley Cup Final, but even with a four-goal lead they have to play a strong final frame to close this one out against a dangerous Vancouver team that can strike fast.
The Canucks will start the period with 1:36 left on their power play from Johnny Boychuk’s high-sticking double minor.
End Second Period, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins put together arguably their best period of the postseason when they needed it most, scoring four goals on 14 shots to take a 4-0 lead into the third period of this one.
Second Period, 17:36, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins will face another shorthanded situation, this time for four minutes as Johnny Boychuk gets a high-sticking double minor for getting his stick up on Victor Oreskovich.
Second Period, 15:47, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins add another, this time off the stick of David Krejci.
Michael Ryder fired in the initial shot from the high slot. Luongo made the save, but couldn’t stop Krejci’s follow up from the left circle.
Second Period, 12:30, Bruins 3-0: The Bruins kill off the rest of the penalty and are back at even strength.
Second Period, 11:30, Bruins 3-0: The Bruins do strike shorthanded this time, as Brad Marchand scores a beautiful goal on a great individual effort.
Marchand sent an indirect pass to himself off the boards in front of the benches, beat the defender to the puck, cut across the front of the net and lifted the puck over Luongo from the left side.
Second Period, 10:30, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins are shorthanded again as Milan Lucic is now in the box for two minutes for slashing.
Second Period, 9:35, Bruins 2-0: Thomas with another big save, stoning Manny Malhotra after he broke in alone following a turnover at the blue line.
Second Period, 8:22, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins kill off that penalty, and actually threaten several times shorthanded.
Also, the scoring on the second Bruins goal has been changed to Mark Recchi, as his pass deflected in without reaching Peverley.
Second Period, 6:22, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins have a huge penalty to kill off now as Ference is sent off for tripping.
Second Period, 4:22, Bruins 2-0: Thornton’s hustle pays off as the Bruins finally cash in on a power play, with Rich Peverley scoring in front.
Peverley one-timed a feed in the left slot from Mark Recchi in the right circle.
Second Period, 2:42, Bruins 1-0: Some patented Shawn Thornton hustle pays off as he drives hard to the net and draws a hooking call on Jeff Tambellini, giving the Bruins a power-play chance.
Second Period, 0:11, Bruins 1-0: This time 11 seconds is good for the Bruins, who strike that quickly into the second period for the game’s first goal.
David Krejci drove down the right side after Alex Edler broke his stick for a giveaway. Krejci’s shot went wide, but Peverley gained control of the long rebound and dished it to Andrew Ference for a blast from the left point as Krejci supplied the screen in front.
Second Period, 0:00, 0-0: The middle frame is under way here at the Garden, where both teams are still searching for the crucial first goal of this one.
Rich Peverley is starting this period on the top line in Nathan Horton’s spot.
End First Period, 0-0: The first 20 minutes are in the books, and there has been no scoring, but plenty of action.
Things have been nasty throughout, but the worst was Aaron Rome’s blindside cheap shot on Nathan Horton that has sent the Bruins winger to the hospital.
First Period, 18:57, 0-0: Tim Thomas comes up with two huge saves as Mason Raymond has a pair of chances in front of the net.
First Period, 16:15, 0-0: Andrew Ference delivers a big hit on Chris Higgins behind the Bruins net to draw a huge cheer from the Garden crowd.
First Period, 14:42, 0-0: The Bruins have just announced that Nathan Horton has been transported to Mass General Hospital and that he is moving all extremities.
Michael Ryder has moved into Horton’s spot on the top line.
First Period, 13:41, 0-0: The Bruins with a strong penalty kill there as the sides are now back at even strength.
First Period, 11:41, 0-0: The Bruins will now be shorthanded as Adam McQuaid is sent off for delay of game for clearing the puck over the glass.
First Period, 10:07, 0-0: Lots of chances and close calls for the Bruins, but they come up empty on their five-minute power play.
First Period, 7:19, 0-0: Mark Recchi gets decked in front after a whistle, then gets up to give Maxim a little taste of his own medicine by sticking his finger directly in the Canucks agitator’s face.
First Period, 5:07, 0-0: Scary sight here as Nathan Horton appears seriously hurt on a blindside hit to the head by Aaron Rome at the Vancouver blue line. Horton remains down on the ice with a stretcher out, while Rome has been escorted off the ice.
Rome hit Horton with a shoulder directly to the head well after Horton released the pass to Milan Lucic. Should definitely be a suspension for that dirty hit, but the bigger concern now is for Horton’s health.
Rome has been given a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct for the hit.
First Period, 3:16, 0-0: Shawn Thornton out for first shift and immediately buries Alex Burrows with a hit. Huge ovation for Thornton when shown on jumbotron after whistle.Â
First Period, 0:31, 0-0: The Bruins nearly sneak one in early as Bergeron flips a shot in from the slot with Recchi camped at the left post, but Luongo keeps it out. Good first shift for Boston.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: Stanley Cup Final action is back on Boston ice, as Game 3 is under way at the Garden with the Bruins looking to get back in this series after losing the first two games in Vancouver.
8:05 p.m.: The Bruins have definitely ramped up their pre-game presentation, with an impressive on-ice video display.
Adding to the moment is Cam Neely, celebrating both his birthday and the 25th anniversary of his trade to Boston, serving as the honorary Fan Banner Captain, starting the Bruins flag around the stands.
8 p.m.: The Bruins will open this one with their customary line of Patrice Bergeron flanked by Brad Marchand and Mark Recchi. Andrew Ference and Johnny Boychuk get the start on defense, with Tim Thomas in goal.
The Canucks counter with Manny Malhotra, Ryan Kesler and Chris Higgins up front, Sami Salo and Alex Edler on the blue line and Roberto Luongo in net.
7:55 p.m.: The Bruins have made the move. Shawn Thornton is listed on the lineup sheet. Tyler Seguin joins Shane Hnidy, Steven Kampfer and the Black Aces as a scratch.
The Canucks have scratched Dan Hamhuis, Keith Ballard, Chris Tanev, Tanner Glass, Alexandre Bolduc and Aaron Vopatti. They’ll have the same lineup as Game 2.
7:45 p.m.: The Bruins didn’t make anything clear in the warm-up as to their Game 3 lineup, as they varied their line combinations during the drills.
The first time through saw Tyler Seguin in his usual spot on the third line with Chris Kelly and Michael Ryder, while Rich Peverley skated on the fourth line with Daniel Paille and Gregory Campbell. The second time through, Shawn Thornton skated with Paille and Campbell, so we’ll have to wait until the lineups are posted for final word on the last scratch.
Defensemen Shane Hnidy and Steven Kampfer took warm-ups as usual, but did not participate in the line drills.
Here are how the line combinations looked from warm-ups:
Lucic-Krejci-Horton
Marchand-Bergeron-Recchi
Ryder-Kelly-Seguin/Peverley
Paille-Campbell-Peverley/Thornton
Defense pairs:
Chara-Seidenberg
Ference-Boychuk
Kaberle-McQuaid
7:30 p.m.: The teams have taken the ice for the warm-up, with Tim Thomas and Roberto Luongo leading the clubs onto the ice as usual.
That’s the goalie matchup once again for Game 3.
6 p.m.: In just over two hours, Boston will host its first Stanley Cup Final game in more than 21 years.
The Bruins need for it to be a win, as they come in trailing 2-0 in the series after a pair of one-goal losses in Vancouver.
Claude Julien wasn’t revealing anything about his lineup after the morning skate, but it’s possible Shawn Thornton could return to action after sitting out the past seven games. That decision won’t be made until after the pre-game warm-up.
The Canucks aren’t expected to make any changes, as Dan Hamhuis did not participate in the morning skate and is likely to miss his second straight game after suffering an undisclosed injury in Game 1.
8 a.m: After two demoralizing losses in Vancouver to open the Stanley Cup Final, the Bruins have to hope that a return home will be the key to getting back in the series.
The Bruins face a daunting task being down 2-0 to the Canucks, but they have been right there with Vancouver in both games. They lost Game 1 by a 1-0 count when Raffi Torres scored with just 18.5 seconds left, then fell 3-2 in Game 2 when Alexandre Burrows scored 11 seconds into overtime.
Costly breakdowns and miscues contributed to both of those goals. That adds to the frustration as the Bruins feel like they beat themselves, but it also buoys their confidence because they know they have yet to play close to their best game and still nearly came away with the win in both games.
“In the last two games here, we’ve lost by one goal and still I don’t think we’ve played the way we can,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said after Game 2. “We’re a better team than we’ve shown. We’ve got to go back home and start showing that and get ourselves back in this series.”
The Bruins aren’t shying away from the responsibility for those defeats, and they’re determined to clean up their game and come out with a much better effort before the home folks as the series shifts back to Boston for Game 3 on Monday.
“They were both one-goal games, so it’s frustrating because you were right there,” Bruins goalie Tim Thomas said. “Having said that, we’re the ones that made the mistakes that led to the losses. That’s just the way it is. We have to accept that and get ready to move on to Game 3.”
The Bruins are also taking some confidence out of the fact that they have overcome a 2-0 series deficit once already this postseason. They began the playoffs by losing two straight to Montreal, and both of those losses were at home. With their extensive talent and depth, the Canucks pose a much greater challenge than the Canadiens, but the Bruins will have the home-ice advantage in the next two games as they try to get back in this series.
When asked how the Bruins have been able to remain upbeat and confident after two such devastating defeats to start the series, Julien pointed to that Montreal series.
“Because we’ve seen it happen in front of our own eyes,” Julien said. “We were down 2-0, came back and won the series. I don’t think there’s any reason here to not be positive. You don’t get this far and all of a sudden hang your head. They had home-ice advantage, won their first two home games. We got to go back home and do the same. One game at a time, as you hear always. We win the first game, it builds up momentum, and you get yourself back in the series. It’s not the end of the world here. We lost the game, but we’re a better team than that, and we’re a team that’s bounced back all through the season. I don’t see an issue here.”
The puck drops at 8 p.m., so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action from the Garden.
