Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk was a one-man wrecking crew Wednesday night, throwing his body around as the Bruins easily dispatched the Vancouver Canucks 3-1.
Boychuk’s biggest hit of the night came just before the end of the second period, when he sent Canucks winger David Booth flying with a crushing blow along the side boards.
Boychuk’s influence wasn’t limited to the physical side of the game, though. Just a few minutes before his hit on Booth, the blue liner fed Bruins fourth-liner Daniel Paille with a perfect three-line pass, which Paille turned into a breakaway goal.
Boychuk and the rest of the Bruins’ D-corps will face a tall task over the next two games, as the team will be without top defenseman Zdeno Chara. Chara was allowed to depart early to Sochi, where he will carry Slovakia’s Olympic flag at Friday’s opening ceremony.
Check out both of Boychuk’s highlights in the video below.
