NHL: Bruins Batter Luongo to Force Game 7 in Vancouver

Another Stanley Cup Finals game in Boston, another shellacking for the Vancouver Canucks. With the series now tied at 3-3, Al Dannity asks what has caused Vancouver’s troubles on the road?

Inside Luongo’s head
The Bruins had a clear game plan for this match-up. Get after Roberto Luongo early and keep at it. After firing in 12 goals against the Canucks goaltender in two previous outings in Boston, the Bruins decided that more of the same would be the best way to force a Game 7. The result was a 4 minute and 14 second flurry of fury. Brad Marchand began the rout with a well-taken shot and Bruins followed up with three more to effectively finish the game inside of 10 minutes. Luongo never came back from that first Marchand goal. The relentless attack of the Bruins ruined the Canucks’ goaltender and he was pulled as the rout went out of control.

Confidence is infectious
There’s no doubt that home ice has played a huge role in this series and we saw it clearly last night. The Bruins didn’t look like a team on the verge of elimination at the start of this match-up. The Boston crowd played a big role in doing that. This wasn’t an arena with a sense of desperation. The noise was that of a fanbase confident in their team, one that believed not just that the Bruins would tie up the series but that it was inevitable. These fans have seen Boston get into unfavorable positions before and fight back. This air of belief spread into the players and they delivered big at home on Monday night.

Crucial comeback
Lost in the euphoria of the Bruins’ victory was the important role the Canucks’ apparently futile comeback could yet play in this series. For much of this game Vancouver were frustrated by Tim Thomas but they eventually got a breakthrough when Henrik Sedin scored early in the third period. A subsequent goal from Maxim Lapierre gave more of a boost to the Canucks. This win gives them reason to believe that they can trouble Thomas in Game 7. They have one more shot at Thomas, at home in Vancouver. They won’t have the crowd against them this time. The confidence gained from this final period comeback might yet swing the series.