Bruins Vs. Canucks, Game 4: Tim Thomas Blanks Vancouver As Boston Evens Series

Of course they would.

I’ve written before about how I’m not a big believer in game-to-game momentum. I am, however, a believer in habits and trends. One of Vancouver’s most glaring trends over the past two games is the inability to play stable, controlled hockey after the Bruins score a goal. A seeming lack of composure is leading to bad turnovers, screened shots, and poor positioning -- and that all stems from letting bad habits creep in.

For those unaware of the details, after each win, the Game Jacket is presented to the Bruins’ player of the game, as selected by the current holder of the jacket. After their Game 3 win, in which Horton was taken out, the team hung the jacket in Horton’s locker. After Game 4, he was able to be in the locker room with his teammates to celebrate the win.

It’s great news and while we know Horton won’t be back this season, it’s still good to see that he’s able to walk around, deal with the noise and the lights in the locker room and the arena and all of that stuff. A sports arena in Boston during the Finals isn’t the best place to treat what the doctors called a severe concussion, after all.

In a 4-0 hockey game, the biggest highlights are usually goals -- a bad turnover creates a nifty chance, a booming slap shot gets redirected in front of the net, clever power play passing sets up a beautiful goal, etc.

While there were certainly plenty of offensive highlights in the Boston Bruins’ 4-0 Stanley Cup Finals Game 4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, one of the biggest ones came on a Boston power play, but not when the Black and Gold were on the attack.

And so, he let one such Canuck, Alex Burrows, know how he felt.

Thomas explained his frustrations in the post-game presser:

The Bruins have been playing very well in front of the home crowd and Milan Lucic has scored the Bruins fourth goal of the night on a very, very soft goal by Roberto Luongo. Lucic tried passing the puck across the crease and the puck deflected off Rich Peverley for his second goal of the night.

That goal was the curtain call for Roberto Luongo as he was pulled in favor of backup goaltender Cory Schneider. Luongo finished the game with four goals against on 20 total shots for a save percentage of .750. The Canucks have had a dismal game in Game 4 and have been dismal in both games in Boston, being outscored 12-1 at the TD Garden.

Neither team has taken advantage of the power play, the Canucks missing on all three of their chance, the Bruins on their one.

This goal was the ninth goal the Bruins have scored in the second period on the Canucks in this series. As a comparison, the Canucks only have five total goals scored thus far in the series. This was Marchand’s eighth goal of the playoffs and the second straight game that he has recorded a goal in.

Ryder missed on a similar opportunity in the first period as he shot from roughly the same spot on the ice and hit the crossbar instead of getting the goal. Ryder has seven goals in the playoffs and this would be his second goal of the series.

The Canucks have managed seven shots on goal while the Bruins only have one shot on goal through the first ten minutes of the second period. The Bruins defense are swarming the Canucks well through this game and for someone watching this game, it wouldn’t appear that the Canucks are grossly outshooting the Bruins but that is the case thus far in the game.

The Stanley Cup Finals are ongoing, as the Vancouver Canucks battle the Boston Bruins. Stick with this StoryStream for full coverage of Game 4. For coverage on the Finals, stick with our Stanley Cup Finals hub, our Canucks blog, Nucks Misconduct, and our Bruins blog, Stanley Cup of Chowder.

The team scoring first has won each of the three games in this series and the Bruins are 9-1 in these playoffs after they have scored first. The Bruins haven’t had many shots on goal as they have directed four shots toward Luongo while the Canucks have been able to get five shots on Thomas.

Still looking for where and when this game will be played, as well as other bits of information? We have you covered.

Canucks lead series, 2-1

The Boston Bruins sent a strong message to the Vancouver Canucks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals. They are back in the series, here to stay and ready to challenge for the Cup. After two games, we weren’t quite sure if that was the case. Now, we know.

So as we enter Game 4 on Wednesday night, it’s likely the most important game of the series for both teams (until, of course, the next game). For the Bruins, it’s a chance to push the series to an even playing field yet again, while for the Canucks, it’s an opportunity to erase everything that happened in Game 3’s devastating loss.