

If a goon puts his fingers in your mouth, that is trespassing and the UN authorizes you to use "any necessary means" to expel the intruder.

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward))

It’s with a heavy-heart that I write this game review. Last night sucked, all around. If you’re a Bruins fan, the 7 goal victory probably provides some consolation, but my guess is you’d trade 6 of those goals for a healthy Horton going forward. The writers at Canucksarmy wish Horton a speedy, full recovery and our thoughts are with him, his family and his teammates this afternoon. We’ve gone on record many times criticizing the NHLs, and the NHLPAs abject failure to protect their players from head-injuries – so despite Rome’s harsh punishment, we applaud the league for having the stones to do the right thing in this instance.

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But let’s get this clear – a shoulder hit to the head is not technically illegal under the current rules, and Rome’s suspension is without precedent in the NHL this season. I personally hope that the league goes further this summer to outlaw all types of head-shots, they’re too dangerous and I hate scenes like the one we saw last night. They make it very difficult to be a hockey fan.

But back to the game – an abject embarrassment. I don’t like that Vigneault left Luongo in net for the third, when it was clear that his teammates were doing nothing to prevent a blowout. Even if Luu asks to stay in, there’s no reason to hang your star goalie out to dry like that (especially when they have a history of fragility). I didn’t like the Bruins using the finger taunt twice on both Burrows and Lapierre – even if they both deserved it – because I don’t like stealing jokes (Lapierre’s joke was funnier, but I’m obviously biased). I hated Torres launching an elbow that just missed right at the end of the third. It sucked to see the Bruins score two short-handed goals, and I never like to see Kesler get as out-played as he was last night.

The only silver-lining, as I see it, is that Canucks fans (or at least the ones I associate myself with) are embarrassed today, but they’re not panicked. There is a different feel than there was around the team following the losses in games 4+5 to Chicago. There is a steady belief that whatever faces this particular Canucks team, they will at least figure it out and compete to the end. Could the Bruins win three of the next four and steal the dream away? Absolutely. But are you feeling worried, as a Canucks fan, today? I’m not. I’m just upset by some of the dirty play they brought to the rink last night. It can be very difficult to be a Canucks fan on occasion.

Three Big Stats:

1. Zero – bites for Burrows. Some hilarity from a New England broadcast of the game.

2. One – hit for Tim Thomas. Straight up awesome.

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3. Two – taunts from Boston. Boston’s finger taunts were unbecoming, but richly deserved by a Vancouver team that crosses the line on occasion.

And a partridge in a pair tree (of awfulness)!

Game 4 goes on Wednesday night from Boston. Lets hope that, unlike last night, the Canucks give us something to cheer about.





