Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins

Bo-Van Musings and In-Game Scribbles Le Coupe Stanley

My English is as good as yours, I just write these in a stream-of-consciousness mode that I insist excuses me from small things like rules of grammar or general etiquette. Let’s call it conversational English, hopped up on beans. You know what kind of beans (no, Carl Mellesmoen, not the magic ones).

Boston Bruins (46-25-11)
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Vancouver Canucks (54-19-9)

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Stanley Cup Finals
Game One (score posted following scribbles)
Series tied 0-0

Missed it? Musings capture the game in writing. A written transcript typed during the game, posted and edited about thirty minutes afterward. (Usually) based on the RDS French telecast of the Montreal Canadiens game, Musings take about 20 minutes to read. More detailed than an article, fresher than a looping highlight and good with morning coffee. Or late-night chocolate. A unique way to re-experience the game.

click here to expand post (it looks prettier)

Somebody is going to regret not touching the conference trophy.  Every year, a team that refuses to touch it loses the Stanley Cup.  Check it.

It’s Boston, it’s Vancouver.  The Canucks and peut-etre your Bruins.  Are they yours?  Are they mine?  We shall see.

Hard as it is to ignore the more vigorous members of the Vancouver hockey media and fan base, I will do so.  I might last more than ten minutes into the first period.  Fact is, I like the way, in general, the Canucks conduct themselves on ice.  There are exceptions.  Of course.

As for the Bs, there is much to say about a team that faced and won three game sevens en route to as unexpected a Finals appearance as any since the lockout.

Lots of little news bits today.  Colin Campbell resigned as chief disciplinarian of the NHL to be replaced by Brendan Shanahan.  It’s humourous stuff, really.  Especially for those who care about the game; you can laugh or you can cry.  It’s easier to laugh.  I’ll ask around.

Hey, I’m just here for the poutine.

As for those Jets.  They’re also yours.  But for how long?  How many second chances does each NHL city get?  Atlanta has two strikes with the Flame-out and the Thrashing.  Winnipeg is up for a second chance and my Montreal affiliates tell me to look for Kansas City as a next move for the ever-expanding, uh contracting, NHL.

Kansas City Scouts, who moved operations to Colorado to form the Rockies (1976) and then to New Jersey (1982), was the first incarnation.  They remain in New Jersey as the Devils.

Mario Tremblay tells us that Kevin Bieksa, the oft-targeted, oft-scapegoated Vancouver turnover machine has become a much more complete player since his days with Tremblay in Minnesota.  Bieksa’s undeserved series-winning goal in game five of the West conference playoffs will remain a point of irritation for his detractors.

Hal Gill, awarded a new one-year 2.5 million contract was asked whether he is cheering for Vancouver in the final.  Gill, a Boston native, said yes.  But then, citing his Boston roots, hedged.  Then remembering that he dislikes the Bruins and similarly, the Canucks, asked whether Montreal could somehow be inserted in the final.  Appreciative reporters clicked and chuckled.

Gill stated that he didn’t get the two years he was looking for but that he is happy to be in Montreal and that his family likes it there and are comfortable.  Gill’s signing means a lot for the team on many levels.

Yes, I have evolved in my thinking on Gill.

Does the narrative permit for this?

God, I’m craving French fries.  Are they still called Freedom Fries?  Never mind.

Pierre and Benoit are on the job.  Some Nathan Horton highlights and several goals against Montreal are shown.  Boston goals.

The Bruin in me has never let me hate the Black and Gold.  And despite some very high-profile, um, black moments from Boston this season, my care for this original six icon remains.

But the knucklehead list has grown.

I know this distinguishes me from some of the Canadiens partisans out there.  But remember … I despise the Fliers.  For now.

Really, as I was sharing earlier with a Vancouver affiliate, it depends on who’s in the building.  On who sports the cloth.  The 1979-80, 84-85 and 86-87 editions of the Flyers all earned my admiration and I remember each with fondness.  Yes, I am aware that Pat Quinn was involved.  Hey, I even liked him at one time.

I was young and foolish, I suppose.  And maybe Quinn was a better man then.

Uh.  Or maybe not.

As for wearing the cloth with distinction for these two … here’s my personally favoured short list …

Vancouver: Markus Naslund, Stan Smyl, Richard Brodeur, Kirk McLean, Tiger Williams, Gary Bromley and Trevor Linden.

Boston:  I could go on.  Bobby Orr, Gilles Gilbert, Ray Bourque, Wayne Cashman, Gerry Cheevers and Harry Sinden.

Hm.  I ran out of players more quickly on Boston than I anticipated.  Oh yeah; Bucyk and Stan Jonathan.

Vancouver Canucks.  The lights, the stick-kid and The Edge.  The team skates out on the ice to U2 and the music is drowned out by the crowd.

I’ve never heard this rink so loud.  Oh, wait.

And now the music finds its volume.  Is it an RDS audio adjustment?  Where The Streets Have No Name.

I can’t help but feel it.  This is the final.  This is hockey.  This is Canada.

Yeah it’s June.  So what.

The crowd quiets quickly.  Camera-men are on the ghosted blue ice surface.  And the transparent banners with the words This Is What We Live For hang in four areas.

Some older gent arrives with aplomb to sing the Star Spangled Banner.  Richard Loney.  Who?  Does anyone know this guy?

Oh, the West.  I know ye not.  I did once.

Mark Donnelly is the second singer.  The crowd seems to recognize him.

There is a pause as the crowd is allowed to sing along.  They seem to know the words.

Go Canucks?

Goalies are Roberto Luongo and Tim Thomas.

Refs are Stephen Walkom and Dan O’Rourke.

First Period

Canucks get the early chances and Thomas has the pad and the verve.

And I find my fries.  George.  And his deli.  First time.

Both teams are well-rested says Pierre.  And we are shown the schedule.  L’horaire, en Francais.

Faceoff to Luongo’s left.  Won by Canucks.  Puck rounds the boards.  To the blue.  Directed to the net.  Luongo gets low.  Rebound.  To the boards.  Shot again.  Luongo closes the arms and cradles the disc.

Luongo is like arm and leg jello in a deep bowl.  His movements smack of desperation.  He’s in good company.  Thomas’ style is, shall we say, unorthodox.

I feel a sense of Northeast Division pride.

Shot of Julien.  It’s his first final.  Same as for Vancouver’s Alain Vigneault.  Montreal fans are familiar with both, of course.

Chara is deep.  Past the Vancouver end line.  Takes a stick to the face.  A Sedin.  Delayed all.

Bruins move it out. They control briefly.  Finally the whistle.

Crowd responded with a brief boo.  Daniel.  Number twenty-two.  To the box.  Accidental stick.

Chara shouldn’t even be here.  He should have been suspended for the remainder plus the playoffs for his purposeful shove of Pacioretty.

Remember?  If not, leave it to me.

Chara is parked. Screening.  He can’t be moved.  Seidenberg advances.  Lob-shot.  They crane and cram.  Nope.

Faceoff ensues.

Bieksa is able to clear.  Hits a player on the Canuck bench on the way out.

Vigneault nods and chews his gum.  How nervous is he?  A bit.  I find myself remembering his gestures in 1998.  The Canadiens defeated Pittsburgh in six and lost to Buffalo in four.  Boy that was a long while ago, wasn’t it.

Pre-game segment is shown; an interview snippet with Julien.

He’s looking ready.  Calm as usual.  He’s been under a unique pressure all season.  Cam Neely makes regular post-game appearances, often in a foul mood.  Neely is getting noticed by RDS and the running theme is whether or not his gruff micromanaging is hurting the team.

Neely is the team president.  He sits beside GM Chiarelli during games and the RDS crew have had their fun showing Neely’s rage through these playoffs.

I shake my head.  It should be Tampa.

Luongo fails to glove down.  Boston’s power-play continues.  It’s a four-minute infraction by the way.

Bergeron.  Lucic.  Aaron Rome.  I can’t help but remember Anthony “Tag” Rome of Calgary Stampeder, er, fame.  Rome was a slotback.  Around 1985.

Rome, the Nuck defenceman mashes a Bruin.

Seconds later, Luongo evokes a loud Loo from the crowd.  And I’m sure many of them remember the other Loo.  Also of CFL fame.

Lui Passaglia.  The field-goal dean of BC kickers.  Twenty-five year career, folks.

Boston has wasted most of this opportunity.

Luongo.  Falling.  Wading.  Lunging.  And the puck stays out.

Daniel.  Henrik.  They combine.  Penalty is over.  Bruins survive.

Houde is accented to Vancouver’s favour.

Stoppage.  Shots on goal are 13-5 in favour of Boston.  And this whistle is a penalty call against Boston.   Kelly.

Commercial.

Daniel wears #22.  Henrik, #33.  They’re twins.  They’re respected.  They’re pretty cool.

Chris Kelly contemplates his fate and ignores the nefarious Green Men.  High stick.  Vigneault covers his mouth with his play card (a la Jon Gruden) and says something to an assistant.

Kesler is on ice.

To the corner to Thomas’ left.  Gregory Campbell fires it out.  Oh, those Campbells.  What history will say.  You can’t control it, baby.

Canucks slow to table hockey positions.  Again, this team knows how to make the puck do the work.  A thinking team.

They’re forced out.

Just under a minute.  Bieksa on the blue.  A chance.  Mild.

I chuckle as the crowd loudens.  Yes, loudens.  I smile because this city wants it so much.  I can’t help but sympathize.

The attacks on Fleury, the excuse-making, the insecurities, the braggadocio; all are forgotten.  Someone deserves to be happy.  No?

And what about the swarthy Boston man (and fan)?  He, too, has waited a long time.  Boston last won the Cup in 1972.  And fannettes.  And fans, sure.

Vancouver never has.  They, with the Buffalo Sabres, joined the NHL in 1970.

We go to fours.  And then to a Boston man advantage.

Stoppage.

Eight in the period.

Finger Ference retrieves.  Carries.  Across the red.  Wrister.  Off something in a weird bounce, says Houde.  Again.  Stoppage.

Brunet says that Lapierre has recovered his confidence since Montreal days.  Lapierre was paired with Higgins for a bit on that last PK.  Yes.  That Higgins.

Well, let’s see.

Penalty expires.  No good chances for Boston.

Peverley is downed under the Vancouver end line.

Puck is out.  Back in.  Too long.  Refused.

Marchand is down on the ice.  He’s up slowly.  Flexes his jaw.  Ehrhoff took him down.

No penalties, says Benoit.

Faceoff to Thomas’ left.

No Price in this game.

I frown.

Another whistle.  IN the Boston zone.  Julien is mildly displeased.  Looks up at the scoreboard.  Back down.  Calm again.

Commercial.

Metric was blaring on the arena system.  Nice.  From their 2010 album.

Marchand.  Hooking.

About six and a half remaining.

How loud will it be?

Imagine if they got shut out four straight?

Just sayin.

Early clear by Boston.

Luongo stops it behind his net.

Ehrhoff.  Carries. Into the deep corner.  So used to Montreal not being able to control deep.  Vancouver is much better at it.

Daniel.  Henrik.  Nifty.  Slot pass.  Another pass.  Vancouver’s control is impressive.  Lost on the blue, though.  Three are back.  Canucks retain.  Resume from behind their net.

Higgins and Mason Raymond are on the second wave.

Burrows and Bieksa on the blue.

A long shot from Bieksa, shooting right from the left point.   It’s wide but the crowd emotes.

Now Thomas gets low and bread-loafs a puck away.

Penalty drains away.

Torres on the right side.  Offwing shot.  High.  Off the mark.

Marchand. Up for Chris Kelly.  Helmetless.  Shot.  Luongo handles this easy one.

Four Bruins low.  Ryder recoups.  Up pass.  Intercepted.

Around the net.  Bruins are out of sorts.  Another turnover.

Ryder and Seguin on the boards.

Both teams are circling and prying.  Canucks in their patient, slow manner, Bruins fluttering and thrusting but with little bearing on the compass.

Stoppage.

Commercial.

Bruins are in their ordinary mode.  I shake my head.  Wrong reps from the East.

A relentless team like Tampa, maybe.  Or a stargod team like Washington.  Or how about your buddies from the Bell?  Price was magnificent in the regular season.  Less so in the playoffs.  There’s more to be said.

Both Vigneault and Julien have won the Jack Adams Trophy as coach of the year.  One chews gum.  The other doesn’t.

Some chew(ed) ice.

Keenan.  Bowman.

Under three.

Hamhuis.  Retrieves.  Digs.  Fires along the boards.  It’s out.  Bruins send it on a diagonal for Krejci.  His long shot is wasted.

Lines change.

Kesler picks it up.   Did I call him Kessel before?

Bergeron tries to mash Raymond.  Misses fully.  Yeah, ok.  Bergeron.  Ok.

Ninety seconds.

I sigh.  Yes, it should be us.  Ok?  Did you want me to say it?  Did you?  Did you?

I’ll be ok.

One minute.

Turnovers.  Work on the boards.  Good work from Vancouver.  Smart brand.

Long puck.  Icing, Vancouver.

How good is Roberto Luongo?  How bad is he?  Does a final make or break a man?

I foresee a game four (or midseries) meltdown.  Seven Bruin goals.  But will it crush the Canadians?

For many, they are now Canada’s team.

Could be worse.  Think about it.

Burrows with a late backhander as he cuts to the net.  Net is off.  Puck stays out.

Bruins get a bit rough.  Bergeron is in there.  Chara and Hamhuis.  Bieksa helps out.  That one’s not going anywhere.

But Bergeron is trying to stamp things.  Burrows is French, by the way.

A city, a team can (and does) shape its players.  Boston?  While not a Philly, they do bake em Bruin down there.  Not sure I like Bergeron in Black and Gold. But hey.

Boston led on shots 17-12.

First Intermission
Boston 0, Vancouver 0

Where’s my burger.

Four-man table tonight.  Norman Flynn is the new addition.  Predictions.  Mario says Vancouver in five.  Denis Gauthier says Vancouver in six.  Norman Flynn says the same.

How come Alain doesn’t get a shot?

Predictions.  Bah.  Hockey.  Too difficult to predict.

Nathan Horton will piss someone off.  Tim Thomas will make the best save of the series.  Julien will lose it for a moment or two and then recover his aplomb.  Sean Condon will say something fierce.  Benoit will annoy me even though I’m trying really, really hard to like him again.  Mario Tremblay will get very red-faced about something.  And I’ll agree with him.

Kirk Muller talk.  Met with the Senators.  Can’t we keep him?

God.

If I was mayor of the team, the bench area would be packed, eh?

And yes, Steve (Sandpaper), Kovie would be around.  Hey, remember Kovie’s Kids?

My burger is here.  George.

Second Period
Vancouver 0, Boston 0

Alexandre Burrows.  Roughing.  Bergeron.  Two minutes.

Boston power-play.  And RDS informs us that Thomas has logged 89 minutes without a goal against. He shut out Tampa in game seven.

Bergeron.  What a doltish prove-my-point gesture to close the period.

Bieksa now.  High stick.  Three Canucks in the box.

Five on three on the ice.  Minimum of three skaters is the rule.

This burger is great.  New place.

Bergeron, Doctor Recchi and Krejci.

Five on three.  Boston’s power-play is the worst this playoff season.  One of the worst since the lockout.  The worst?

Under nine percent.

Boston!  A chance.  Boston!  A second.  But Luongo is there.

Oh the mix of emotions. So many players I realise that I like.  That I hadn’t realised before.

Yes, I still like Recchi.  Le Docteur.

And I love musing games.  I forgot how much I like this.

Kesler.  One on one exit.  Shoots wide.  Misses it all.  What is it with Western teams and booming, wild shots.  I can tell you.

Meantime, the penalty evaporates.

Poor Boston.  Hey, that’s not how you want to see a team lose.  Their power-play is snake-struck.  You know.  When the bad-guy twirls a living snake and then strikes.  Blap.

Sorry.

Sixteen.

Lapierre is on.

Chases.  Goes to the net.  Bruins work it out.

Lucic is taken down, tumble-over fashion.  I love it.

Fights start.  Lapierre.  Takes down a man.

Melee.  Slows.

Replay shows a legal check.  Brunet agrees.

Hamhuis.  He’s shaken, too.  Lucic is up.

Krejci.  Cross-check.  Krejci is on my nerves.  From the last series.  The Tampa one.  Not the, uh, other one.

No goals yet.

Golly (Meeker tone).

Vancouver advantage.  Drains away with few decent chances.

The spaces are hard to predict and both teams are still out of their respective rhythm.  A shared rhythm is usual for longer-term opponents.  But these two see each other once a year.  So the expectations are different.

Lapierre pushes a puck ahead and then wastes the chance with a no-look one-hand pass for a turnover deep left.

Vancouver ice.  Ryder deep right.  Bumping.  Loses the puck.

To the other end.  Thomas freezes it.

Someone tries to intimidate or bump a Sedin.  No effect.

Twelve left.  No shots for Vancouver this period, says Brunet.  Did I hear that right?

What.  What.

Kesler from Higgins.  Wild and high. Off the glass.

Can’t we practice shooting in this country?

Pucks.

Canucks are rough but not tumble.  Tough but not totalitarian.

What an interesting team.

Kesler!  In alone, draped, rather.  Shot, falls, net off.  Boston penalty.  Oy, what a chance.  Crowd seems stunned.  Barely registered the play, it was so sudden.   Great burst from number seventeen.

Yes, I’m partial to those seventeens.  Could you tell?

Faceoff.  A whip win a la Brind Amour.  Another seventeen.  Puck goes all the way out, missed at the blue.

No.  I don’t care for Roid.

What a great burger.

Peverley.  Hooked to create.  Called.  Five on three, Vancouver.

Sedins.  Salo on the blue.  A shot.

Thomas is flopped and another penalty.  Burrows.  Tripping.

Revlon?

Crowd boos.  They don’t like it.

Gretzky said that they called “make-up calls” Revlons.  This isn’t precisely the right example.  But you know.  That whole, “let’s even it out” nonsense.

Replay shows the call is legit.

Four on three, home team.

There’s something cow about Vancouver.  Something, you know … bovine.  Just occurred to me.  Not sure what it is.

Four on four.

Henrik is speared after the play.  Ference?

Well.  Maybe it won’t be hard to support your Canucks, after all.

Finger Ference.  People should be convicted or condemned by as per their value systems.  For Finger?  The scythe (he’s been busy with other shenanigans beyond the finger).  Thanks for the word, Noah.

Luongo makes a very good save.  Houde gives him a “quelle arret de Luongo!”

Penalties end.

Under eight.

Lapierre knows how to swerve through Bruins.  Been there before.

Around the net.  Danger, danger!  Smothered.  But he retains.

Into the slot.  Still has it.  They can’t bump him off.  Finally he dishes it off and the play ends.

Henrik, an entry.  A shot.

Other end.  Luongo flailing.  How can this team be confident with this guy behind them?

Henrik.  Another entry.  Slows the pace.  Intriguing.

More deep Bruin zone action.  Lines change.  Canucks are taking over.

Raymond misses the open backhand.  Crowd wanted it.  Showed it.  But no.

Bruins are in huge trouble.  Canucks can feel it.

Edler. Wide, wild shot from the blue.

Ference is kaboomed into the glass.  Sports.  Where justice is quick.  And memorable.

In God We Trust.  The penny moniker is painted on the top of Thomas’ mask.  Either I didn’t notice or it’s a new work.

Three and a half.   Reseau informs us that the second game is on Saturday.   I’d seen that and forgotten.  Two nights off.  Good for many of the players.  Not as good for viewers.  I’m curious about the process for that one.

On est curieux.  N’est ce pas?

Chara.   Pass up for Lucic.  Down the middle.  Funneled to the right.  Covered.  To the point.  Shot.  Out of play.

Plenty of playoff beards.

Kesler sports the A for alternate.   Takes a seat as Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough sidles over the arena speakers.

Tripping.  Bergeron.  Brunet thinks buddy fell on his own.

Replay is hard to tell.  The stick was there, true.  I dunno.   Julien retains his calm.  Goes to the traveling Swiss man pose.  One knee up.  Leaning.  Checking into it.

Under two in the period.

Ehrhoff.  Shot wide. Canucks have the mana.  They’re the confident ones right now.

Canucks control this one better.  Daniel at the phone booth.  Henrik in the high slot.

One high shot.  Gloved.  Henrik wears the C.  Daniel with the other A.  Most teams have two A guys.  Actually, all of them do.

Montreal rotates their A more than most teams.  Le groupe leadership.  Leadership avec l’accent Francais.

Period ends with no dastardly deeds.  Boston led on shots 9-8.  Overall 26-20 for the visitors.

Best chances to the Canucks.

Second Intermission
Boston 0, Vancouver 0

Miller Chill Citron.  How vaguely desperate.  Who drinks stuff like that.

If you voted Conservative and drink American beer you are demonstrating cognitive dissonance.

Molson is owned by Coors, by the way.  They cleverly call it Molson-Coors.  Or is that even clever.

And around here …we like big noses.  Remember those “the beer around here is OV.  OV, OV, Oh yeah”.

This is why they should be banned.  I shouldn’t recall something like that.

This final is so much better without the Sharks.  Hey, focus on the good, right?  Can you imagine that clown with his hand on the Cup?  You know which clown.  And his pallid buddy.

Hm.  I know far too many beer songs.  How about this one from Molson.  It’s not their song.

Pierre meets with Gary Bettman.

Asks about the move to Winnipeg.

Gary does not look happy.  He briefly tries to pierce the French translation of his words.

What about Quebec?  Bettman says that he doesn’t want to raise expectations.  He says that If there’s a building, an ownership group, then Quebec would get consideration.

Pierre says that there is some opposition and references Peladeau and Labeaume.  Is the opposition to the team relevant?

Bettman says that the process must be a patient one.  It can’t be forced.  It’s not a direct answer but Bettman’s reply keeps him out of the political controversy.

Again, Pierre Houde shows himself as the journalist he is.  I wasn’t expecting such a question.  But I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.

Mayor Regis Labeaume.  Knucklehead.  Same with your buddy Pierre Karl.

And another nice piece from Don MacPherson.

Third Period
Vancouver 0, Boston 0, Quebec City 0

Oh.  Montreal 24.

Sorry.

Well, not really.

Boston comes out flying.  Bergeron.  Down the middle.  To Recchi on the right.  But it comes to an end.

Henrik.  Across the right.  Over the blue.  Passes.  Henrik slows at strange times.  He is a space and time guy.  I really never knew.  Never watched closely enough.  What an interesting player.

What about his brother?  Are they identical?  Or do they have different on-ice traits?

Luongo survives a moment.  High puck, bumped goalie, silenced crowd.

But the puck stayed out.

Two and two behind the Vancouver net.  Canucks emerge.  They’ve won most of the board battles and with much less effort expended than say, uh, Montreal.

Hmmmm.

I’m learning something here, yes.  Slow and plodding can win the day.  Even in these post-lockout non-obstructionist days.

Chara.  Waits by the cage.  Watches a failed wrap-around and recovers the disc.

Horrid blue light on the top of the screen.  RDS wants us to know about some golf event.

Tab’.

Long Canuck puck.  Icing.

Vigneault’s gum-chewing is a bit faster than in the first.

Krejci and Henrik.  Krejci is replaced by Horton.  To the blue.  Across.  Ference fires it along the boards.

In some ways the Bruins are a source of humour in their signings.  In some ways.  They’re no Filly.

And even Filly is recovering.

Another long Canuck puck.

Why does hockey feel so insulated from the rest of the world.  Is it the quiet Canuck crowd tonight?  The lack of American camera-birds?  Or is it just that ultimately we know that hockey only really matters to us?

And that last phrase really isn’t true.  Pray that the KHL doesn’t hold together, buddy.  You’ll regret it if they do.

And another quick stoppage.

I think it’s time for Cory Schneider.

Just kidding.

Ok, not really.

Luongo makes a save on Ryder.  Houde offers a plaudit.

Nice glove across on the backhand.  Luongo gives up plenty of rebounds, yo.

I’ve watched maybe five of his games these playoffs.  Maybe four.

Fifteen and a half.  This better not go into overtime.

Hanson is free.  Through and to the net.  Thomas.  Closes the legs.  And I guffaw mildly.  It’s nice to see Thomas perform well.  Especially when the result isn’t foiling the Mystique guys.

Fourteen and a half.

Another Vancouver entry.

Henrik.  Around the net, turning, now stickhandling skating backwards.  He can get away with it.  Size and balance, both.  He’s listed at 188.  Six two.

Krejci in the low slot. Turns and jams.  Luongo traps it.

Thirteen and fourteen.   Long Canuck puck.  Icing.  Are these failed passes?  Or are they desperation dump-outs?  More the former.  Bruin pressure is non-existent.

Canucks fans start a derisive chant.  What. Thomas-Thomas?

Not a bright choice.  It’s their way of getting something going, perhaps.  The waiting has been a bit much.  And maybe we won’t get to find out how loud they can be.  It’s seven thirty out there.  With a five PM game start, some Vancouver employers have made accommodations for their employees.  In order for them to watch the game.

Lulling hockey is patient hockey.  Or do I mean that the other way around?

Adam McQuaid’s dump-in is knocked down on the blue.

Dumped out.

I wonder if these musings are like reading analyses of pinto beans.  Or what.  What are these?

Ten and a half.

Canucks fail to get it out once.  Second time works.  Canucks are never in any real danger.  In position and with passing targets available at all times, the team seems almost at ease as they set up parking lot pylon points and pass to and fro.

Failed long pass?  No problem.  Just set em up and try again.  Their sixth-ranked (of 16 playoff teams) 50.4 faceoff percentage may also be a factor.  Why worry about losing faceoffs?  And their board work clears up the rest.

Pierre says on returning from commercial that Thomas, overall, has had the tougher saves to make.

Pierre Houde, in case, some don’t know, is one of the best play-by-play men in sports.  Objective, emotive, prepared and professional, he is adroit.  He is minus his long-time booth partner, Yvon Pedneault (who left over a salary dispute two years ago to be replaced by the ill-suited Benoit Brunet).

Here’s Thomas with a good gusting up to great save.  Thanks, Red.

No, I didn’t ask.  Mais j’aime cette expression.

About eight.

Luongo is in the splayed butterfly.  Showing a bit of quickness.  Puck stays out.  Legs and sticks and calm Canucks everywhere.

Seven and a half.

Bruins are frenetic and seemingly doomed.  But one goal is all it takes.

Thomas is the flopping insurance man.  The paper and doom, ma’am.  Tip of the hat.  It’s all the team really needs tonight.

Six and a half.

Rome.  To Bieksa.   They circle.

Bruins are circling closer.  Three across.

Bruins flow down.  They look more like their chalk-board selves than ever.  Four low.  Kelly joins.  Doesn’t matter.  Canucks come up with it.  To the blue.  Shot.  Out.

Re-entry.

Edler.  Off the post.  Thomas was beaten.

Canucks keep it in for eight seconds.

Bruins recover on the boards as the Canucks change lines.

Canuck zone.

Goalies, goalies, goalies.

How pleasant to have nothing at stake at this point of a game.  Four and a half.  Pierre’s tone matches the rise in action.  He’s not losing verve.

Like your languishing but smiling scribe.  This is actually fun.

Commercial.

But it can’t be for Vancouver or Boston fans.  A team can control, can be poised, can have the best chances; as Vancouver has.  And of course, still lose.

Hockey.

When will we ever learn.  Ok, when will your scribe ever learn.

They resume.

Four minutes.

Edler has it, loses it, recovers and then loses it again on the boards. Finally, it rounds the net behind Luongo where Edler catches up to it and moves it out.

Edler is interesting, too.  Smart, quick and persistent.

Deep Boston ice.  Higgins is on.  Lucic escapes.  Horton was offside on the right.  Lucic shares a mild look of dismay with Horton.

Faceoff outside the Vancouver blue.

Pierre says that nearly one million watched the end of the Tampa-Boston game.  The game seven game, eh.  He says this on the heels of a 1-0 game count in these 2011 playoffs.  Five, I believe it was.  One each played by these two.

Hanson and Chara battle deep in Boston ice.  Chara retains.  Hanson is nearly coulombed.   But moves on.

Stoppage.

Houde guesses at a time-out for Julien.  Nope.

Under two.

Flipping overtime.

Ninety.

Doctor Recchi.  And the Sedins.

Edler on the blue.  Burrow s on the right flank.  To the blue.  Shot.  Thomas seemed beaten to Houde.  Puck was just wide.

One minute.

Krejci.  Into the right column.  Shot is influenced.

It’s out.  Swirl.

Back in.

Kesler.  And they score.  Vancouver Canucks.  I laugh in some form of endearment.  Torres finished the play.  A pass from Hansen.  And one prior from Kesler.

Nicely done.  Nothing Thomas could do.

What a bow-tie finish from a luxury team.  Bien fait.

This must be the Canuck team my Vancouver affiliates were talking about.

Nineteen seconds.  No Thomas in net.

Puck goes into Boston ice.  Wildly slapped forward.  Into the end boards behind Luongo.  Time is not enough.  And that runs out, too.

Final Score
Vancouver 1
Boston 0

HDS Stars: Tim Thomas, Henrik Sedin, Alexander Edler
RDS Stars: Roberto Luongo, Tim Thomas, Jannik Hansen

When I was 22, I might have picked these stars instead:

22 Stars: Raffi Torres, Jannik Hansen, Tim Thomas

I’m posting a musing.  Should have been us.

Not sure if the fans pick the stars at this juncture.  Renaud Lavoie interviews Alain Vigneault.

Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins, 5.0 out of 5 based on 4 ratings

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