This recap is going to suck. We’re telling you right now. We still can’t even put enough words together for what happened last night.
That one hurt. Again.
It was one of those games where you felt like the Bruins beat themselves rather than the Canucks beating the Bruins. For 98% of the game Thomas was a beast again. Then on Vancouver’s first goal, he probably should’ve saved that. No big deal we said.
In the second period, the Bruins finally scored after a more than four period drought. Lucic finally got on the board. Then Recchi scored on the powerplay. Seriously. On the powerplay. We didn’t make that up.
The Bruins had some swagger, some confidence. Then the third period came. Boston went into their patented, bowel loosening prevent defense. A HUGE mistake against Vancouver. The Canucks were pressing. A stellar Tim Thomas and, to be honest, a lot of luck kept the Bruins slim lead. But the way the Canucks were playing and with the mental mistakes the Bruins were making… you know it was only a matter of time.
Then the Bruins had the bright idea of leaving Daniel Sedin all alone by the side of the net. Tie game. Then the third ended. Overtime.
We were confident. The Bruins have excelled in overtime during these playoffs.
About ten seconds in we were baffled and horrified watching Tim Thomas leap after Alex Burrows. There was no reason for Thomas to do this. Chara was on Burrows. If Thomas had just stayed in his net….
We told ourselves it was okay. Chara would use his size and strength to send Burrows to the ice. Even if he had to take a penalty it was worth it. Chara would cover for Thomas’ epic mistake….
And just like that, the game was over. A play that has kind of defined how the Bruins have dug themselves a giant hole in the Finals. Before we even settled in the game was over.
Everyone around you probably sat there in silence, utter disbelief as to why any of that happened. What the hell was Thomas thinking? What the hell was Chara thinking? You didn’t want to watch the replays but you did. There had to be something you didn’t see, right? But there wasn’t. As much as Thomas is the biggest reason the Bruins are where they are, he gift wrapped that goal for Burrows. And then Chara gave him some cake.
A lot of people are angry, saying Burrows shouldn’t have even been playing. Whatever. Just excuses. Once again the Bruins could have had a win, could have struck a blow against the mighty Canucks and gave it away.
Bottom line… the Bruins let the Canucks off the hook. Again. Unforced turnovers directly to blue jerseys. Defensive breakdowns. Types of mistakes you absolutely 100% cannot make against a team like the Canucks. Now the Bruins have to win four of the next five.
We’re not going to pretend or lie here. Things look grim. But this series isn’t over. Anything can happen. We just have to continue to believe.
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