Boston Offense Explodes Again in Game 6 to Force Game 7

As has been the case all series long, the home team once again came out victorious in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Finals. Home Ice has been key in this years finals and the Boston Bruins again held off elimination with a 5-2 victory last night at TD Garden in Boston. The Bruins are unbeaten on home ice in this finals as are the Canucks in Vancouver, setting the stage for what will be an emotionally charged and very exciting Game Seven Wednesday night in Vancouver.

As was the case in the first two games in Boston in this series, Roberto Luongo was again chased from the nets on this night by a smothering Bruins attack. The whole series of events in this contest started early when it looked like Vancouver had jump to start the game but 20 seconds in Henrik Sedin was left all alone and had a wide open net staring at him but simply missed the puck. About a minute later things started to go downhill for Vancouver as Mason Raymond was hit hard into the boards and had to be helped off the ice. After that it was all downhill. Boston got on the board first at the 5:31 mark thanks to this sick shot by Brad Marchand:


For Marchand it was his 9th of the playoffs. Then at the 6:06 mark Milan Lucic scored his 5th of the playoffs to increase the lead. Finally Boston put Luongo on the bench at the 8:35 mark thanks to a powerplay goal from Andrew Ference, his 4th of the playoffs. After the 3rd Bruin goal Luongo was pulled in Favor of Cory Schneider. Boston kept the offense up on Schneider scoring again at the 9:45 mark thanks to Michael Ryder's 8th of the post season.

The middle period was a quite one on the score sheet as Boston was able to hold their 4-0 lead. The 4 goals Boston scored in the first came in a span of 4:14, which is the fastest 4 goal outburst in finals history. The previous record for 4 goals was 5:29 set by the 1956 Montreal Canadians. The only major news of the 2nd period was three minor penalties given to Patrice Bergeron of Boston.

The 3rd period finally saw the Sedin Twins show up in the series. Vancouver got on the board 22 seconds into the 3rd thanks to a powerplay goal from Henrik Sedin, assisted by his brother Daniel and Christian Ehrhoff. For Henrik Sedin it was his 3rd goal of the playoffs. It was the first points for the twins in the finals. Boston responded at the 6:59 mark with a powerplay goal of their own from David Krejci his 12th of the playoffs, which leads all skaters in goals. Vancouver would add one more goal at the 17:34 mark on a beautiful passing play resulting in a goal from Maxim Lapierre getting his 3rd of the playoffs and 2nd of this series. It wasn't enough though as Boston easily took the game 5-2 setting up a decisive game seven in vancouver.

Tim Thomas ended this night making 36 saves allowing just the two goals. Cory Schneider allowed 2 goals on 32 shots in relief of Roberto Luongo. Luongo has been a good example of almost like a Jeckyll & Hyde in the finals. Luongo played a total of 8:35 in this game and allowed 3 Bruins goals on 8 shots. In the three games Luongo has played in Boston in this series he is 0-3 with an 8.05 GAA and a .773 save percentage. In just 111 minutes and 52 seconds of playing time in Boston he has allowed 15 goals on 66 shots in Boston. Meanwhile when playing at home in Vancouver, Luongo is 3-0 with two shutouts, a 0.67 GAA and .979 save percentage. For a guy who is up for the Vezna Trophy as goalie of the year he can't be having those kind of differences in numbers. Meanwhile his counterpart Tim Thomas has been spectacular in the playoffs and in theses finals. In the finals Thomas is 3-3, has faced 209 total shots and allowed only 8 goals. Thomas is cementing his chances at winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP with the numbers he has put up. Heading into Game Seven Thomas has started 24 games and is 15-9 with a 2.06 GAA a .937 save percentage and 3 shutouts.

Game Seven is Wednesday night back at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.