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Stanley Cup Finals, Game 1: Alex Burrows Not Suspended For Bite; Patrice Bergeron Responds

After a great goaltending display, Raffi Torres made it all irrelevant, scoring the game-winning goal with 18.5 seconds left in Game 1 to give the Canucks a 1-0 series lead.

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Bruins Vs. Canucks, Game 1: Raffi Torres Goal With 18.5 Seconds Left Gives Vancouver 1-0 Game 1 Win

After 59 minutes and 42 seconds of fantastic goaltending, that featured 69 shots without one getting by Tim Thomas or Roberto Luongo the entire night, and in many cases those saves being spectacular. That said, Thomas' lone flaw is at times his over-aggressiveness, and it burned him, as Raffi Torres got the games only goal with 18.5 seconds remaining, and the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final by a score of 1-0, to take the same lead in this best-of-seven series. 

The third period saw the whistles thrown into the referees pockets, after 28 minutes of penalties were called through the first two periods. The goaltenders were terrific as mentioned, with Thomas especially holding the line desperately throughout the third. A Janik Hansen break-away was pure robbery from Thomas. Roberto Luongo was solid and steady for the entire game, never giving you the sense that the net was in any trouble of being penetrated. 

It was in the final minute that you finally got someone to blink. Ryan Kesler drew to Boston defenders to him as he entered the Boston zone, and found Hansen for a mini-2-on-1 with Raffi Torres. Hansen made a split-second pass to Torres, with Thomas outside the net just enough to be off his angle, and Torres simply buried it. A controversial player throughout the post-season, Torres plays the hero this evening. It was his third goal of the playoffs and Kesler's 12th assist on a great play as he continues to mount a Conn Smythe campaign. A quick pull of the goaltender could do no good for the Bruins, who now have a demoralizing loss and one more chance to get something out of the trip to Vancouver during Saturday's Game 2. 

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Bruins Vs. Canucks, Game 1: Teams Continue To Try And Bite Off First Goal

The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks continue to search for the first goal of Game 1 in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. Though both clubs continue to get multiple power play chances per period, with both even having some sort of 5-on-3 during the middle frame, still no one has broken through. What we have seen, however, is a game heavy with chances, physical play and controversy as it's a 0-0 tie following 40 minutes at Rogers Arena. 

The Bruins got a 5-on-3 early in the period. They were already on the power play from the Alex Burrows biting controversy that ended period one, when Kevin Bieksa took a minor at 28 seconds. The Bruins attack, however, was flaccid in the second period compared to the first. Only managing nine shots, while they put up 17 in the opening period. They are 0-for-5 on the man advantage, and now 1-for-32 on the road in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Canucks had their own problems, while getting the better of the offensive play, were still outshot 9-8 in the period and 25-20 by the Bruins through two periods. They had a brief 5-on-3 when Dennis Seidenberg and Rich Peverley went off for kneeing and hooking, but an Alex Burrows (likely not getting any sympathy from the refs on anything borderline tonight) trip stifled their efforts. The Canucks are now 0-for-6 on the man advantage. The two teams remain without a goal after two, who will get the big first tally in Game 1?

The Stanley Cup Finals are ongoing, as the Vancouver Canucks battle the Boston Bruins. Stick with this StoryStream for full coverage of Game 1. 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.

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Bruins Vs. Canucks, Game 1: Penalty Killers Dominate Scoreless First Period

The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks had one of the more exciting "feeling out" process in the first period of Game 1 in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. Lots of excitement, shots, and plenty of time for each on the man advantage. But, at the end of 20 minutes, the teams are scoreless at Rogers Arena. 

The big moment for Boston came when Daniel Sedin improbably high sticked Zdeno Chara, and received a double-minor at 4:03. The Bruins rattled off 10 consecutive shots on Roberto Luongo, but could not put anything past Roberto Luongo, and another one later in the period. The Boston power play was notable for missing two more times on the road, putting them down to 1-for-29 on the road during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They chose to use Chara in front of the net, instead of at the point. 

Chris Kelly and Brad Marchand penalties for high sticking and holding the stick gave Vancouver two power play chances in the period, but they were unable to put anything by Tim Thomas. The Bruins outshot the Canucks, 17-12 in the first frame, but both goaltenders were solid. Patrice Bergeron took a minor for roughing that will put the Canucks back on the job to being period number two. 

The Stanley Cup Finals are ongoing, as the Vancouver Canucks battle the Boston Bruins. Stick with this StoryStream for full coverage of Game 1. 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.

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