After bouncing back with a blowout win in Game 3 the Boston Bruins can tie up the Stanley Cup final on Wednesday night with a victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 4.
The Bruins were practically in a must-win situation in Game 2, down 2-0 to the Canucks in the series. Not only did Boston win, but they were fierce in an 8-1 drubbing of the Canucks as a -125 home favorite. Mark Recchi led the offensive onslaught with a pair of goals that game, and Michael Ryder had a three-point night with a goal and two assists.
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Tim Thomas actually faced more shots than his counterpart Roberto Luongo, but stonewalled the Canucks in a 40-save performance.
The Canucks' lone goal in the embarrassing loss was scored by Jannik Hansen. Luongo was in net for all eight goals while making 30 saves in the defeat.
Despite the win on Monday night it wasn't all good news for the Bruins. Boston forward Nathan Horton is gone for the rest of the postseason with a severe concussion after getting rocked by a late hit from Vancouver defenseman Aaron Rome. Boston didn't miss Horton on Monday, as all eight goals were scored after the injury, but losing the player that scored the Game 7 Sportsbook against both Montreal and Tampa Bay will hurt the Bruins in the long term in the series.
With Horton out Tyler Seguin is expected to be reinserted into the Bruins' lineup. Seguin was a scratch in Game 3 after going pointless in his previous seven games. [ Game 4 props at Sportsbook ]
The Canucks also ended up shorthanded as a result of the hit as Rome was suspended for the rest of the series. Vancouver's blue line was already down a man with Dan Hamhuis missing Game 2 due to a lower-body injury. With Rome done and Hamhuis still hurting Keith Ballard could see his first game action since Game 2 of the conference final versus the Sharks.
At home the Bruins remain small favorites for Game 4, listed at -120 at Sportsbook. On the NHL futures at Sportsbook the Canucks remain the favorites in the series at -340. The Bruins' Game 3 win boosted them up to a +280 underdog on the series futures.
