The NHL has spoken....

Most talk around the water cooler is not about last night's 8 - 1 drubbing the Bruins laid on the Canucks, but rather 'the hit' and what, if any supplementary discipline should be levied. The NHL has spoken, and Aaron Rome has been suspended for four games for his hit on Nathan Horton last night. I have heard everything from he deserves a game, to three or more, to no suspension required. To those advocating no suspension, wake up! These are the hits that the NHL is desperately trying to crack down on.

A lot of Canuck fans have been open on message boards that there was nothing wrong with the hit and Horton should have his head up. Two things: (1) Since when do you need to worry about skating with your head up when you don't have the puck, and haven't had it for a couple of seconds? (2) Put the shoe on the other foot and say that was Johnny Boychuk laying out Daniel or Henrik? Still nothing? I didn't think so.
I agree with what the NHL has done. This is Rome's second game misconduct of the play - off's, third of the season and thus can be seen as a repeat offender.

Last night's final was amongst the 20 most lop - sided scores in the history of the Stanley Cup Play - off's. There has only been game that had a greater margin of victory (8; by Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota in 1991). This is also only the second seven goal margin of victory in history. Interestingly enough, from those twenty games, the winner of 19 of these lop - sided affairs have gone on to win the series. That is a good omen for Boston, but let's face it the Canucks will be a much better team in Game Four on Wednesday night.

I have to question what Alain Vigneault was thinking last night by leaving Roberto Luongo in for all eight goals against. I can see him starting the third because if the Canucks score a couple of quick ones, they are right back in the game again. However, following Dan Paille's shorty to make it 5 - 0, I personally would have taken Luongo out for the remainder.

I know a lot has been said, even some from B's Head Coach Claude Julien about the Bruins players sticking their fingers in the direction of Alex Burrows. (An obvious dig at his finger biting incident from Game One). Say what you want about it not being classy...was Burrows biting Bergeron classy in the first place? Is Burrows well known around the league as being the epitome of class? One of last night's finger pointers was Mark Recchi, and I can honestly say that Recchi has more class in his big toe than Alex Burrows EVER will.

Everything about last night's game (minus the Horton/Rome incident) was everything I love about play - off hockey. These two teams despise one another, things are getting chippy and tensions are on the rise. It should make for a great conclusion to the series.

My only reservation is that perhaps the 'behind the shed' beating it became is presumably more beneficial to the Canucks than the Bruins. I can only pray the B's don't think they can take a night off. They will have to play equally hard, if not harded in Game Four as you know it will be a much different Canucks team that takes the ice at TD Garden Centre on Wedneday.

Talk to ya soon....