VANCOUVER: Alexandre Burrows scored 11 seconds into over-time Saturday to give Vancouver a 3-2 victory over Boston and a two-games lead in the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Final. Many Boston fans felt Burrows should have been suspended for the game over a finger-biting incident in game one. But the NHL disagreed and he scored twice against the Bruins, moving the Canucks close enough to taste the first Stanley Cup crown in their 40-year history. “It's unbelievable to be part of this,” Vancouver forward Henrik Sedin of Sweden said. “Alex made a great play.” The Canucks, who won the opener with a goal only 18 seconds before the end of the final period, took a 2-0 edge in the best-of-seven championship series, which continues with games three and four on Monday and Wednesday in Boston. No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since Montreal in 1993 while the Bruins have not taken the trophy since 1972. Burrows became the center of controversy in game one when Boston's Patrice Bergeron shoved his glove into the Canucks playmaker's face and stuck a finger into his mouth. The Bruins called for Burrows to be suspended but NHL officials reviewed video of the incident and ruled there was no evidence the bite was intentional so there was no suspension for the 30-year-old Canadian winger. Burrows scored in the first period and delivered the knockout blow in the second-shortest over-time in Stanley Cup Final history. “Alex has been huge in the playoffs and he came through in over-time,” Daniel Sedin said. Burrows charged toward Boston goalkeeper Tim Thomas, who moved to his right to challenge Burrows away from the goal. Burrows skated around a sprawled Thomas, skated around behind the goal and flipped the puck into the empty goal. “As soon as I got the puck, I knew I was going to fake a shot and then try to beat him,” Burrows said. “I lost the puck in front of Tim Thomas, but I got it back, and I got it in. “We knew our scouting report on Thomas. We know he likes to come out and challenge and freeze you, so if I shoot there, I think he stops it and covers all the angles, so I wanted to walk around.” Burrows netted a power-play goal 12:12 into the game to put the Canucks ahead 1-0. Boston's Milan Lucic netted the equalizer 9:00 into the second period and Mark Recchi put the Bruins ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal just 2:35 later. “We lost the game ourselves,” Boston forward David Krejci said. “Obviously they played well, but we had the game in our hands and we just gave it away.” But Sweden's Daniel Sedin pulled the Canucks even with 10:23 to play in the third period off a pass from Burrows from in front of the goal, setting the stage for Burrows' over-time game winner. The Canucks were unhappy at having squandered their lead by surrendering two goals in the second period. Thomas made 30 saves while Vancouver netminder Roberto Luongo stopped 28 shots.
