Lucic's Return Home is a Success

Photo Credit Google Images giantsbeat.com

Milan Lucic, a native of Vancouver, was honored the night before last by his former Junior team which he led to a World Championship.  Lucic signs and jerseys covered the crowd of 18,860 in Vancouver last night.  His homecoming must have been very emotional and when the Boston bruiser plays with emotion, opponents better keep both eyes open.

The first-place Canucks opened the scoring in the first period with Manny Malhotra knocking a rebound past Tim Thomas.  Vancouver opened up the second period with a lot of energy but was slowed down when the Bruins best line tied the game.  Thomas Kaberle recorded his first point as a B when he threw a shot and Lucic scooped it up, went behind the net and found Nathan Horton who was stopped by Roberto Luongo on his first attempt, but put his own rebound in the net.  

The third period opened up just like the second, a lot of energy from the Canucks, who hardly ever lose when scoring first.  With momentum with Vancouver, the magical David Krejci stick-handled from his own blue line, put a dazzling move on a Vancouver defender, around the net and found Dennis Seidenberg at the point. Seidenberg threw it on net and Lucic took the juicy rebound and put it top shelf to put the B's ahead 2-1 with less than five minutes to play.  With a few minutes to play, Luongo headed for the bench for the extra attacker.  New-comer Chris Kelly won a defensive zone face-off and Lucic came up with the puck.  He headed up the boards and found Patrice Bergeron in the neutral zone, who stuck it home to put the game in hand for the visiting Bruins.

Tim Thomas earned the W in net as the Bruins continue to show that they belong among the elite teams in the NHL.  The trades seemed to have sparked the B's and have given them tremendous depth; especially up the middle.  I like the way the Bruins looked last night.  They played with grit and determination against the best team in the NHL.  I'm not sure the B's can catch the Flyers for the first spot in the East, but I expect them to win their division and ultimately grab the two seed behind Philly.  

The Bruins continue their road-trip tonight in Edmonton, as the top two picks in the 2010 draft face-off (Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin).  Puck drops at 7:00 ET.