Canucks’ Burrows wins it in Game 7 OT period

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Canucks’ Burrows wins it in Game 7 OT: ‘This is what legends are made of’
Vancouver knocks off Chicago in overtime thriller, will meet Nashville Predators in second round


VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks stared a colossal playoff collapse straight in the eyes Tuesday night and did not blink.


But they and practically an entire province certainly let out a collective sigh of relief when Alex Burrows scored his second of the night at 5:22 of the first overtime period as the Canucks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in the seventh and deciding game of their Western Conference quarter-final playoff series.


The goal capped a tumultuous, roller-coaster series and avoided the Canucks the ignominy of becoming just the fourth team to lose a series after leading it 3-0.


Now they can put all that angst behind them and prepare for a second-round playoff series against the Nashville Predators. That series is expected to open Thursday night at Rogers Arena.


Burrows reached up into the air to glove a clearing attempt by Chicago defenceman Chris Campoli and then ripped a slap shot over the right shoulder of Chicago goalie Corey Crawford to win it for the Canucks.


Not long before that, Burrows was worried about being the goat. He took a hooking call just 24 seconds into overtime and spent two minutes sitting in the penalty box praying the Hawks wouldn't score.


"I just want to thank the guys for killing that penalty," Burrows said inside a boisterous Vancouver dressing room. "It's the worst spot to be in the penalty box there."


For most of the night it looked like the Canucks were going to be able to nurse Burrows' first goal at 2:43 of the first period to victory. But Chicago captain Jonathan Toews scored his first goal of the series — a shorthanded marker — at 18:04 of the third period to force overtime.


"Obviously we didn't make it easy on ourselves," Burrows said. "It felt good for 58 minutes, we just blew coverage a little bit and they got a bounce. We stuck with it and believed going into OT we could get it done. I think it feels even better getting it done this way."

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The Canucks regrouped during intermission and it was Burrows of all people who said it was the chance for someone to be a hero.


"It wasn't a down room," said defenceman Kevin Bieksa. "It was a very positive room, we still felt we had what it took to win and we were talking about who was going to be the hero tonight.


"And I think Burr was the one who said, 'this is what legends are made of.' A little foreshadowing for him. A big goal for him and a big goal for this organization."


And a big win for goalie Roberto Luongo, who returned after sitting out most of Game 6 and stopped 31 of 32 Chicago shots. He made a monster save off a backdoor shot by forward Patrick Sharp on that Chicago power play early in overtime.


Luongo said he felt just as nervous and excited as he did during last year's gold medal game at the Winter Olympics.


"The whole thing was pretty much the same game," Luongo said. "They scored late, made a couple of saves in OT and boom, we got a huge goal. This one might be better than the Olympics, I've got to say."


It was an up-and-down series for both Luongo and the Canucks.


After Vancouver won the first three games of the series, the Hawks stormed back with a vengeance. The defending Stanley Cup champions won Games 3 and 4 by a combined score of 12-2 and took Game 6 on Sunday night 4-3 in overtime.


The tension was palpable inside Rogers Arena as a loud, towel-waving crowd did its best to will the Canucks to victory.


"We knew it wasn't going to be easy," Luongo said. "We didn't script it this way. But you know what? All year long when our backsides were against the wall we responded and we played a massive game tonight and there's no better way to end it."


"Obviously, it is a good feeling," said coach Alain Vigneault. "But we didn't get into the playoffs just to get by one round. I knew our guys were well prepared and would bust a gut and they did. It was a tough battle, we made it interesting with the 3-0 series lead and giving it back and a 1-0 lead tonight and giving it back."

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Vigneault reunited the line of Ryan Kesler, Burrows and Mason Raymond to start the game and it didn't take long for the move to pay dividends.


Burrows got the only goal of the period at the 2:43 mark when he finished off some nice work by Kesler, who wheeled around Chicago defenceman Duncan Keith before sliding a backhand pass to Burrows.


Burrows had a large chunk of the net to shoot at for his second goal of the playoffs.


The Canucks dominated the second period, when they outshot the Hawks 15-6. But they couldn't build on their lead as Crawford was spectacular. Burrows missed a chance to give the Canucks a two-goal lead when he was stopped on a penalty shot 21 seconds into the third period. Burrows had outraced Keith for a loose puck and was hauled down from behind by the Chicago defenceman. Crawford got his right pad on Burrows' subsequent penalty shot.


Luongo had to be sharp in the third. He made a left pad save on Ben Smith at the 12-minute mark and just over a minute later got his glove on a shot from the right circle by Michael Frolik.


But with Duncan Keith off serving a hooking penalty, Toews tied the game when he banged in a rebound while on his knees directly in front of Luongo.


ICE CHIPS: The Predators advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history when the beat the Anaheim Ducks in six games … Cody Hodgson and Aaron Rome were healthy scratches for Vancouver. Defenceman Keith Ballard returned after sitting out two games … John Scott was a healthy scratch for the Hawks, who were also without injured winger Bryan Bickell. Fernando Pisani and Marcus Kruger drew back into the Chicago lineup.

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Vancouver Canucks players mob overtime goal scorer Alex Burrows (under the pile) after his marker 5:22 into the extra period as the Canucks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in Game 7 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series Tuesday night at Rogers Arena. With the win, the Canucks advance to the second round of the playoffs against the Nashville Predators



Vancouver Canuck Alex Burrows celebrates his overtime-winning goal 5:22 into the fourth period against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7 of their first-round NHL playoff series Tuesday night at Rogers Arena. The Canucks won a 2-1 nail-biter over the Hawks to take the series.



Vancouver Canucks winger Alex Burrows is mobbed by his teammates after scoring in overtime in Game 7 of their NHL first-round playoff series against the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday night at Rogers Arena.



Vancouver Canucks Mason Raymond (centre) and Ryan Kesler (right) celebrate the Canucks' first goal against the Chicago Blackhawks as Blackhawk Marian Hossa skates past in Game 7 of their first-round series Tuesday night at Rogers Arena.



Vancouver Canucks centre Henrik Sedin (33) hits the post in the second period as Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford reaches over to get the puck Tuesday night.



Vancouver Canucks centre Ryan Kesler is checked in front of Chicago Blackhawks net in the first period by Blackhawks defenceman Chris Campoli (right) and centre Jonathan Toews on Tuesday night.

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