Statement Game

Milan Lucic played the hero Saturday night, scoring the game-winning goal in the Bruins' 3-1 victory over the mighty Vancouver Canucks.

Continuing their character-building West Coast swing in epic fashion, the Boston Bruins picked up one of their biggest and most complete victories of the season Saturday night, coming from behind to defeat the best team the in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks, 3-1.

Milan Lucic, playing in front of his home-town crowd less than a day after having his number retired by his junior team, buried a rebound off a great individual effort from David Krejci to pick up the game-winning goal with less than five minutes remaining in the third period. Once again, Tim Thomas (26 saves) was stellar between the pipes, holding the league's top scoring team to just one goal and silencing the sell-out crowd of 18,860 at Rogers Arena.

With the pivotal confidence building victory over the mighty Canucks, the Bruins are now 4-0-0 on their current six game Western Conference road trip and beginning to peak at the right time. 

"They're a very talented team, very dangerous," said Thomas after the game. "To come in an grind out a win on their ice is a big victory for us." 

After Manny Malholtra gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead late in the first period, the Bruins tied the game midway through the second period when Nathan Horton hammered home a second chance rebound past Roberto Luongo for his 16th goal of the season. 

After the 1-1 stalemate held up deep into the third period, it seemed the game was destined for overtime or a shootout. Then, with less than five minutes left in regulation, Lucic played the hero when he found himself in the right place at the right time. After making a spectacular individual effort in which he stickhandled through multiple defenders, Krejci kicked the puck back to the point where Dennis Seidenberg fired a shot on goal. Luongo stopped the initial shot but Lucic pounced on the rebound for his 27th goal of the season. 

Patrice Bergeron picked up an empty-net goal to make it 3-1. 

"You remember playing hockey in your backyard and scoring big goals," said Lucic after the game. "To play a big game and get the game-winner in front of my friends and family and all the Bruins fans that came out, it's a great feeling." 

Lucic's former team, the Vancouver Giants, honored him before a game Friday, handing out Lucic bobbleheads and placing his number in the Ring of Honor while also having Lucic drop the ceremonial first puck. Lucic helped the Giants win the junior hockey championship in 2007, known as the Memorial Cup. 

"It's almost the perfect ending to a perfect couple of days here," Lucic added. 

With the victory, the Bruins (35-19-7) become just the second team all season to defeat the Canucks after trailing the game 1-0.