Bergeron/By S. Bradley
VANCOUVER — The mild cut he’s sporting on the top of his right index finger is Bruins center Patrice Bergeron’s latest battle scar from the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.
The veteran was bitten in Wednesday night’s Game 1 loss to the Canucks during a first-intermission scrum by forward Alexandre Burrows. Today the winger learned he was not punished — suspended or fined — by the NHL for his actions.
“I’m over it,” explained Bergeron today as the Bruins took a day off to regroup after their Game 1 loss. “To be honest with you, I’m looking forward for next game. We’ve got to get back in the series. Like I said [Wednesday] night, it’s the league’s decision and I’ll let them make the call, make the decision. It’s theirs. So I have nothing else to say about it.”
While the league claimed there was no “conclusive” evidence, a video widely available online shows Burrows not only accept Bergeron’s finger into his mouth, but biting down. The cut is just further evidence.
Nonetheless, Bergeron will battle on with his team down 1-0 in the series. And Burrows will be out on the ice as well for Game 2 Saturday night.
“He’s been playing great since the beginning of the season, so we’re pretty happy,” said Vancouver forward Maxim Lapierre about the lack of a suspension for his teammate.
Burrows is the Canucks’ fourth-leading scorer in the playoffs and the third member of their top line alongside Henrik and Daniel Sedin. So Vancouver didn’t want to have to play without him.
“We need him out there,” said Daniel. “He plays in every situation. [He's a] big part of this team. Obviously we’re happy to have him inside the rink.”
Next game,eye gouging & kicking will be allowed.
Burrows did play in the Eat Coast League.
Sorry, that was David I was agreeing with about Kesler.
I don’t mind the non-suspension too much considering the bullets the Bs have dodged. I just don’t want to hear those whiners in Vancouver (and Joe Thornton) complain about the “preferential” treatment the Bruins supposedly get any longer. Don’t forget, this was the team that for some reason(??) seemed to have the most vocal detractors against the Bruins at the time of stanchion-gate. I remember the Sedins and others opening their yappers on the matter.
That more than anything really soured me on the Canucks. Raffi “Psycho” Torres and LaPierre top the list, but most of the others are right there.
But I agree with you on Kesler, TCL… him I still like. I have a hard time not respecting his game, especially this year.
And oh yeah, I don’t think anyone except the most misguided Canucks fan thinks Bergeron is lying. It is crystal clear from the replay what happened, and was before anyone even had a chance to ask Patrice about it.
This Bruins team avoided suspension a few times this year, playoffs included, when it looked inevitable that one was to/should come down. With that in mind no Bruin fan should be surprised or upset with the leagues decision here. Let it go and drop the puck. Burrows will get his I’m sure, and really, won’t that be more satisfying?
Burrows just happens to be a guy who likes to put small oblong shaped objects in his mouth. Where I grew up it’s called queer.
And Torres, and Lapierre, and pretty much all their forwards except Kesseler strangely.
I still think what burns me up more than anything with this decision is that the league has essentially turned Bergeron into a liar.
Its one thing if they said they didn’t think it warranted a supsension or fine, but to pretend like it didn’t happen?
Before this series I didn’t really have a huge dislike for any of the players other than the former Habs-but I have developed a real dislike of Burrows and the Sedins already.