The first period of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final Game 1 between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks was a battle, no doubt leaving the players feeling drained. So Alex Burrows decided to have a little snack to boost his energy at the end of the period … unfortunately, Bruins center Patrice Bergeron was the meal:
Burrows was given a double-minor penalty for roughing at 20:00 of the first; Bergeron was given a roughing minor. Vancouver won the game, 1-0, on a Raffi Torres goal with 19 seconds left in the third period.
So our first controversial moment of the Final came 20 minutes into Game 1. Remember: Even though he stepped down from the role before the game, NHL VP Colin Campbell wasn't going to be a part of the supplemental discipline process for the Final — NHL VP Mike Murphy will be the point man on suspensions, since Campbell's son plays for the Bruins.
Will this be a suspension? It's possible. Please recall Jarkko Ruutu getting a two-game suspension in January 2009 for biting Andrew Peters. Scott Hartnell wasn't suspended for an alleged bite on Kris Letang because of lack of video evidence. But this is the Stanley Cup Final, and Burrows is an important player for the Canucks ... though not exactly a darling amongst the league's brass and not exactly the cleanest player.
Said Bergeron after the game, via WEEI in Boston, when asked if Burrows bit him:
"Oh yeah, he did," Bergeron said. "He cut me a little bit on my finger, but I'm not going to complain about it. I'll let the league do their job, but he sure did [bite me]."
Bergeron and Burrows were each given roughing penalties for their tussle at the end of the period, though Bergeron's was a minor and Burrows' was a double-minor. Bergeron wanted further action to be taken against Burrows, though the refs did not see the play. Bergeron was uncharacteristically irate following the play.
"They didn't see it, but we were speaking French and I [asked Burrows] why did he do that," Bergeron said. "That lineseman speaks French, and he said that [Burrows'] explanation was that he put my finger in his mouth and he had to do it."
What do you think? Suspension? Would anyone be surprised if this one is limited to a fine, given the stakes?
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