Late and dirty though Boychuk’s hit on Raymond might have been, my opinion is that he didn’t target Raymond’s spine; he just wasn’t really thinking. If Boychuk were smarter, he would have eased up once he realized Raymond was vulnerable, but he committed to the hit without considering that, and an unfortunate accident resulted.

What astounds me is that this is also the prevailing public opinion. Most people are willing to give Boychuk the benefit of the doubt. Most agree it was just an “awkward play”, as Mike Murphy said in the issued statement that announced no suspension. I simply want to know: where was the benefit of the doubt when Aaron Rome hit Nathan Horton? In that case, prevailing opinion seemed to be that it was intentional.

After his spotty performance last night, much is being made today of Roberto Luongo’s mental fortitude. This time, unlike other times, it’s not entirely unfair. Pulled for the second time in the Stanley Cup Final after allowing three goals in under five minutes in a crucial first period of Game 6, the Vancouver netminder is getting shredded coast to coast.

But enough about Luongo. On the topic of fortitude and shredding, this photo of Cory Schneider from last night’s game is the epitome of both. Pressed into relief duty, the Bostonian backup apparently took the opportunity to act out his lifelong fantasy of playing the entirety of Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain (greatest guitar solo ever) before a sold out TD Garden crowd.

After another decisive road loss during a post season that has had its share of dizzying heights and now back-breaking lows (with all apologies to Mason Raymond), the members of good ship Canuck were all heard to declare they had once again turned the page and were only thinking about game 7.  At this time [...]

Say what you will about some of the judging at UFC 131 (and I say some of it was pretty dire), but you have to give props to new Vancouver Athletic Commission boss Jonathan Tweedale for standing up for his guys.

The chant begins at around the 40 second mark. You stay classy, Boston. It has been reported that Mason Raymond has a fractured vertebrae and will miss 3-4 months.

At least in the first two games in Boston, the Canucks had the decency to have a good first period and give fans hope for a decent performance. No chance of that tonight, as the Canucks’ opening stanza was as painful as Vogon poetry. Everything fell apart faster than dominoes on a rowboat. Luongo ended up shot full of more holes than Daffy Duck. It was more depressing than Requiem for a Dream and had fewer enjoyable moments than Good Luck Chuck. In a word, it was awful. In two words, it was bloody awful. I hated watching it. But I did it for you. No, not you or you. But you. Yeah, you. For you, I watched this game.