Bruins rout Canucks, 8-1

BOSTON -- Shortly after the Boston Bruins lost Nathan Horton to a frightening injury, they found a dazzling offensive rhythm that got them back into the Stanley Cup finals.

Andrew Ference and David Krejci each had a goal and an assist during Boston's four-goal second period, Tim Thomas made 40 saves, and the Bruins beat the Canucks, 8-1, in Game 3 last night, trimming Vancouver's series lead to 2-1.

Mark Recchi scored two goals for the Bruins, who turned a big win into a blowout with four more goals in the final 8 1/2 minutes of the third period against goalie Roberto Luongo, who won the first two games of the series in Vancouver.

The Bruins were one goal shy of equaling the finals record of nine in a game, set by Detroit in Game 2 of the 1936 series and matched by Toronto six years later in Game 5. The eight goals were the most scored in the finals since Colorado topped Florida, 8-1, on June 6, 1996, in Game 2, according to STATS LLC.

Boston emerged from its offensive slump after Horton was taken off the ice on a stretcher in the first period after taking a late hit to the head from Vancouver defenseman Aaron Rome.

"It's always tough when a guy goes down," forward Brad Marchand said. "We really wanted to get this win tonight for him." Game 4 is Wednesday in Boston.

"I think what I recall is it was a blindside hit that we've talked about taking out of the game," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "That's my view on it. Let the league take care of it. We're trying to clean that part of the game out."

Marchand scored a short-handed goal in the second period, and Daniel Paille added another shorthanded goal in the third. Recchi, Chris Kelly and Michael Ryder -- who finished with three points -- scored in the final 2 1/2 minutes as the Bruins avoided a 0-3 series deficit.

Boston had managed only three goals in its previous 10 periods before torching Luongo, who stopped 30 shots.

Jannik Hansen broke up Thomas' shutout bid with 6:07 to play for the Canucks, who finally hit a major bump in their roll toward their first Stanley Cup title.

"In the playoffs, a loss is a loss, if you lose in OT or you lose like we did tonight," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said.