Vancouver Canucks win seventh in a row, thumping Bruins 6-2

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      The Vancouver Canucks finished off a perfect five-game homestand with a convincing victory over the Boston Bruins.

      The 6-2 win marked the Canucks’ seventh straight victory.

      The Canucks looked serious early on when centre Ryan Kesler initiated a fight with Bruins veteran Jarome Iginla.

      Ten minutes later, Jannik Hansen gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead on a fluke slapshot from centre ice, which eluded Bruins goalie Tuuka Rask.

      Things were not looking so good for the home team early in the second period when the Bruins took over the play and tied the game 1-1 on an unassisted goal by Reilly Smith.

      Canucks coach John Tortorella immediately called a time-out, ripping into his players on the bench.

      Afterward, he refused to discuss what was said, only saying that the team wasn't playing well.

      The coach's lecture seemed to fire up Vancouver players, who scored two quick goals by David Booth and Chris Higgins.

      Bruins forward Brad Marchand tried to rattle the Canucks by blowing on his ring finger—a reminder that his team won the Stanley Cup at Rogers Arena in 2011. It was their first match-up in Vancouver since the Canucks lost that seventh game.

      Marchand's antics had little effect on Vancouver, who turned it into a blowout with third-period goals by Yannick Weber, Henrik Sedin, and Chris Tanev.

      Tanvev scored a shorthanded goal on a beautiful pass from Mike Santorelli, who also assisted on Higgins's marker.

      Smith scored a second goal on the doorstep late in the third period, but it didn’t make any difference to the outcome.

      Roberto Luongo had another strong game in goal, blocking 39 of 41 shots.

      His performance during the homestand has likely elevated his chance of being named to Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey team.

      The Canucks are in fourth place in the Pacific Division with 45 points in 35 games. 

      Vancouver's next game is in Minnesota against the Wild on Tuesday (December 17).

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