After two scoreless periods, the Vancouver Canucks finally broke through the impenetrable wall that is Tim Thomas, and it was one of the instigators finding the back of the net. Max Lapierre has been decried for his somewhat dirty play and propensity for flopping, but it was he who broke the tie, beating Thomas just a few minutes into the third period. The goal gives Vancouver a 1-0 lead in the third period of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Canucks and Bruins picked up where they left off in Game 4 as the hits came early and often. Play was chippy throughout, with plenty of shoving matches and physical play to go around in the first two period. Goals, however, were missing in action, and neither team could string together quality chances.
All that changed in the third with Lapierre's goal. Kevin Bieksa and Raffi Torres were credited with the assists and Rogers Arena erupted with jubilation. After all, this is a Vancouver team reeling after it was outscored by the Bruins in Boston, 12-1.
With just about 13 minutes to go in the third, Vancouver is clinging to a one-goal lead in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals with the series tied at two games apiece.
For more on Game 5, be sure to stay with this StoryStream throughout the evening. More on the game can be found over at Nucks Misconduct, SB Nation's Vancouver Canucks blog, and Stanley Cup of Chowder, SB Nation's Bruins blog.