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NHL Playoff Picks: Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins

The Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins series has been getting plain ugly as both teams attempt to become champions of the NHL. Another close game through one period broke wide open when Alex Edler's stick broke early in the second. Andrew Ference scored 11 seconds in as a result and the floodgates opened for Boston, which scored four times before the period ended and four more in the third, including two shorthanded goals. The Canucks, down to five defenders early because of Aaron Rome was ejected after his late hit knocked Boston forward Nathan Horton out of the game, struggled mightily in their own end and on the power play, turning it into a laugher. The Canucks might have awakened the Bruins and lost another defenseman on the same play. Aaron Rome's late shot to the head of Nathan Horton not only left the Boston winger twitching on the ice before being carted off on a stretcher, it seemed to fire up an opponent that had to be thinking about the end of its season. Boston failed to convert the resulting five-minute power play, but after talking things over in the locker room between periods, the Bruins came out firing in the second, putting the game away with four goals. It was early reminiscent of the Raffi Torres hit on Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook that rallied Chicago from a 3-0 deficit in the first round. The difference is this time, unlike Torres, Rome seems certain to face a suspension for the hit. It wasn't a blindside shot, but it was clearly late, at least a second after Horton passed the puck. Horton was guilty of admiring that pass, but it doesn't excuse the hit, which should leave the Canucks without another defender. The Canucks now need to rebound, but it will be tough to do it on enemy ice as the Bruins even up the series with another big win. Hockey Picks: Boston Bruins Bet the NHL Playoffs at Skybook This online sportsbook has the best odds and wagering opportunities in the NHL playoffs on the road to the Stanley Cup.