Canucks: 3 takeaways from 9-3 slaughter over Bruins

On Saturday night the Vancouver Canucks eyed their division’s top spot, but in order to get there, they’d have to beat the league’s best, the Boston Bruins. Here’s what we learned.

There’s always a different feeling in the air when the Boston Bruins come to the pacific west coast for a heavily contested battle against the Vancouver Canucks. A feeling deep within the BC fanbase that plants you at the edge of your seat ready to get revenge, your head pounding with anger, the memories fluttering back faster and faster. The hatred of the 2011 Finals loss still driving the strong desire from within to beat the big bad Bruins.

Something felt different this time around. It means more. This is late February hockey, the Canucks are in the thick of things pushing for playoff positioning, going all-in, and they have unfinished business with Matt Grzelcyk. His late hit on Elias Pettersson just over a couple of weeks ago went uncalled and unanswered. Travis Green voiced his displeasure about the attack and since the incident, the Canucks have made an NHL wide statement — answering the bell six times since that game.

The battle was bound to get heated. Watching the game, you just knew it was going to be intense. The Canucks were determined to show Boston some feistiness and bite (we all remember the bite). The Canucks are not to be messed with anymore. A big two points on the line, how would Vancouver measure up when trying to dethrone the league’s best team? Let’s take a look at three takeaways from Saturday night’s Hockey Night in Canada showdown where the Canucks won 9-3.