Stanley Cup finals: Bruins 0, Canucks 0 after first period

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The lively crowd was worked up into a frenzy before the game, and that energy carried over to the players’ benches. The scoreless first period was played at a rapid pace and with some crunching hits.

The first period was scoreless and ended with a scrum that took a while to break up. Each team had chances on the power play but couldn’t convert, a familiar refrain for the Bruins -- who were five for 61 with the man advantage during the first three rounds -- and less familiar for the Canucks, who had been 17 for 60 (28.3%) before Wednesday’s game.

The Bruins were scoreless in three advantages, including during a double-minor penalty called against Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin for high-sticking Zdeno Chara at 4:03. Boston had five minutes 31 seconds’ worth of power-play time. The Canucks had two advantages and 3:31 of power-play time.

Any thoughts that the teams would be cautious at the start were quickly banished by Vancouver’s clever counterattacks and Boston’s verve.

Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo stopped 17 shots and Boston’s Tim Thomas stopped 12.

The Bruins were credited with 15 hits, to 11 by the Canucks.

Check back later for more from Rogers Arena.

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-- Helene Elliott in Vancouver, Canada