Recchi put the Bruins ahead 2:35 later, scoring just their second road power-play goal of the entire postseason. The veteran forward from nearby Kamloops, British Columbia, artfully deflected a heavy shot by Chara, who moved back to the point on Boston's power play after playing in front of Luongo in Game 1.

The Bruins had just one goal on the power play in six games before Recchi scored. Recchi, who plans to retire if the Bruins win the Cup, hadn't scored in 11 previous playoff games since April 30.

The Sedins' line finally connected midway through the third period after Daniel took the puck away from Chara in Boston's end. Burrows eventually found Daniel Sedin on the other side of Thomas' net, and the Hart Trophy finalist fired home his ninth goal of the postseason.

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Malhotra seemed unlikely to make an impact on Vancouver's playoff run when a deflected puck hit him in the face nearly three months ago. He needed two operations around his left eye, yet the cerebral faceoff specialist and defensive forward surprised the Canucks with his rapid recovery, returning to practice three weeks ago.

After a false start before Game 1, Malhotra was ready Saturday. When he stepped on the ice wearing a full face shield for pregame warmups, Vancouver's fans rose and roared, waving white towels — and when his face appeared on the scoreboard between warmups and the opening faceoff, the crowd chanted his name.

When Malhotra stepped onto the ice 1:48 into the first period for a faceoff at center ice, he got an arena-shaking ovation — and he won the draw cleanly.

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Malhotra played nearly 7½ minutes and won 86 percent of his faceoffs.

Vancouver is chasing the first NHL title in its four-decade franchise history after two previous failed trips to the finals. The Bruins haven't won the Stanley Cup since 1972, losing their last five finals appearances.

Notes: The Canucks haven't lost at home since May 7. ... Alberts hadn't played since May 3, sitting out nine games as a healthy scratch. ... Thomas broke Andy Moog's franchise record for minutes played in a single postseason. Moog played 1,196 minutes during Boston's run to the 1990 finals. ... Vancouver native Cobie Smulders, who plays an avid Canucks fan on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" and in real life, attended the game with her partner, Taran Killam of "Saturday Night Live."