Bruins, Canucks set for intense showdown between NHL’s top two teams

Bruins, Canucks set for intense showdown between NHL’s top two teams originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s been a long time since there was so much anticipation for a game between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks at TD Garden.

The Canucks enter Thursday night’s showdown leading the NHL standings with a 34-11-5 record (73 points). The Bruins sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 31-10-9 record (71 points). The last time the Bruins and Canucks played each other while leading their respective divisions was Jan. 7, 2012 in Boston.

It was the first game between these teams since the B’s defeated the Canucks in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final — one of the most intense and hate-filled playoff series in league history.

The game didn’t disappoint.

There was a line brawl four minutes into the first period. Several other fights happened, too. Brad Marchand clipped Sami Salo in the second period, got ejected and was later suspended five games. The Canucks won 4-3 on four power-play goals. It was a great victory for Vancouver, but it didn’t change what happened the previous June.

Much of the animosity between these teams has died down in recent years. Only Brad Marchand remains from the 2011 rosters. The Canucks being a mostly average team (or worse) for the last decade hasn’t helped, either.

While the Bruins have been a contender for most of the last 13 years with 10 playoff appearances and two more trips to the Stanley Cup Final during that span, the Canucks have largely struggled. Vancouver has missed the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons, including each of the last three.

We probably won’t see the kind of fireworks and hatred from the 2012 game when these teams play Thursday night. What we will see is two of the most talented squads in the league…