Burrows could face discipline for bite
Posted June 2, 2011 1:55 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — A chippy opener to the Stanley Cup final turned bizarre Monday when Vancouver’s Alex Burrows appeared to bite the finger of a Boston Bruins player during a scrum at the end of the first period.
A replay showed the Canucks winger with Boston centre Patrice Bergeron’s finger in his mouth during a scrum behind the Bruins net at the 20-minute mark of the first period.
After the game, won 1-0 by the Canucks, Bergeron was sporting a bandage on his right index finger.
“He said that I put my finger in his mouth,” Bergeron said. “He said, ‘What else do you want me to do?’ (A referee) said he didn’t see it.”
The incident capped a nasty first game between clubs that rarely see each other during the regular season.
Burrows denied that he bit Bergeron after the game.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “He had his fingers in my mouth but I didn’t think I bit him. You saw. He put his hand up and put it in my face and his fingers in my mouth, and that’s what happened.”
When asked about a possible suspension, Burrows replied: “Next question.” He was then hauled away from reporters by a member of the team’s media relations staff.
There is a precedent for suspending players for biting in the NHL. Ottawa’s Jarkko Ruutu was suspended for two games for clamping down on Buffalo’s Andrew Peters in January 2009.
Bruins forward Marc Savard, who isn’t playing in this series because of a concussion, got one game after biting Toronto forward Darcy Tucker in 2003.
Philadelphia’s Scott Hartnell allegedly bit Pittsburgh defenceman Kris Letang earlier this season, but wasn’t suspended due to lack of evidence.
Bergeron downplayed the incident after the game.
“I don’t want to start a war of words here,” Bergeron said. “I’ve got to concentrate on my game.”
But Boston coach Claude Julien was less than impressed. He said such an incident should not be seen at the NHL level.
“Obviously, there was something that happened,” Julien said. “I guess I’ll save my comments for after I see it, But if that’s the case, it’s a classless move.”
Added Bruins forward Milan Lucic: “All I can say is the league is going to look at it — for sure — and they’re going to make the right call.”
Vancouver captain Henrik Sedin, who was involved in the scrum, said he did not see the incident.
The scuffle began after Bergeron hit Sedin into the end boards as the first-period buzzer sounded.
