For Vancouver Canucks fans, it seems like a lifetime ago.
After four straight seasons out of the playoffs, it’s hard to remember back to the time where the Canucks were a force amongst NHL teams.
That includes the 2011 Stanley Cup run, which was kick started by one of the most famous goals in team history, eight years ago today.
That goal, of course, is Alex Burrows’ game seven overtime winner against the Chicago Blackhawks.
After two straight second round playoff losses to the Blackhawks, the Canucks took a 3-0 series lead against their arch-rival in the first round of the 2011 playoffs.
It looked like it was in the bag, but Chicago stormed back with three straight wins to tie the series at three and send it to a do-or-die game seven.
Memories of the previous two years came flooding back in Vancouver, especially when the game headed to overtime tied at one goal apiece, but that’s when Burrows played the role of hero.
Canucks play-by-play man John Shorthouse’s call sounded like this:
“Campoli has it, flips it, Burrows steals, cutting in, shoots, SCORES! They’ve slayed the dragon! Alex Burrows, 5:22 into overtime, game seven goes to Vancouver!”
It’s a call that Canucks fans will remember forever and it led to a memorable playoff run that unfortunately ended in heartbreak when the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup on the same ice surface.
Despite how that playoff run ended, finally beating the Blackhawks and how it happened has made Burrows’ overtime goal one of the most iconic in Canucks’ franchise history.
For an extended video of Burrows' goal and the call from Jim Hughson on CBC, click this link.
