Playing for Horty

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins gingerly tapped their sticks on the ice while medical personnel wheeled Nathan Horton out of the hushed arena through the Zamboni tunnel, his neck fixed in a brace after a late hit to the head from Vancouver’s Aaron Rome.

Horton’s teammates needed a few minutes to clear their minds after such a frightening injury. When they finally got their heads together, they created an offensive avalanche that got them right back in this series.

Andrew Ference and David Krejci each had a goal and an assist during Boston’s 4-goal second period, Tim Thomas made 40 saves, and the Bruins beat the Canucks 8-1 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday night, trimming Vancouver’s series lead to 2-1.

“It’s always tough when a guy goes down,” said forward Brad Marchand, who scored a short-handed goal in the second. “We really wanted to get this win tonight for him. It’s a very tough situation, and everyone is worried about him, but it definitely gave us motivation to win.”

Game 4 is Wednesday in Boston.

Boston burst out of a three-game offensive slump one period after Horton was taken off the ice on a stretcher five minutes into the game, rendered senseless by Rome’s check in the neutral zone. Horton was talking and moving his extremities after going to a hospital.

Mark Recchi scored 2 goals for the Bruins, who turned a big win into a blowout with 4 more goals in the final 8½ minutes of the third period. Boston produced its highest-scoring playoff game since getting 9 goals on April 20, 1983.

“We talked a lot about playing for Horty,” said the 43-year-old Recchi, already the oldest player to score a goal in the Finals. “He’s been a great teammate for us all year. It’s tough to see your teammate down on the ice. We knew it was a late hit, but we’re a little more concerned with his health at this point.”

Boston had managed just 3 goals in its previous 10 periods before torching Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, who stopped 30 shots. The Bruins hadn’t even scored 6 goals in a Finals game since May 5, 1970, in Game 2 against St. Louis on the way to their last championship.