VANCOUVER -- Patrice Bergeron is typically considered a mild-mannered guy for the Boston Bruins, but he was enraged at the end of the first period Wednesday night because he felt Vancouver's Alex Burrows bit him on the finger during a post-whistle scrum.
Bergeron and Burrows got tangled up after the horn sounded to end a scoreless first period in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, and the tussle ended up lasting much longer than a typical shoving match.
"Oh yeah, he did," Bergeron said when asked if Burrows bit him. "Obviously he cut me a little bit on my finger. I'm not going to be here and complain about it. I'll let the League do its job, but he sure did."
Bergeron took his glove off after the melee and skated over the officials near the penalty box to show them his finger. Both players received roughing penalties on the play, but Burrows earned an extra two minutes as well -- a double-minor.
"We were battling, we had a little exchange," Burrows said. "I'm not going to say too much about it. Obviously I got four minutes on the play."
When asked if he bit Bergeron, Burrows responded, "I don't think so. He had his finger in my mouth, but I don't think I bit him."
Bergeron said there was no history between the two players. He also said the official nearest to the situation said he didn't see the incident.
"Obviously I don't mind the rough play and those scrums at the end as long as it is just pushing and shoving and all that. But biting? I mean, c'mon," Bergeron said.
Added Boston coach Claude Julien: "I haven't seen it, to be honest with you. I haven't had time to look at that stuff right now. I'm going by what Patrice told me. Obviously there was something that happened. I guess I'll save my comments for after I see it. But if that's the case, it's a classless move … not something players should be doing at this level anyway."
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