Stumpel scored twice in a four-goal first period that was capped by Heinze's first goal of the game with 49 seconds left. Heinze added a power-play goal with 1:23 left in the second period to make it 6-2 as the Bruins completed a two-game season sweep of Vancouver.
"It was nice to jump out early on them," said Heinze, whose Bruins are 36-5-4 all-time at home against Vancouver. "We usually come out flat in afternoon games, and last year, these guys beat us 6-0 here in an afternoon game, so we wanted to get off to a fast start."
Stumpel tallied 47 seconds into the game when he knocked down Don Sweeney's left-point shot and popped the puck over goaltender Corey Hirsch.
"One game doesn't make a trend, but it was very positive coming out of the gate," Bruins coach Steve Kasper said, after his team reached its season high in goals. "For once it was comforting to get a couple of goals lead and play well with it."
Stumpel, who has nine goals, made it 2-0 with 3:30 left in the first with a one-timer from the top right of the crease off a cross-slot feed from Landon Wilson.
"Everyone played well. We played well away from the puck," Stumpel said. "We have to play good defense to win and we knew how fast and talented the Canucks are. We have to continue this tomorrow in Pittsburgh."
Wilson also assisted on the first goal, and Sweeney and Adam Oates had two assists apiece for Boston.
"They (the Canucks) have some speed," he said. "The tendency is to go end to end with them. Today we stayed away from it ... You want to keep up your momentum and take away theirs ..."
Rob DiMaio tallied with a quick wrist shot that went between Hirsch's pads 1:48 later when defenseman Mark Wotton fanned on a pass right in front of his own net. Heinze closed the period 53 seconds later when he broke in alone on Hirsch and deked the puck past the goalie after a left-point pass from Oates.
Vancouver coach Tom Renney said the Canucks didn't show enough emotion.
"Sometimes you have to be able to set yourself on fire," he said. "We've got to get ourselves fired up to play, and that's the responsibility of the players as well as the coaches."
Martin Gelinas got the Canucks within 4-1 in the first minute of the second period, but Rich Tocchet scored on a breakaway at 5:05 to restore Boston's four-goal lead. Tocchet, the subject of trade rumors earlier this week, left the game later in the second period with a left knee sprain and did not return.
"It's a little sore. I don't know when it happened exactly, but the guy I hit for the penalty rolled on it," Tocchet said. "Tomorrow, I hope it feels better, but I'm close to 100 percent sure that I won't play (at Pittsburgh)."
The Canucks got a breakaway goal from Donald Brashear to slice the lead to 5-2, but Bill Ranford stopped a breakaway shortly thereafter to keep the Bruins' three-goal cushion. Ranford finished with 23 saves.
Heinze scored on the power play, his team-best 11th goal, to make it 6-2 near the end of the second. Sandy Moger tallied on the power play for Boston 3:03 into the third and Mike Ridley made the final margin for Vancouver with 8:54 left.
Hirsch finished with 18 saves on 24 shots before being replaced by Mike Fountain, who made nine saves on 10 shots in the third period.
"We were really flat early," Hirsch admitted. "Once they scored, it seemed like everything went in. We're disappointed because we came out flat early and never recovered."
Jon's 3 stars:
1. Jozef Stumpel
2. Steve Heinze
3. Bill Ranford
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