Bieksa: 'They're a better team on home ice'

BOSTON -- Kevin Bieksa is one of the leaders of the Vancouver Canucks. With Dan Hamhuis out of the lineup, Bieksa has taken on added responsibility with his defensive partner during the playoffs sidelined during the Stanley Cup Final.

Bieksa was one of six Canucks who avoided a minus rating during Monday night's 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. The impending free agent logged a game high 25:57 of ice time and led all players with 8 shots on goal.

Following the loss, the always eloquent Bieksa spoke about the loss and what to expect during Wednesday night's Game 7 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver:

Q: Is this reason why you battle all season long for home-ice advantage?

Bieksa: That's absolutely right. Everybody's good on home ice, especially in the playoffs. If you're going to get to this far in the playoffs, you need to be good on home ice. Both teams have taken advantage so far. They're a good team and they play really well on home ice. Luckily, we don't have to come back here again this season. We'll go back to Vancouver where we're a pretty good team on home ice and let the crowd get into and have some fun.

Q: Do you think it would have been better if Roberto Luongo didn't say what he said about Tim Thomas between Games 5 and 6?

Bieksa: I don't know what 'Lu' said. What did he say? I don't even care, actually. Never mind.

Q: When you allow the fastest four goals in Stanley Cup history (four goals in 4:14 of the first period), does it just get away from you that quickly?

Bieksa: Statistics aren't our strong suit in this series. Who really cares? We lost the game again. We're not going to put too much into this. We're going to get ready for next game.

Q: Are you concerned that the games have been a lot tighter in Vancouver and more one-sided for Boston here?

Bieksa: It's going to be a close game again. It doesn't matter how we lose and how we win. We seem to win the close wins in Vancouver and lose by a couple goals here. It is what it is. Luckily, we're going back to Vancouver.

Q: Is this the dirtiest series you've been involved in?

Bieksa: I don't know. I don't know how it looks. It doesn't feel like the dirtiest to me. But I'm playing in it, so I don't see everything that happens. No, it's competitive. I wouldn't say it's the dirtiest I've been in.

Q: Why do you think the games have been so different in style and score?

Bieksa: They're a better team on home ice. They play really well here and feed off their crowd. We just haven't been playing as good here. I don't have one reason for you. If I did, we wouldn't be losing by four goals every game here.

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