NHL: No Biting Penalty for Burrows

(NewsCore) - The NHL announced Thursday it would not penalize Vancouver Canucks winger Alex Burrows for biting the finger of Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Burrows appeared to bite the gloved finger of Bergeron during a shoving match immediately following the first period of Wednesday's series opener.

An incensed Bergeron attempted to show referees the damage inflicted by Burrows' bite, but the Canucks' winger was merely handed a double minor for roughing while Bergeron received a roughing minor.

"He bit me," Bergeron told CTV's "Hockey Night in Canada" in an interview between the second and third periods, with video replay clearly backing up his claim.

But NHL senior vice president of hockey operations Mike Murphy said there will be no supplemental discipline for the Canucks' winger.

"After reviewing the incident, including speaking with the on-ice officials, I can find no conclusive evidence that Alex Burrows intentionally bit the finger of Patrice Bergeron," Murphy said in a statement on NHL.com.

The episode was not a first for the NHL. Ottawa Senators winger Jarkko Ruutu was suspended for two games and fined nearly $32,000 in 2009 after he bit the gloved thumb of Buffalo Sabres' Andrew Peters.

Burrows would not admit he sank his teeth into Bergeron after the Canucks claimed a 1-0 victory courtesy of Raffi Torres with 18 seconds to play.

"I think he had his finger in my mouth, but I don't think I bit him," Burrows said.

The teams face off again in Vancouver Saturday for Game 2 in the best-of-seven series.