This one was for Luc.

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Alex Burrows celebrates his second-period goal Tuesday night in St. Louis.

Photograph by : Getty Images

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When Alex Burrows stood up in the dressing room at the end of regulation time Tuesday, he told his teammates this is the time when heroes are crowned, where legends are born.

He wanted someone to score the big overtime goal. But he wanted it more than the rest.

When the Vancouver Canucks winger buried his overtime chance with 18.9 seconds remaining in the extra session for a 3-2 victory -- his second goal of the game -- he saluted the effort with a bow-and-arrow celebration in honour of his late best friend Luc Bourdon. What better way to sweep the St. Louis Blues in four games than with Bourdon's signature move?

"I sent that arrow [to the] upper deck for Luc," said Burrows.

"We talked about it and I said before the overtime that this is where legends are born. I thought about Luc and I said: 'Let's get the arrow up there.' And I was able to get it. I knew he [Bourdon] was going to be with me and I tried to get it done."

It has been a magical and mystical season for Burrows, who had a career-high 28 goals.

The winger has had four two-goal games this season and three of them have been of special significance.

He had two goals following an emotional video tribute to Bourdon during the Oct. 9 opener. He had two goals on March 3 after signing a four-year, $8-million-US contract extension. And he had two goals Tuesday to send the Blues packing and the Canucks to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Burrows joined the line with Henrik and Daniel Sedin during the third period of a game in St. Louis on Feb. 10. The Canucks were struggling at the time and Burrows would score the 4-4 goal en route to a 6-4 victory. Burrows, better known as a third-line checker and agitator, then turned into an unlikely scorer and has stayed on the top line. For good.

"He clinched the series and I can't think of a guy who deserved it more," said goalie Roberto Luongo.

Ironically, Burrows believed he didn't play that well Tuesday. The hard push the Blues gave the Canucks probably had a lot to do with that.

After Burrows deflected a Shane O'Brien point shot to provide a two-goal cushion, the Blues stormed back.

"They never quit and it didn't feel like a sweep," said Burrows.

"But we found a way to get it done. To kill six minutes of power plays in overtime, we'll take it. Louie made some big saves for us and now we'll be able to rest a bit and make sure we're ready for the next round. We'll have a lot of energy to go and it will be fun."

Burrows will tell you he takes as much pride in the penalty kill as in scoring. The Blues, who had the league's eighth-ranked power play, went 1-for-24 in the series and couldn't convert three 5-on-3 chances in the series.

But with Mats Sundin injured, Burrows even saw more power-play time because he deserved it.

"He makes good plays all the time," said Daniel.

"He's smart enough. And he comes up with that line tonight in the intermission and he scores."

Luc would have been proud.

bkuzma@theprovince.com