"Ryan Kesler struggled to find the words, but the Vancouver Canucks' gritty centre really didn't have to. His face told the whole story.

His tear-filled, red eyes, his quivering lip, said it all.

This one hurt more than words could ever say.

"Tough," Kesler said before pausing to compose himself. "I really thought we were going to win. I can't put it into words right now."

Kesler had just one assist in the seven-game Stanley Cup final that ended Wednesday night when the Boston Bruins beat the Canucks 4-0 at Rogers Arena.

He was one of the big guns on the Canucks who couldn't score. Vancouver was outscored 23-8 by the Bruins in the series.

Kesler clearly did not have all the bullets in his pistol. He pulled up lame in Game 5 of the Western Conference final against San Jose, but returned to score a late goal to force overtime and allow Kevin Bieska to score the series-clinching goal against the Sharks.

That was the last goal of the playoffs for Kesler, who collected 41 goals in the regular season.

The suspicion is that Kesler played the rest of the playoffs with some type of groin tear and was being shot up with painkillers before each game.

Kesler would not discuss his health."