6/10
Game 1-4 we all taken by the home teams in rout to making this series a best of three. Game 5 is tonight at 8est on NBC. the struggling Roberto Luongo will get the start for the Canucks as they look to keep the trend going and take game 5 at home. Boston will look to get the series first road win and carry the momentum they have built up through the past two games.
Preview
The Vancouver Canucks will verse the Boston Bruins in the ole fashioned fight for Lord Stanley's Cup beginning Wednesday July 1st. This is everything you need to know.
Schedule
All Games on NBC, CBC and RDS at 8PM EST - 7PM CST - 6PM MST - 5PM PST
Game 1: @ Vancouver, Wednesday June 1st
Game 2: @ Vancouver, Saturday June 4th
Game 3: @ Boston, Monday June 6th
Game 4: @Boston, Wednesday June 8th
*Game 5: @Vancouver, Friday June 10th
*Game 6: @Boston Monday June 13th
*Game 7: @Vancouver Wednesday July 15th
(* If necessary)
Historical Background
Last Cups
Boston: 1972
Vancouver: Never
Vancouver entered the league in 1970 and since has only been to the Stanley Cup Finals twice, losing both time. Once in 1982 losing to the Islanders and again in 1994 losing to the Rangers. They have never met the Bruins in the playoffs.
The Bruins have won five championships dating back to their first win in 1929 when they defeated the Rangers 2-0 in a best of 3 series. Their two most recent cup victories came in 1970 and '72, none since. They have been in five Stanley Cup Finals since with this being their 6th, in total winning 5 games in 5 trips since '72.
Cup winners
Vancouver has 1 cup winner on their roster in Mikeal Samuelsson (Detroit, 2008)
Boston also has just 1 cup winner on their roster in Mark Recchi who has 2 rings (Pittsburgh '91, Carolina '05)
Experience has shown to reign key in the finals and these team draw equal. Samuelsson dramatically stepped up for the Wings in '08 scoring when it counted. Recchi is proof that age is nothing but a number, one of the smartest players in the game will look to raise the cup for yet another time.
The Regular Season
Storylines
Vancouver all out dominated this season winning 54 games and easily sealing the President's Trophy given to the top team in the league. They also had a league best 262 goals for and the best (Goals For)/(Goals Against) difference scoring 77 more goals then they had given up, in 82 games.
The Sedin's made a case for duel MVP candidates with another great season topping 90 points, Daniel with 104 on 41 goals and Henrik with 94 on a league high 75 assists. Breakout star Ryan Kesler also put 41 pucks behind the line to set a new career high. Do not forget about Roberto Luongo, he posted a 2.11 GAA to compliment his 38 wins and a Vezina Nomination.
There is another Vezina candidate on Boston who has something to say about Luongo's chance. Tim Thomas had a comeback year of the ages racking up 35 wins on a league low 2.00 GAA. Boston finished 3rd in the eastern conference with 46 wins, enough to lock up the Northeast Division title. There was a tied for the top point getter on the Bruins as playmaking David Krejci and powerforward Milan Lucic both tallied 62 points, a drastic contrast from the Canucks top scorers. Boston's defense is led by Zdeno Chara who ended the year with 44 points and a team high +33 +/-.
Team Leaders
Vancouver
Goals - Daniel Sedin, Ryan Kesler - 41
Assits - Henrik Sedin - 75
Points - Daniel Sedin - 104
Powerplay Goals - Daniel Sedin - 18
Shorthanded Goals - Ryan Kesler - 3
Plus/Minus - Kevin Bieksa - 32
Shooting Percentage - Alex Burrows - 17%
Bruins
Goals - Milan Lucic - 30
Assists - David Krejci - 49
Points - David Krejci, Milan Lucic - 62
Powerplay Goals - Zdeno Chara, Micheal Ryder - 8
Shorthanded Goals - Brad Marchant - 5
Plus/Minus - Zdeno Chara - 33
Shooting Percentage - Milan Lucic - 17%
The Postseason
Series Breakdown
Vancouver has defeated the Blackhawks, Predators and Sharks to seal a bid into the Final dance.
A close call in round one after losing three straight to come up with a huge overtime win in Game 7 versus their former reoccurring-postseason roadblock the Chicago Blackhawks. Questions continued in their second round series against the Nashville Predators where they pulled in 6 games despite Nashville's rising star in net Pekka Rinne. Then came redemption, the Canucks shut the hockey world up by completely dismantling the San Jose Sharks in just 5 games winning on Kevin Bieska Game 5 goal, and scoring 20 goals in the 5 games.
The Bruins had their own form of redemption in the second round. Just after barely slipping by their rival Montreal Canadiens in a tight Game 7, the Bruins they swept the Philadelphia Flyers, utterly dominating them in four straight games. Tampa Bay posed the biggest threat and took Boston into the 3rd period of Game 7 when finally the Bruins broke the 0-0 deadlock and stole the game on a Nathan Horton goal with 8 minutes remaining in regulation.
Team Leaders
Vancouver
Goals - Daniel Sedin - 8
Assits - Henrik Sedin - 19
Points - Henrik Sedin - 21
Plus/Minus - Kevin Bieksa- 10
Boston
Goals - David Krejci - 10
Assists - Patrice Bergeron - 11
Points - David Krejci, Nathan Horton - 17
Plus/Minus - Zdeno Chara - 10
Stunning Stat
Vancouver
Daniel and Henrik are a combined -8.
Boston
David Krejci has a shooting percentage of 27%.
Transactions
Season's Bests
Vancouver
Signing Manny Malhorta as a free agent on July 1st. Injured all postseason, but still a leader and best penalty killer and faceoff all season.
Boston
Trading for Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell on June 22nd. Horton has a team high share with 17 points this postseason and Campbell has been the Bruins most consistent penalty killer.
Trading for Rich Peverley on February 18th. Peverley has been great with the Bruins despite his lack of production. His all out play has made him a 3rd line stud in Boston.
(This post will be constantly updated as the series progresses)
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