Stanley Cup Finals Preview

By: Mike Asti

Hayden Panettiere will be watching the Stanley Cup Finals..so should you.

(1) Vancouver Canucks, Championships:0

Last Stanley Cup Win: NA

Last Stanley Cup Final: 1994

Last Post-season Appearance: 2010

Players With Bling: Mikael Samuelsson



(3) Boston Bruins; Championships:5



Last Stanley Cup Win: 1972

Last Stanley Cup Final: 1990

Last Post-season Appearance: 2010

Players With Bling: Mark Recchi (2), Shawn Thornton



After a great season and one of the most entertaining playoffs in recent memory, only two teams remain. Sports fans are left with their final couple weeks of jaw-dropping goals, back breaking saves, and games that appear to be never ending. This is somewhat depressing news, yet we all knew this day would come. All signs point to the last matchup of the 2010-2011 season picking up right where the others have left off. Just like last year, one franchise is guaranteed to put an end to a long history of pain and misery.







I already explained the plight of Canuck Nation, it hasn't exactly been easy for Bruin fans either. Boston is a city that has witnessed a plethora of conference titles, championships, and winning over the last 10 years. The Patriots, Red Sox, and Celtics have made the city very proud, the Bruins..not so much. Prior to this season, Boston's hockey team only had two playoff series victories over the same time the other professional franchises in town combined for 6 championships, along with 2 other failed cracks at glory. The Bruins last finals appearance was 1990, their last title, 1972. Yup, it's been a while. The Patriots won their first title, the Celtics claimed their first since 1988, and the Red Sox broke one of the most famous curses. This all happened over the last decade, is it now the NHL's Bruins turn? I think a couple Swedish twins and starving goalie rocking the number 1 on his sweater will have something to say about that.



Here's how the Buzz-saw sees the series playing out:



My co-host, George Gerbo, and I have been riding the Bruins bandwagon since the puck dropped on the 2011 post-season. Now that our train remains, most would figure I wouldn't jump off now. Well, I usually wouldn't, but destiny seems to be following this Vancouver squad. These teams are obviously both good, but in two different ways. The Canucks rely on an explosive offense. The Bruins own a terrifying defensive unit. One of these will have to give. The only thing they have in common, two elite hot goalies. This is a recipe for an exciting final to say the least.



Advantages:

Offense: While Vancouver has more star power, don't sell Boston short. Daniel and Henrik Sedin are beasts and any opponent always needs to be fully aware every time they step foot on the ice. In some sports having two premiere all-stars might be enough, this is not one of them (FYI - that was not a Miami Heat dig). Luckily for the Canucks, shutting down the Sedins is in no way a guarantee for success. Ryan Kesler moved away from his MVP teammates shadow so much that if his team wins the title he is the odds on favorite to win the Conn Smythe award (playoff MVP). Kesler leads Vancouver in scoring, he's 4th among all players throughout the playoffs, with 18 points. The twins disappeared in their second round matchup with Nashville and Kesler put his teammates on his shoulders. Then the Sedins returned to form in the Conference Finals and the NHL's big 3 was the well oiled machine again. Alex Burrows and a defensive core led by Kevin Bieksa has provided the Canucks the necessary depth that some pundits (myself included) thought would be missing. Bieksa has been Mr. Clutch, scoring 5 goals, 9 total points, and becoming the toast of British Columbia, after blasting home a weird conference winning goal to eliminate San Jose.



For Boston, offense doesn't come as easy. The Bruins don't have the stereotypical super-star. Fortunately, their whole team has more then made up for it. David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton, Patrice Burgeron, and a young kid who has quickly become a household name, Tyler Seguin are the main group. The phrase the team is only as good as the sum of its parts. That statement could not be truer in reference to the Bruins. Every mentioned player has traded off carrying the load game by game and series by series. Who will control the charge in the finals? My guess look to Hornton. He is red hot and is responsible for the only goal from game 7 of the East Final. Mark Recchi, not mentioned above, is most likely embarking on his last finals of his illustrious career, possibly his last games too. Recchi already has two rings on his mantle, 15 years apart (1991 Pittsburgh, 2006 Carolina). He is the leader on and off the ice. I wouldn't be shocked if he makes one last impact. Advantage: Vancouver

Defense: Defensively, this is the exact reversal. Boston is home to two perennial all-stars, Zedno Chara and Tomas Kaberle. While Kaberle best days are behind him, Chara is quickly building his resume for the Hall of Fame. These men create a wall in front of the net. Chara has it all, physicality, skill, and force. If the Bruins win, Chara will undoubtedly log the most ice time. It's his job to try to shutdown the potent Canuck attack.



Vancouver's defensive roster is hockey's version of the no name defense. I doubt any casual fan can name one of these guys. That doesn't matter. Bieksa, Keith Ballard, Sami Salo, Christian Ehrhoff, Dan Hamhuis, and Alexander Elder provide a total team effort. So much so, these guys combined for 8 goals in the Western Conference Finals compared to only 2 defensive tallies from the Sharks.Advantage: Boston

Goalies: This is possibly the toughest category to decide. Flip a coin if you like, this could go either way. My hunch..Luongo keeps it up. Roberto Luongo, even after winning an Olympic Gold Medal, has had a storm of criticism his entire career for coming up small in big games. He has had a legendary regular season career, but the playoffs is what matters most. The hungry Canuck fans want the cup. God help us all if they don't get it this time. This post-season has been a roller coaster ride for Luongo. He has experienced a game 7 victory despite being out played by his counterpart, being pulled in favor of a "the future," and then standing on his head, as Vancouver reached their first finals since 1994. Roberto needs a championship to silence his many critics and he knows it.

Tim Thomas is the other half of this great goalie battle. Thomas is going to win his 2nd Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie) this year and has carried over that level of play to the playoffs. A Bruins title will rely on Thomas dominating, it could happen. If it does, he takes home a second piece of hardware, the NHL playoff MVP. This is by far my most controversial pick yet. Advantage: Vancouver (on a hunch)

Coaching: Neither head coach has lifted the cup or tasted any kind of similar success, so this could go either way. Claude Julien and Alain Vigneault truly know their teams blindfolded and have pressed all the right buttons so far. Julien was once seen as a good coach who couldn't win the big one. He actually was once fired by the New Jersey Devils for this exact reason. Julien loves proving his previous employers wrong and does with each passing day. Vigneault does have a Jack Adams Trophy (Coach of The Year) to his credit, along with a couple other nominations, including this season. Unfortunately, that has not turned into much post-season success. Times have changed and these men want to go that final step further. They are starving for glory, but only one can have it.Advantage: Push

Secondary Guys: Star power is awesome, but every champion has had extreme depth to their lineup. Steve Yzerman is legendary, but it was career grinder, Darren McCarty that scored the cup clincher in 1997. McCarty type players have come up big ever since. Lapointe, Fedotenko, and Talbot are not going to the Hall of Fame. However, those names live forever in Stanley Cup lure thanks to clutch performances on champions. Bieksa, Horton, and a 19 year old Tyler Seguin have fit this bill for the finals representatives through the first three rounds. Will it be one of them to do it in the finals? Will someone else come out of nowhere and step up? Keep an eye on Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and Michael Ryder for Boston. Chris Higgins, Kevin Bieksa, and Alexander Burrows are on my watch list for Vancouver. Advantage: Boston


All eyes are on Roberto Luongo, as he plays the biggest games of his hockey life.Pick: I wouldn't be shocked if either team won. Boston has finally managed to get over the hump and has tons of pressure to live up to the standard of the teams they share a city and region with. My heart kinda wants the Bruins to win, it is likely the last shot for a 38 year old Tim Thomas. My gut tells me Vancouver is destined. The Canucks are primed and playing their best hockey at the best possible time. Every game will be close, but I see this as one of those quick series that could go either way. The Plight of Canuck Nation will FINALLY end and the "cup curse of Canada" dies.



Vancouver wins the 2011 Stanley Cup in 6. Conn Smythe: Ryan Kesler