THE STANLEY CUP FINAL
Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins

Hockeytalk's Josh Brewster and Charles Smith offer a double dose of Cup Final preview...

Preview by Josh Brewster

TIM THOMAS BOSTON BRUINS

ROBERTO LUONGO VANCOUVER CANUCKS

VANCOUVER CANUCKS
(1^ST WESTERN CONF./PREZ TROPHY WINNER)

GOALTENDING:

With two Vezina Trophy-nominees set to duel in the Stanley Cup Final, let’s start in the net and work our way out.

Too much credit when they win, too much blame when they lose, except, of course, when it’s deserved.    Such is the nature of the position of goaltender.

Roberto Luongo has heard the catcalls. 

Two consecutive playoff losses to the Chicago Blackhawks over the past two seasons. 

Through it all, it’s been hard to argue that the Canucks were on the cusp of a title in recent years and that Luongo was the key reason the club didn’t reach the Promised Land.  It just isn’t the case. 

This postseason, Luongo has proven ready to carry an elite club: 2.11GAA/.928SV%.  Four shutouts. 

Such narrow analysis of the Canucks’ fortunes over the post-lockout age would fail to take into account all that GM Mike Gillis did over the past year or so.  Luongo has a deep, elite club in front of him now, and he’s honored their abilities by carrying them to the Final.

FORWARDS:

Much will be made of the word “depth” amongst each club’s forward lines in this series.  Canucks GM Mike Gillis has done his part stocking his team.

Manny Malhotra, Raffi Torres, Chris Higgins and Max Lapierre represent the depth forwards who always manage to bail out a club in the postseason, and Gillis has stocked his club.  Higgins has four goals, three of them game-winners.  Torres, two. 

The potential return of Malhotra, who suffered a terrible eye injury late in the season, continues to inspire the club. 

Gillis’ acquisition of Malhotra was a true steal, as it was a shocker, considering Malhotra’s successful 2009-10 campain with the San Jose Sharks, culminating in a conference final appearance.  Malhotra helmed the Sharks’ third line effectively. 

Torres managed only one goal late last season in Buffalo, but somehow the Sabres, who needed grit, decided that Torres was of little value.  Torres promptly rattled off 14 goals, a hat trick and four game-winners from a third- or fourth-line position, averaging only 12:29 TOI.  Advantage: Gillis. 

As for the thoroughbreds, Ryan Kesler appears to be a candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy.  After besting the League’s top defenseman, Shea Weber, just often enough in Round 2, it became clear that Kesler (7-11-18) is as vital a cog as either of the Sedin Twins.

Henrik Sedin (2-19-21) dazzled during the conference finals with a whopping 11 assists in five games.  Twin Daniel (8-8-16) was best in the opening round, with five goals in seven games.  Alex Burrows has been tough again this postseason: 7-7-14. 

DEFENSE:

As evidenced by Kevin Bieksa’s series-winning goal against San Jose, the Canucks always have a productive defense.  Even more important than depth on the forward ranks, scoring from defensemen in the playoffs can propel a club over the top.  In Vancouver’s case, it will be the key to the series.  

Christian Ehrhoff, Kevin Bieksa and Alex Edler have combined for nine goals and 29 points in 18 playoff games.  Sami Salo has added three goals while Dan Hamhuis and Aaron Rome have added one each. 

BOSTON BRUINS
(3^rd Eastern Conference)

GOALTENDING:

Tim Thomas will likely walk away with his second Vezina Trophy this June.  Right now, his save on Steve Downie of the Lightning—a right-to-left beauty of a stick save in a tightly-drawn seven-game series—is one of the top highlights of the postseason. 

Thomas’ story is one of Hollywood legend: Years in Europe, the minors, then a real NHL opportunity late by League standards, in his early 30s.  Wins Vezina, loses starting job, gains starting job back, carries club to Stanley Cup Final.  Ah, but how does this film end?  A blaze of silver glory or an acknowledgement of a career well-played?  Considering that Thomas is in good health, is there a sequel?

FORWARDS:

“To your health!” is the appropriate toast for the Eastern Conference champs.  Last season, David Krejci was knocked out of the final five playoff games.  This season, he’s got a hat trick amidst his League-leading 10 playoff goals. 

The oft-concussed Patrice Bergeron (16GP: 4-11-15), snakebit by injury, is back in action.  Michael Ryder (5-6-11), who dipped to 18 goals last season after two 25+ and two 30-goal campaigns previously, has joined Bergeron’s line often, and has racked up two game-winning goals including on in overtime.  Milan Lucic has three, and needs to step up a bit in the goals department, though his effort has been excellent. 

2010 first round pick Tyler Sequin (7GP: 3-3-6) came off the bench and put forth a performance that proved to be a direct challenge to Coach Claude Julien’s notions of what a rookie can do in the postseason.  Similar for Brad Marchand, who has contributed six goals.

GM Peter Chiarelli’s acquisition of career Panther Nathan Horton worked brilliantly.  Sixth overall in playoff scoring (8 9 17), Horton has three game winning goals in the postseason, second only to Krejci’s four.  

They say that Vancouver has the depth, but it’s possible that the Bruins have some surprises, and like Gillis, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has some notable depth acquisitions of his own this season.

Chris Kelly, who came over from Ottawa after regularly contributing 10+ goals throughout his checking-line career, has four postseason markers.  Rich Peverley, acquired from the former Atlanta Thrashers after scoring 22 goals in 2009-10, has two goals including one game-winner this postseason.

DEFENSE:

When you have Sasquatch-on-skates in Zdeno Chara, you, by definition, have a good defense.  Defensively, that is, in the case of Boston, who may find that the key goals they don’t get in this series didn’t come from the blueline. 

Johnny Boychuk has three goals from the blueline, while Chara and Andrew Ference have two playoff goals each.  Dennis Seidenberg has added seven assists.  Tomas Kaberle has eight assists, no goals.

Defensively, sound.  But if you’re looking for a reason why Boston’s power play has been anemic (8.2%), look no further than the blue line.

PREDICTION:

Depth forwards will command the attention of the keen-eyed critics, but in the end, those shots from the blue line either need to go in, or be tipped in.  Vancouver has the edge, big-time, in that regard.

Mark your calendars: June 10, 2011.  In the name of the Father, the Son, and Harold Snepts, Toni Tanti, Dale Tallon, Markus Naslund, Jiri Bubla, Tiger Williams, Ivan Boldirev, Tomas Gradin, Stan Smyl, Richard Brodeur, Glen Hanlon, Kirk MacLean and of course, Trevor Linden, it shall come to pass that the Stanley Cup will be won by the Vancouver Canucks--as predicted here in Hockeytalk last Summer--in five tightly drawn contests.  40 years after joining the NHL, the Canucks finally seize the day.  So it shall be in Vancouver, BC, on June 10, 2011. 

JOSH BREWSTER SAYS:

VANCOUVER IN 5

PREVIEW BY CHARLES SMITH:

After three rounds of highs and lows, thrills and spills, elation and heartbreak, and wondering what could have been, it has come down to this. A trophy more prized by athletes than Kim Kardashian, the final chase for the holy grail begins on June 1st in Vancouver.

No matter which team wins, there is a feel-good story to be told. The Boston Bruins, a proud Original Six franchise, last won the Cup in 1972 and has endured fruitless trips to the Final in 1974, 1977, 1978, 1988, and 1990. They now make a return to the big money round for the first time in 21 years.

The Vancouver Canucks, part of the second wave of expansion, joined the league in 1970 , and made their first trip to the final 12 years later. 1982 would see Vancouver fall victim to the New York Islanders' dynasty, as the latter won the third of four straight Cups. The Canucks would return to the final in 1994, where they would come back from a 3 games to 1 deficit against the New York Rangers, but fall short in the deciding Game 7 by a score of 3-2.

Add to this whole mix, that no Canadian team has hoisted the hardware since 1993, and one has all the drama, stories, subtexts, and intrigue one needs in order to stay riveted to the TV set for the duration.

In comparing the two teams, both have goaltending which can be stellar at times, average at times, and occasionally, just downright heartbreaking.

Tim Thomas (Vezina Trophy 2008-2009) for Boston, and Roberto Luongo (Olympic Gold 2010) for Vancouver, have superstar credentials, but both are prone to having some rather curious outings between the pipes. Bottom line though, both men have played well when they really needed to play well, and that is why both teams have made it to this point. Both squads have fought through adversity, as both needed OT wins in Game seven of the opening round in order to stay alive. The Bruins were also forced to seven games in the Conference final vs Tampa Bay.

The forward position would appear to be tilted in favor of the Canucks. Daniel and Henrik Sedin now appear healthy, though neither was ever officially listed as injured in any way. Ryan Kesler has now taken his game to the next level, and beyond. As the Sedins struggled a bit in the first two rounds, it was Kesler who almost single-handedly broke the will of the Nashville predators in Round two. Chris Higgins, and Alex Burrows are playing their usual tough game, and Raffi Torres is just as nasty as ever. Also there are rumors swirling about that Manny Malholtra might be ready for action in the final.

All of this does not mean that the Bruins' forwards are to be taken lightly. Nathan Horton has been clutch, and with his game 7 game winning goal against Tampa, became to first player ever to record two Game 7 GWGs in the same playoff year. Patrice Bergeron is also a constant thorn in the side of opposing forwards, and at 43 years old, Mark Recchi still has a spring in his stride. Also dangerous is David Krejci, who is always ready with the dagger, should the moment present itself. Vancouver has an edge up front, but they will need to give a 100% effort every game in order to maintain it. Should the Canucks ever come out a step slow, Boston will take advantage.

Defensively, it is a no-brainer to call Zdeno Chara the best defenseman in the series. The 6'9" blueliner will be pivotal if Boston is to take this series. The defensive corps of Vancouver does not get much ink, and are as close to a no-name defense as one can get. In fact, were it not for Christian Ehrhoff, they would be. Ehrhoff is a good playmaker, but no where near the caliber of Chara defensively. Both teams have defensive pairings which function well together as a unit. In fact, were it not for the dominating presence of Chara, this would be a wash. As it is though, advantage Boston.

PREDICTION:

Roberto Luongo must be the equal of Tim Thomas in net. If that happens, then the Canucks' ability to sustain pressure for longer periods of time, should prove the difference in the long run.

Both teams have quick strike capability, but Boston has no duo which can match the Sedins. Even if the Sedins are held somewhat in check, look for Ryan Kesler to be the difference maker in the series.

Boston fans have been waiting a long time for the Bruins to hang Championship Banner number six. Unfortunately, the wait will continue. Vancouver will bring home the first Cup in franchise history, and Canada it's first Cup since 1993 - in six games.

Conn Smythe: Should Vancouver prevail, look for Ryan Kesler to be the Conn Smythe winner. If Boston wins, it will be Tim Thomas.

CHARLES SMITH SAYS:

VANCOUVER IN 6