Stanley Cup Final Game 7

Boston Bruins win Stanley Cup
Thomas wins Conn Smythe: 2nd American so honored
By Charles Smith and Josh Brewster | Hockeytalk.biz

JUNE 15, 2011 -- The Boston Bruins finally broke the pattern of statistical anomalies which ran rampant in this series and defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 in Game 7 to capture their first Stanley Cup championship since 1972.

The Bruins outscored Vancouver, 23-9.  That the Canucks managed to win thee games was an example of how strange and contentious the series had become.

By Game 4 or so--depending on who you believe--Tim Thomas salted away the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP.  Thomas gave up only eight goals and recorded two shutouts (one at home, one on the road).  Wednesday, the inevitable presentation of the Smythe came after his club's first road win of the series. 

His performance was reminiscent of the all-time greats, on par with famous postseason performances by Ken Dryden, J-S Giguere, Grant Fuhr, Ron Hextall or Patrick Roy, just to name a few notable performances of the post-expansion era. 

"I've been dreaming of this since I was a little kid," said a tearful Thomas on the Rogers Arena ice shortly afterward.  "We found a way whenever our backs were against the wall....we won the last game of the season.  What can I say?"

For Boston, it was a matter of overcoming.

"It's an amazing feeling,” said Boston Captain Zdeno Chara. “We overcame so many difficult obstacles and we hung in there."

Shorthanded by injuries to Marc Savard and Nathan Horton, former first round pick Patrice Bergeron (6 postseason goals) earned every nickel the patient organization ever paid for his services.

Bergeron, who suffered a horrific string of concussions in recent years overcame yet another one earlier in the postseason. He finished with two goals in Game 7, including one shorthanded, and six total this postseason.

Rookie Brad Marchand also scored two goals Wednesday.

"I love being part of the action," said Marchand. "I got a couple of lucky bounces," he added, humbly. Nothing humble about his play. Marchand led the Cup final with five goals in the series, and also tied Jeremy Roenick for 2nd all-time in playoff goals by a rookie with eleven (Dino Ciccarelli scored 14 in 1981).

Zdeno Chara was a force throughout the series, and his most notable opponents, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, had a rough ride in the series.

"We were really focused and determined and paid attention to details, we played simple and hard and tried to win every race,” said Chara, who accepted the Cup from Commissioner Gary Bettman and handed it first to Mark Recchi, who retired afterward.

Henrik Sedin scored one point—a goal in Game 6. Daniel recorded one goal and three assists. Worse for the Sedin Twins, they were on the ice for every Boston goal in Game 7.

I can't put it into words right now," said dejected Canuck Captain Kesler, who played injured and generated only one point in the final.   

Vancouver netminder Roberto Luongo (left), who on the road in this series, had been lit up for 15 goals in three games, but had given up only two goals in the three games played in Vancouver, and finally ran out of luck. The former Canucks’ captain ended the series by curiously giving up 18 goals in his last five games played. His Canucks had a 3-2 lead in the series, but he gave up three goals on only eight shots before being pulled in Game 6 in Boston.

Then came Game 7.

It has been said for years that Luongo needed to win a Cup to silence his critics. In light of what just occurred, he not only did not silence them, but if it turns out that he did win the Vezina Trophy (for which he and Tim Thomas are Finalists, along with Pekka Rinne of Nashville), it will be open season on the man they call “Bobby Lu”.

In this series, He had folded like a lawn chair on the road, but was unbeatable at home, except when it mattered most, but he does not deserve all the blame. The high-powered Canucks offense, which led the entire NHL in regular season scoring, managed only 7 goals in the Cup Final – one goal less than Boston scored in Game 4 alone.

Henrik and Daniel Sedin were definitely less than spectacular, and they too will face plenty of criticism and skepticism next season. Daniel is a Hart Trophy (regular season MVP) finalist. If he wins the Award, he may have to go into hiding. Henrik won the Award last season.

Boston Goalie Tim Thomas took home the Conn Smythe Trophy for Playoff MVP. Thomas can now hold his head up higher than ever, and keep flashing his infectious smile. This was his third Game 7 win of this postseason. He was again stellar when it mattered most, that is what big time playoff goaltending is all about.

Thomas now also has two of three postseason awards needed for the trifecta (Stanley Cup champ, Conn Smythe Trophy, and Vezina Trophy). He may well be awarded trophy number three, exactly one week after having garnered trophies one and two.

Had the Canucks managed to win this Game 7, this series is one that would have been debated by fans, and analyzed by the media, for years to come.

Boston's first Cup since 1972

Boston fans would have pointed out that their team outscored the Canucks 19-7 coming into Game 7, Tim Thomas was probably still the playoff MVP, and their beloved Bruins were simply robbed by the fickle finger of fate.

Canucks fans would have argued their team had the best record during the regular season, and were favorites going into the series, so through out all the stats you want. Our team won, winning needs no further explanation.

As it stands, it is all moot. The Bruins ultimately outscored Vancouver 23-7 in the series, including a shutout in Game 7, and their goalie was deservedly named playoff MVP. All due respect, of course to the hard working Bruins’ forwards, and Zdeno Chara playing rock steady on the blueline. There is no debate to be had. The team that played better in the series won the series. End of story. 

The Boston Bruins are your NHL Stanley Cup Champions for 2010-11.

Only thing left is to find out if Tim Thomas or Roberto Luongo has also captured the Vezina Trophy or if Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators has stolen their thunder. As mentioned, Daniel Sedin may also be presented with the Hart Trophy that evening. Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks, and Martin St Louis of Tampa Bay are he other two MVP finalists.

OH CANADA:

Canadian teams have appeared in three of the past six post-lockout seasons.  All have gone down in defeat.  The last Canadian team to capture the Stanley Cup was the 1993 Montreal Canadiens (over LA in 5 games).  Take solace, you hosers, in the obvious: 60-70% of players on any NHL team is Canadian.

Tim Thomas on Patrice Bergeron's shorthanded goal that made the score 3-0 late in the second period:

"I was hoping someone else would score so I wouldn’t have to shut 'em out. I was happy going into the game, talked about not getting too high. If we do score, you can't act like you've won the Stanley Cup because you will get an emotional high and it will end up showing on the ice."

"I was just trying to stay level. It was just one goal. It was a huge goal, the game-winning goal, but at that time, there was still a lot of game and a lot of work left to do."

POSTGAME NOTABLE QUOTABLES
(FROM NHL MEDIA DEPT):

BOSTON COACH CLAUDE JULIEN

Q. Coach, getting to be around the team as often as I am, I noticed that you have a paternal aspect to you with some of your younger players and even some of your older players like Michael Ryder. How hard is it to dole out the tough love and know that there is an end result and how do you feel about that now?

COACH JULIEN: There wasn't much of an issue about that, because I think the players, when they learn to know you and you understand what you're saying, there is a professional side and a personal side. Just because you have to do things professionally, doesn't mean that personally you don't like the players.

They know that. Brad Marchand came up to me after Game 5, or I think it was Game 5 or so, and he said to me, you know, I know you're always talking to me about some of the stuff going on, but he says, I want you to know that I appreciate you trying to help me through that.

And it's almost like a parent trying to help their kids. And at the end, you know, it's called tough love, but you're doing it for the right reasons and I think our players understood that. There was never anything personal. It was about making them better people and better players.

Q. Claude, is it simple enough to say that the turning point in this game was the first goal or was it something else because of the struggles that you had had here?

COACH JULIEN: Scoring that first goal has always been important for our hockey club, as you know. And certainly when we scored that first goal, it did give us confidence, absolutely. Because we hadn't scored here that much and now in Game 7, you're playing with the lead. And we're a team that's done a pretty good job of playing with the lead. And that second goal came about. And I know that before we went out for the third period, everybody in there was telling each other that there is no way in the world that we could let up for a second, that we had to play a full 60 minutes.

That's been our theme for these playoffs is 60?minute effort because they've heard me say it all year. Whenever we haven't won games, I've talked about having one bad period, two bad periods, and whenever we won, we had to put 60 minutes together. That's what the guys had to do tonight and they had to accomplish that.

BOSTON BRUINS: PATRICE BERGERON AND TIM THOMAS -

Q. Can you talk about the changing of the guard with the Bruins. Obviously Mark Recchi's last game and the monster game from Brad Marchand, Tyler Seguin's contribution, the past and the future of the team here?

PATRICE BERGERON: Obviously, I talked to Recchi last night and I was feeling nervous and I asked him to give me some advice. He told me to relax and go out there and play the game and to do it for him. Obviously it could be his last game and I've learned so much from him on and off the ice, it's a great feeling that we've accomplished this as a team.

You're right, the future looks bright with all the guys that we have, but to be honest with you, I'm worrying about the celebration right now.

Q. Patrice, on the first goal, can you just walk me through that? I don't think that pass was intended for you, was it?

PATRICE BERGERON: I'm not sure, but I was ready for it. And Recchi tried to shoot, and obviously it was perfect because I was ready as well behind him. We sort of surprised 'em.

That first goal was huge.

Q. You cut it pretty close, didn't you?

PATRICE BERGERON: Well, post and in, you can't ask for anything better, can you?

TIM THOMAS: He does it all the time in practice (laughter).

Q. Tim, such a great old classic trophy is yours. What does it feel like to win that?

TIM THOMAS: The Conn Smythe? It's quite an honor. The Stanley Cup is the biggest one. That's the one that you're shooting for. Conn Smythe is completely an honor. I just sat down here and started to read some of the names on it and it's an honor to be mentioned in the same Maple leaf. Patrick, Ron Hextall, Ken Dryden, those are the three goalies that I can see on this side facing me, it's amazing.

FACTS AND NOTES

6TH TIME'S THE CHARM FOR B'S - STANLEY CUP STANDINGS:

Stanley Cup Standings Since NHL's Founding in 1917-18

23 – Montreal Canadiens *

13 – Toronto Maple Leafs *

11 – Detroit Red Wings

6 - Boston Bruins (1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, 2011)

5 –Edmonton Oilers

4 – Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, New York Rangers

3 – Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils

2 – Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers

1 – Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning

* Montreal won the Stanley Cup in 1916, Toronto Blueshirts won in 1914 (prior to formation of NHL)

GAME 7 IN THE STANLEY CUP FINAL

The Bruins join the 1945 Toronto Maple Leafs, 1971 Montreal Canadiens and 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins as the only clubs to win Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on the road (home teams are now 12-4).

Thomas' Playoff Highlights

* set NHL record for most saves in one playoff year (798)

* set NHL record for most shots faced in one playoff year (849)

* set NHL record for most saves in the Stanley Cup Final (238)

* fourth all-time for most shots faced in the Stanley Cup Final (246)

* finished with an 11-1 record when facing 35 or more shots

* led all NHL goaltenders in goals-against average (1.98) and save percentage (.940) and

shared lead in shutouts (four) in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs

* became the first goaltender in NHL history to post a shutout on the road in Game 7 of the

Stanley Cup Final

* posted a 1.15 goals-against average in the Stanley Cup Final, the lowest in the modern era

among goaltenders with at least five appearances

* posted a .967 save percentage in the Stanley Cup Final, third all-time and tops among

goaltenders with at least five appearances

* became the 13th goaltender since 1927 to post multiple shutouts in the Stanley Cup Final (two)

* made 52 saves on 54 shots in the Bruins 3-2 win at Philadelphia in Game 2 of the Eastern

Conference Semifinal

* stopped all 24 shots in posting a 1-0 shutout victory over Tampa Bay in Game 7 of the Eastern

Conference Final

* posted the first shutout by a Bruins goaltender in the Stanley Cup Final since May 18, 1978, when

Gerry Cheevers made 16 saves to blank Montreal 4-0 in Game 3 at Boston Garden (Game 3)

Thomas' Regular-Season Highlights

Thomas enjoyed a record-setting bounceback season after undergoing off-season hip surgery. He won his first eight decisions, which broke a club record set by Tiny Thompson in 1937-38, and won his first nine road games -- becoming the first NHL goaltender to do so since Chicago's Glenn Hall in 1965-66. The 2009 Vezina Trophy winner finished the season with a 35-11-9 record and .938 save percentage, eclipsing Dominik Hasek's .937 with Buffalo in 1998-99 as the best since the statistic was introduced in 1976-77. Thomas also led all goaltenders in goals against average (2.00) and ranked second in shutouts (nine).

MORE:

SEIDENBERG CONTINUES SPORTING SUCCESS FOR GERMANY

Days after countryman and NBA star Dirk Nowitzki captured his first championship with the Dallas Mavericks, Bruins defenseman and Schwenningen, Germany native Dennis Seidenberg has won his first Stanley Cup. Seidenberg becomes the first German player to win the Stanley Cup since Colorado's Uwe Krupp in 1996. Seidenberg, a veteran of eight NHL seasons, appeared in all 25 playoff games for the Bruins and ranked second on the club in average ice time per game (27:37), a shade less than leader and defense partner Zdeno Chara (27:39).

CHARA SECOND EUROPEAN CAPTAIN TO RAISE THE STANLEY CUP

Boston captain Zdeno Chara, a native of Trencin, Slovakia, is the second European-trained captain to raise the Stanley Cup, following Sweden's Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. After Chara, the next five Bruins to lift the trophy were Mark Recchi, Patrice Bergeron, Tim Thomas, Tomas Kaberle and Andrew Ference.

FIRST GOAL WINS AGAIN

The team that scored the first goal won each of the seven Stanley Cup Final games and finished 68-21 in the 2011 playoffs overall (.764). The Bruins improved to 12-1 when they scored first.

STANLEY CUP FINAL SCHEDULE

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