Two traditional hockey towns, Boston and Vancouver, face each other beginning Wednesday in the 2011 Stanley Cup both with high hopes of bringing the NHL crown back home.
The Bruins, in edging past Tampa Bay in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, would like to make fans forget their epic playoff collapse last season. Boston has not been to the finals since 1990 and haven’t hoisted The Cup since 1972.
The Canucks, feeling the pressure of a hockey-mad nation starved for its first NHL champion since Montreal won it all in 1993, have seemed to warm to the task first eliminating the defending champ Blackhawks in seven games then the Predators in six and most recently the Sharks in five.
Vancouver has never won the Stanley Cup, losing in the finals twice (1982 and 1994).
For Boston (46-25-11, 103 points) the keys include:
-Continued stellar defensive play in goal by Vezina Trophy finalist Tim Thomas with his mates Zdeno Chara, Johnny Boychuk, Andrew Ference and Dennis Seidenberg.
-Take advantage of their speed especially in transition and get some quick scores from the likes of David Krejci and Milan Lucic.
-Improve their pitiful powerplay scoring (a woeful 5 for 61 in these playoffs).
For Vancouver (54-19-9, 117 points) the keys include:
-Complete game performances by goalie Roberto Luongo. No cheap goals.
-Led by Alexander Edler and Kevin Bieksa bring some scoring punch from their defensemen.
-Hope that Ryan Kesler can still produce his high numbers despite a groin-injury in the Western Conference finals as well as strong contributions from the Sedins.
PREDICTION: Third time is a charm. VANCOUVER wins the 2011 Stanley Cup.
Schedule
Wednesday, June 1
Stanley Cup finals Game 1: Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Saturday, June 4
Stanley Cup finals Game 2: Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Monday, June 6
Stanley Cup finals Game 3: Vancouver at Boston, 8 p.m. ET (Versus)
Wednesday, June 8
Stanley Cup finals Game 4: Vancouver at Boston, 8 p.m. ET (Versus)
Friday, June 10
Stanley Cup finals Game 5 (if necessary): Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Monday, June 13
Stanley Cup finals Game 6 (if necessary): Vancouver at Boston, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Wednesday, June 15
Stanley Cup finals Game 7 (if necessary): Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
