The Vancouver Canucks host the Boston Bruins in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals tomorrow night (8 p.m., NBC). The Canucks, winners of the Presidents' Trophy (becoming only the third Canadian team to accomplish that feat and the first since the late 1980s when the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers won the first four), have been the league's best team offensively and defensively all season and throughout the playoffs.
The Canucks needed seven games to eliminate the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round (after holding a 3-0 lead), but eliminated the Nashville Predators in six games and the San Jose Sharks in five on the way to the finals. They're getting stronger in each round and certainly enter this series as the favorite to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup (in its 40th anniversary season).
The Bruins, meanwhile, also needed seven games in the first round (against the rival Montreal Canadiens) before sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers. Their seven-game Eastern Conference Finals victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning was extremely even and showed that the Bruins, when operating on all cylinders, can play with anybody.
If the Bruins hope to capture their first Cup since 1972, they must hope their defense can slow down the powerful Canucks' attack, their offense can remain steady and dangerous, and Tim Thomas plays the series of his life. That's a tall order and one, ultimately, that will fall short.
Prediction: Canucks in six.
May 31, 2011
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