The waiting is over. The last two teams standing in the National Hockey League have been decided: It's the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks. Here is how the two teams got here. Vancouver knocked off San Jose in five games in the western conference finals. Vancouver took the first two games at home by scores of 3-2 and 73. When the scene shifted to San Jose, the Sharks showed some signs of life in Game Three, beating the Canucks by a 4-3 score to force Game Five. Vancouver came roaring back in Game Four with a 4-2 victory on the road, heading back to Canada with a chance to ice the series. Game Five came around and Vancouver jumped out to an early lead thanks to Alex Burrows. San Jose came back with two unanswered goals from Dan Boyle and Devin Setoguchi. Then with about 13 seconds left in regulation, Ryan Kesler tied the game up and forced overtime. After a scoreless first OT, the game was ended in the 2nd OT on a weird shot. Mid way through the 2nd overtime Kevin Bieksa let go a fluttering shot that beat a stunned Nemmi. Vancouver won the game and the series. Vancouver has made only two other trips to the finals prior to this. First it was in 1982 in a four game sweep by the New York Islanders and then again in 1994 in a seven game loss to the New York Rangers. So for the Canucks this is the third trip to the finals and hopefully third times a charm.
As for the Boston Bruins, they just completed a hard fought seven game series with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa jumped all over Boston in game one with a 5-2 victory. Boston responded in Game Two in a wild affair, Boston walking away with a 6-5 win to even the series. Game Three again went to the Bruins this time by a 2-0 score. Tampa responded in Game Four with a 5-3 victory. Game Five back in Boston went to the Bruins by a 3-1 score. Tampa Bay staved off elimination in Game Six with a huge 5-4 win. Boston proved to be too much in Game Seven with Tim Thomas standing on his head for the shutout, and Nathan Horton scoring the lone goal of the contest, proving him to be a clutch goal scorer in this years playoffs. For the Bruins this will be there 17th appearance in the Stanley Cup finals, with a 5-12 all time record. Boston last won the Cup in 1972, and their last appearance in the finals coming in 1990 in a loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Boston as a franchise has more experience in the finals.
Here is a look at the broadcast schedule for the Cup Finals:
June 1 Boston Bruins 8:00 pm Vancouver Canucks TD Garden CBC, RDS, NBC
June 4 Boston Bruins 8:00 pm Vancouver Canucks TD Garden CBC, RDS, NBC
June 6 Vancouver Canucks 8:00 pm Boston Bruins Rogers Arena CBC, RDS, Versus
June 8 Vancouver Canucks 8:00 pm Boston Bruins Rogers Arena CBC, RDS, Versus
June 10 Boston Bruins 8:00 pm Vancouver Canucks TD Garden CBC, RDS, NBC
June 13 Vancouver Canucks 8:00 pm Boston Bruins Rogers Arena CBC, RDS, NBC
June 15 Boston Bruins 8:00 pm Vancouver Canucks TD Garden CBC, RDS, NBC
Here are my thoughts on the series. Both teams have played incredibly well in the post season on the strength of two hot goalies in Tim Thomas and Roberto Luongo. This is going to be a very evenly played series, and a good change of pace if you will. From my perspective it's nice to see some new blood in the finals, when usually you have the likes of Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New Jersey in the finals. This should be a fun series to watch. As for a perdiction I think Vancouver has too deep of a hockey club and I am taking the Canucks in seven games to capture their first cup in franchise history.
