Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 Goes in Favor of Vancouver

Game 1 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals is in the books. Many NHL analysts were predicting this series to be one of the most entertaining in years. Game 1 did not disappoint, as the Vancouver Canucks knocked off the Boston Bruins 1-0 and take a 1-0 series lead. Through the first two periods of the game the officials had called 13 penalties for 28 total minutes, s 5 on 5 play wasn't exactly happening through the first 40 minutes of play. That has been a strange trend throughout the playoffs. Me personally I would like to see the refs keep the whistles in the pockets just a little bit more, but I digress. As has been the trend through most of the playoffs, Game One was very physical with a ton of good clean hitting including this beautiful hip check by Vancouver's Dan Hamhuis:




That was without a doubt the highlight hit of Game One.

During this first game goalies, Tim Thomas of Boston and Roberto Luongo of Vancouver, stood on their heads during this 1st game, in what was an epic goaltending duel. Luongo got the shutout making 36 saves including 17 in the first period alone. His counterpart Tim Thomas made 33 saves allowing only one goal.

Through most of regulation with the teams deadlocked at 0, it looked like this contest might have needed overtime to decide it. Then with 19 Seconds remaining in regulation Raffi Torres struck for the game winner and lone goal in the hockey game:



Vancouver held on for the 1-0 victory and took a 1-0 series lead. This game had it all, good hitting, low scoring, spectacular goaltending, basically everything a fan could want in a game. Both teams looked a bit off here in Game One. Boston had just come off a hard fought seven game series with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Also since the game was being played in Vancouver, it was a 5PM start time in Vancouver and an 8PM start time on the East Coast. So that may have thrown Boston off its routine just a bit. As for the Canucks, the only thing I could see being this slow start was the long layoff, as they finished off the Sharks in only five games and had more time to rest. It might have thrown them off their game just a little bit. Game Two of the series is on Saturday night at 8 on NBC. If Game One was any indication, game two should be just as entertaining.