Stanley Cup Preview: Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks

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Stanley Cup Preview: Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks

The Boston Bruins will do battle with the Vancouver Canucks to determine who will be the champions of the NHL.

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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).

Boston won the only regular-season meeting when Vancouver native Milan Lucic broke a 1-1 tie with a goal with 4:38 left in regulation. He also had a pair of assists in the Bruins’ 3-1 victory at Rogers Arena on Feb. 26. Tim Thomas stopped 27 of 28 Canucks shots, allowing only Manny Malhotra’s first-period goal to get past him. Roberto Luongo made 22 saves for the Canucks.

Scoring will be crucial in this game and these teams are close in that category.

Not surprisingly, these teams are among the deepest when it comes to capable scoring. Vancouver has more star power in the Sedins and Ryan Kesler. But with Zdeno Chara zoned in on shutting down the twins, Vancouver will need scoring from more than its top line. That’s why it’s crucial that Alex Burrows (seven goals, seven assists in the playoffs), Mason Raymond (two goals, six assists) and Chris Higgins (four goals, three assists) contribute offensively.

David Krejci and Nathan Horton lead the Bruins with 17 points each in 18 games with Patrice Bergeron right behind at 15 points. Tyler Seguin’s emergence against Tampa Bay adds another option to Boston’s offensive attack, as do players like Michael Ryder (five goals, six assists), Brad Marchand (six goals, six assists) and Milan Lucic (three goals, six assists). Boston’s depth helps cancel some of the high-end star power the Canucks have up front.

Here is the schedule for the upcoming games.

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)

The Bruins are arguably the best 5-on-5 team in hockey - their physical presence is going to be a hell of a battle with the Canucks' blue line and in front of Luongo. (They've got Byfuglien-ish bodies on that roster for screens.)

But the Vancouver power play came to life against the San Jose Sharks, and the Bruins aren't going to have the benefit of "let them play hockey" in against the Canucks as they did in Game 7. They're in the Final having played the Lightning even on special teams. Can they do the same against Vancouver?

The Sedins, Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, the power play … the great equalizer for all of them is Tim Thomas, who shut the door in two of the last three games of the Eastern Conference Finals. Frankly, he's got the talent and fire to carry the Bruins to the Cup; the way the Canucks are playing, that might be the most logical path for Boston.

The Bruins will play them tight, but the Canucks' depth, special teams and, let's face it, hockey voodoo will prevail … sending the Bruins to their sixth loss in the Finals since the 1972 Cup; winning the first Cup in Vancouver's franchise history; and the first for Canada since 1993.

NHL Stanley Cup Prediction: Vancouver in Seven games