June 16, 2011
Boston Bruins defeat Vancouver Canucks for Stanley Cup
The Boston Bruins dropped the first two games in Vancouver, but became just the third team since 1966 to overcome that finals deficit.
By Stephen Lars
It took the Boston Bruins 7 games and one out-of-this-world performance by their goalkeeper Tim Thomas to win the Stanley Cup, but for the first time in 39 years, the Boston Bruins are once again the kings of professional hockey. It was a bid disappointment for the Vancouver Canucks. Truth be said, the Canucks had a chance to close the series at home. Up to this point, no team had managed to win a game in the road and considering that this was the league’s most prolific squad, chances where they could actually take advantage of the home team status and clinch their first ever Stanley Cup. Vancouver has waited over four decades for their first Stanley Cup. One unbeatable goalie, Tim Thomas, singlehandedly assured the Canucks yet another year of yearning and waiting.
The 37-year-old Thomas made 37 saves in the second shutout of his landmark finals performance. He was brilliant, unstoppable. Just to get you into the right move consider the following statistics: Thomas, limited the NHL's highest-scoring team to eight goals in the seven-game finals. Even more, Thomas didn’t allow a single goal from Vancouver in two of the last four games of the final, including the decisive game seven.
Vancouver has waited over four decades for their first Stanley Cup. One unbeatable goalie, Tim Thomas, singlehandedly assured the Canucks yet another year of yearning and waiting.
Patrice Bergeron and rookie Brad Marchand scored two goals apiece, and the Bruins beat the Canucks 4-0 Wednesday night to win their first NHL championship since 1972. Extra kudos must go to Thomas. He was the Finals MVP, and a look at his story will make it clear why at 37, he has become the oldest player to receive the Conn Smythe Trophy, as the 2011 Stanley Cup finals most valuable player. Thomas played for several years in the minor leagues and Europe, before making it to the NHL at age 28, with the Boston Bruins. He finally emerged as the Bruins' starting goaltender at age 31. Thomas was the winner of the 2009 Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender and played as a backup for Team USA in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. That was some sort of wake-up call, a sign, if you will, of what he could become.
The dropped the first two games in Vancouver, but became just the third team since 1966 to overcome that finals deficit. The Canucks weren’t really expecting this one. They had really high hopes that maybe this was going to be their year. They were doing it not only for their team, but perhaps also for Canada. It can’t be left unnoticed that no Canadian team has taken home the Stanley Cup since 1993, when the Montreal Canadians defeated the Los Angeles kings four games to one.
The Canucks had a good chance but collectively they just couldn’t work their way around this series. Vancouver's blame: The Sedin twins are the NHL's last two scoring champions. They are talented and offensively impeccable, but they capped a disastrous finals by being on the ice for all four of Boston's goals. Captain Henrik Sedin, last season's MVP, scored just one goal in the series, while Daniel Sedin had two goals and two assists, scoring in just two of the seven games. Little production from a team of expert players wasn’t really going to make the cut, and thus, the Stanley Cup is finally back in Boston.
About the Author
Stephen Lars is a prominent sports blogger and currently covers the Sports news, previews and handicaps for the BetIAS Sportsbook. You may reprint this article in its full content, please note no modifications to it are accepted.