Game day! Canucks host Boston

Game day! Canucks host Boston in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final
Puck drops at 5 p.m. at Rogers Arena
News1130 Staff Jun 01, 2011 06:35:12 AM
0 Related Stories

•Stanley Park Bet
•Where you can watch the game outside
•News1130 wants to see your Canucks fan photos!
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The wait is over. After a nine-day delay, the Stanley Cup Final finally gets underway this afternoon and the city is buzzing.

What's the number one strength that will lead the Canucks to victory over the Bruins? Depth -- in all areas of their game.

Offensively, Henrik is the leading point-getter in the playoffs; he collected 12 points in five games against San Jose. Daniel picked up another six and Ryan Kesler continues to sail along as Vancouver's Conn Smythe candidate.

The Bruins will have their hands full with a pair of twins; can they contain the Sedins' cycle game? When Daniel and Henrik get that going in the offensive end, it usually ends up with a goal or a penalty being taken. With the way the Canucks' powerplay has been firing, Boston doesn't want to end up in the box.

Defensively, the Canucks have the best set in the entire league. "Anytime you can sit Keith Ballard in the press box, you know you've got a weighted blue line," explains News1130 Sports Director Ann Schmaltz. "Kevin Bieksa's toughness will be huge against the Bruins."

In goal, Luongo has certainly found his groove; he's a Vezina Trophy finalist. And -- if they need him -- Cory Schneider had 16 wins during the regular season; he's a back-up that can get it done.

One school of thought is that Bruins netminder Tim Thomas plays too frantic a style to keep consistency so deep in the playoffs and that Luongo is more efficient and under control. But don't count Thomas out; he's made doubters look foolish for most of his career.