Canucks Shock Bruin Nation - Win Game 5.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
For two days following game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, many Bruins’ fans bragged about how their team had taken control of the series. Their confidence bordered on cockiness. And who could blame them?
Many of the idiot talking heads on sports radio in Boston were declaring the Stanley Cup Finals over. They told their listeners that their Bruins were going to win game 5 in Vancouver and celebrate with the Cup in front of their fans following game 6 at the TD Garden.
Boston’s performance in game 3 & 4 created that misguided cockiness. This morning, a lot of Bruins fans, and talk show hosts, will be eating some humble pie.
The Canucks were embarrassed in Boston. They were outscored 12-1 by the Bruins in games 3 & 4. They were outplayed and outhit by Boston to the point where their manhood was being called into question. Anyone with half a brain knew that they would respond with a spirited effort in game 5 which is exactly what they did last night.
The Canucks were the aggressor Friday night. They were the more physical team outhitting Boston 47-27. Their much-maligned defense turned in a solid effort which helped them beat Boston 1-0 giving Vancouver a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
As many fans and talk show hosts have a tendency to do, they overreacted to Boston’s performance in games 3 & 4. Did they not remember that the Canucks won games 1 & 2 in Vancouver? Did they somehow forget that Roberto Luongo is a Vezina Trophy finalist who played outstanding in games 1 & 2 as well? Do they understand that often times a desperate team responds to the moment, particularly at home?
Apparently not.
For those who need a refresher course on the Vancouver Canucks, they won the President’s Trophy in the NHL this year for having the best record in the league. They had the #1 offense and the #1 defense in the league scoring more and giving up fewer goals than any team in the NHL. And because of that regular season excellence, it is they who have had the home ice advantage throughout the NHL playoffs including in these Stanley Cup Finals. And they have yet to lose a game at home in this series which means that they still own that home ice advantage.
It was a closely contested game 5, with Boston and Vancouver playing to a scoreless tie through the first two periods. Both Luongo (31 saves) and Tim Thomas (24 saves) played well. But you had the feeling that one goal by wither team might make the difference.
It did.
Just 4:35 into the third, Maxim Lapierre put one in off of Thomas for what turned out to be the game-winner.
So now the teams take two days off before playing game 6 in Boston. And, as many of the aforementioned nitwits have mentioned over the past couple of days, the Stanley Cup will be in Boston at the TD Garden Monday night. However, unlike their braggadocios predictions of the Bruins celebrating in front of their fans with the Cup Monday night, only Vancouver will have that chance.
Boston must now win game 6 at home AND find a way to beat the Canucks in Vancouver on Wednesday in a 7th and deciding game.
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