Look but don’t touch…

…it’s that time again, but who will lift this year’s Stanley Cup?

For years now kids all over the world have dreamt of making their way to play in the NHL for Hockey teams both east and west, and fight for a chance of touching the holy grail of club hockey. Unlike most cups, this isn’t a shiny new trophy teams can keep, it isn’t something with a short history that is sort after for huge bonus’ or funding. It’s a reward for heart, bravery, talent and above all team work. It’s a trophy that doesn’t feature just a team name or locale, but that of every player, Coach, Manager and staff member that went that extra mile and put it all on the line to win one of sport’s most historic pieces of ‘silverware’.

At the start of this season, teams country(s) wide started off with a dream of being involved in this 7 game series, which over the last decade has suggested that anything can happen on this stage. This year though has seen a season strong Vancouver side make the grade, alongside a gritty and determined Boston team.

Vancouver come into the game favourites having pushed through an incredible goal scored ratio in the regular season, and smashed their way to the President’s Trophy (Most Points in the league at end of season). They boast something most men can only dream of with two Swedish Twins upfront, but what is a dream for Canucks’ fans is a nightmare for the rest, Those two alone on their day have more than enough offensive firepower to take down even the best of sides, they are without doubt big stars in the NHL as we know it today. Add to that a keeper that’s been one of the best in the league for the past five years plus solid defense, and it’s not hard to see why they are favourites.

Boston however have no ‘stars’ to speak of but do have what has statistically been the best 5 v 5 hockey team post season by a long shot. With Thomas between the posts,  Chara being a massive physical presence at the heart of the defence and a hard working offensive unit all chipping in with more than their share, the star of this team is very much a unit and not an individual. Players like Seidenberg who has possibly become one of the most consistence defensemen in the league through this season and yet remains largely unnoticed, are a major reason why Boston got here.

Form? Well form often plays a huge part, both have had series’ until now which haven’t gone the distance. Vancouver’s latest being their victory over San Jose which they finished with a game to spare. Boston’s route to the final saw them have a nail biter in the shape of a 7 game series with Tampa Bay which was a huge test of character. This one could go either way, the fact that Vancouver asserted their dominance on route to the final might mean they’re on a high and extra practice/rest time could prove vital. On the other hand, Boston comes into this on the back of a recent victory and a shorter gap between games could leave them less rusty.

Key match ups in this game are important without doubt,  the Chara/Seidenberg v Sedins will be perhaps the biggest, for Boston to win the series, these two big D-Men will need to bring their A-Game without doubt. Likewise so will Vancouver’s deep defensive lines, all four of the Bruins’ lines are capable of scoring at any time, and right now are pretty hot in 5 on 5 hockey. On paper this shouldn’t be 50/50 but the way they’ve gone so far it just might be.

Bruins will win if…

Thomas keeps up his form;

Chara/Seidenberg hold their own and get plenty of ice time; and

Bruins’ special teams pull it together, 5 on 5 is great but one way or another it’s not always gonna go that way.

Canucks will win if…

The Sedins get free range. Passing and shooting skills are all it takes to be good, and they’ve got that and more and are GREAT;

Vancouver’s defense keep up their tight goals against ratio so far, and battle hard. The Bruins WILL come looking to rough some feathers, especially Vancouver born and bred players like Lucic; and

Luongo pulls out some of the stops we know he can, if he shuts out a few games this could be a short series.

So come Wednesday, the fight to make history for these two teams is on, THIS IS MORE THEN JUST A TROPHY… it’s a life!

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