The story so far: Canucks to lose?
The tail of how this year’s two Stanley Cup finalists got here has been almost talked about ad nauseam, but what’s happened since has been slightly less debated, and more a story of tactics and some fairly unobvious stats.
Many called that the Bruins would come in looking to be the more physical side, relying on their teamwork ethics to play gutsy hockey to take this year’s cup.
Many thought that Vancouver would be heavily lead by the Sedin’s and hoped to outplay the Bruins. However after three games there can’t have been many that would have predicted how it’s gone so far?
Game one saw a classic chess match, with both sides playing to their strengths to produce a game of many shots, but few goals. The Bruins actually outshot Vancouver in the opener, and it was all both keepers could do to remind the world why they’re in the hunt for the Vezina yet again! Amongst their efforts were some of the best saves of this year’s playoffs, but sadly it had to end, and Thomas was the unlucky keeper on this occasion with less than a minute left on the clock. A well worked move saw Vancouver move into a great goal scoring position, and as good as the Bruins keeper had been he had very little chance of getting to a smart finish from Raffi Torres.
It was a close fought game and despite ending on the losing side, Thomas was amongst the 3 stars for the night which only emphasises just how good both Net-Minders were in the game.
With little time to lick their wounds and repair from a gut wrenching loss in the opener, game 2 came around. This time the Sedin’s finally came to the forefront and had a big effect on the outcome, most notably Daniel.
Vancouver flew out of the blocks with Alex Burrows finding space in deep Bruins’ territory, and dispatching a tidy wrister past the in-form Thomas. Finally Boston got off the mark though with a quick fire double in the 2nd. Milan Lucic was the first to notch a goal and that goal from the former Giants player sparked a resurgence from Boston. Seasoned vet Mark Recchi scored a second not long after.
Long periods of pressure however in the 3rd Period saw D.Sedin put home an equaliser and take the game to overtime, only for Boston to be left feeling cold as Vancouver scored within the first 15 seconds of OT and seal a 2-0 series lead.
Some key trends were already showing in the series, ones that no one saw coming, Vancouver were much the more physical side going into game 3, and they were the more creative, despite Boston’s best efforts they just couldn’t sustain large amounts of puck possession and build a good solid lead from it. Something needed to happen and quick before the series went to game 3 and a white wash was on the cards.
That something did come, and in some style. Whatever was holding Bruins back to date, (nerves, tiredness or even mental issues?), it wasn’t there for this game, and as a result they steamrolled a shell-shocked looking Canucks side.
They were 5 goals to the good in game 3 before a response finally came from Vancouver, and shortly after Hanssen got them on the board Boston put on another three for the night to leave the score at 8-1. Everything went right here, Thomas was outstanding, big hits finally landed, and Boston controlled the game at their pace. Hamhuis was a clear big miss but it seemed destiny was there for the men in black and gold.
So going into game 4 its all to play for now, and it raises the question, did being on the edge of losing the series leave them playing with no fear? Will fear and nerves come back now they’re back in it, and what will this result have done to a young Canucks side who until now have been impeccable especially Luongo (who last night after conceding 4 begged to stay in and shipped yet another 4)? Whilst not a record (Some digging around showed 15-2 was the biggest win in a Stanley Cup game), it was a hammering, one that would affect any side.
What way this will affect them, well that’s all set to be answered shortly, in yet another reminder of what keeps us all hooked to this great sport.
Content courtesy of JSayers
