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Stanley Cup Finals Series Schedule:<\/strong> #1 CANUCKS (54-19-9) VS. #3 BRUINS (46-25-11) Well, there is just one more series to go before all of you hockey freaks can start complaining of withdrawal. And don\u2019t worry folks; there is no threat of a lockout looming!<\/p>\n The Boston Bruins (103 points during the Regular Season) take on the Vancouver Canucks (117 points during the Regular Season) for hockey\u2019s Hold Grail starting on Wednesday night. It is a matchup of the Stanley Cup drought \u2013 for the Canucks, they haven\u2019t won the Cup in their 40 year history and for the Bruins they haven\u2019t hoisted the Cup in 39 long long years.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with a breakdown of the offenses on the opposing teams. For the Canucks, the Sedins have been superb all season and after a less than scintillating second round, they woke up and produced against San Jose, highlighted by Henrik Sedin\u2019s 12 points in the five games. Vancouver\u2019s best offensive players are leading the way – Henrik Sedin has two goals, 19 assists (21 points), Ryan Kesler has seven goals, 11 assists (18 points), Daniel Sedin has eight goals, eight assists (16 points) and Alex Burrows has seven goals, seven assists (14 points) in the playoffs so far. Vancouver\u2019s defensive corp. has also been very good in the offensive end and is scoring at an incredible rate. The Canucks have been able to roll four lines effectively in the playoffs and I expect it to continue.<\/p>\n Boston has been Hot and Cold in the offensive zone during these playoffs but like the Canucks, they enter the series with their best players acting like their best players. David Krejci has 10 goals, seven assists (17 points), Nathan Horton has eight goals, nine assists (17 points), Patrice Bergeron has four goals, 11 assists (15 points), Brad Marchand has six goals, six assists (12 points) and Michael Ryder has five goals, six assists (11 points) so far this post season. This group will have a marked size advantage over the Canucks \u2013 the only real tangible difference between the two sides.<\/p>\n The defensive edge has to go to Vancouver in this series. Much has been made about their depth this season and more has been made of it in this year\u2019s playoffs. Vancouver has used nine different d-men so far and hasn\u2019t missed a beat. They are great in their own zone and are dangerous offensively. However, the Bruins do have the benefit of perhaps the most dominating physical presence in the NHL \u2013 Zdeno Chara. He and Dennis Seidenberg have been arguably the best shut-down defensive pair in the playoffs so far.
\nGame one: Wed., June 1st: Boston at Vancouver, 8pm ET (NBC, CBC, RDS)
\nGame two: Sat., June 4th: Boston at Vancouver, 8pm ET (NBC, CBC, RDS)
\nGame three: Mon., June 6th: Vancouver at Boston, 8pm ET (Versus, CBC, RDS)
\nGame four: Wed., June 8th: Vancouver at Boston, 8pm ET (Versus, CBC, RDS)
\nGame five: Fri., June 10th: Boston at Vancouver, 8pm ET (NBC, CBC, RDS)
\nGame six: Mon., June 13th: Vancouver at Boston, 8pm ET (NBC, CBC, RDS)
\nGame seven: Wed., June 15th: Boston at Vancouver, 8pm ET (NBC, CBC, RDS)<\/p>\n
\nOdds to Win the Stanley Cup: Boston +170: Vancouver -200<\/strong><\/p>\n