BET ON NHL HOCKEY TODAY AT ONE OF OUR TOP ONLINE SPORTSBOOKS \u2014> BOOKMAKER.COM<\/a><\/h3>\nWith the Stanley Cup Final not starting until Wednesday, we have time to analyze the matchup, and it should be a good one.<\/p>\n
BOSTON BRUINS<\/strong>
\nRegular season record: 46-25-11 (103 points)
\nPlayoff record: 12-6<\/p>\nVANCOUVER CANUCKS<\/strong>
\nRegular season record: 54-19-9 (117 points)
\nPlayoff record: 12-6<\/p>\nCHECK OUT BOOKMAKER SPORTSBOOK TODAY! \u2014\u2013><\/strong><\/a>
\nTalk Smack with other NHL Hockey Fans In Our Forums –><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nOFFENSE<\/strong><\/p>\nIt will likely surprise many bettors to know that the Boston Bruins were the NHL\u2019s fifth-highest scoring team during the regular season. After all, leading scorer David Krejci had just 62 points. The key for the Bruins was depth; 11 different Boston players tallied at least 10 goals. During the playoffs, the Bruins actually average more goals per game (3.08) than the Canucks do (2.55).<\/p>\n
However, that stat is a bid misleading. The Bruins faced the sieve-like Flyers goaltending in round two and tired, 41-year-old goaltender Dwayne Roloson in round three. This is still a blue-collar offensive team that relies on two-way centers Krejci and Patrice Bergeron, bangers Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton, plus hard-shooting defender Zdeno Chara to generate scoring chances.<\/p>\n
Vancouver is on another level. It led the NHL in scoring; it has the league\u2019s last two scoring champions in Henrik and Daniel Sedin; and it has a 40-goal man in Ryan Kesler who can take over games with his physicality. Offensively, there\u2019s no contest. Remember, Vancouver had to beat much tougher defensive teams to get here (Chicago, Nashville, San Jose).<\/p>\n
Edge: Canucks<\/strong><\/p>\nDEFENSE<\/strong><\/p>\nBased on reputation, Boston is the superior defense club in this series. It allowed the second-fewest goals in the league during the regular season. It has perhaps the game\u2019s best true shutdown guy in Zdeno Chara. It also has a deep group of rugged, physical, shot-blocking experts supporting him in Dennis Seidenberg, Johnny Boychuk, Andrew Ference and Adam McQuaid. And, uh, there\u2019s Tomas Kaberle, too. We also can\u2019t discount Krejci and especially Bergeron\u2019s ability to be major defensive contributors from the forward position.<\/p>\n
But the Bruins\u2019 \u201cD\u201d loses marks for a lack of foot speed. Vancouver\u2019s group of Kevin Bieksa, Christian Ehrhoff, Dan Hamhuis, Alex Edler, Sami Salo and Keith Ballard is superior in that regard. These guys are also a much more physical group than many people realize. Up front, Kesler is just as solid defensively as any Boston forward and Manny Malhotra\u2019s return is a major plus. And, believe it or not, Vancouver, not Boston, had the fewest goals allowed in the NHL this season.<\/p>\n
Edge: Even<\/strong><\/p>\nGOALTENDING<\/strong><\/p>\nThis is a tough category to handicap. Both teams are obviously in good hands. Roberto Luongo still has his shaky moments but he seems to be a new man after conquering his Chicago demons. The Canucks also do a solid job limiting high-quality scoring chances against Luongo.<\/p>\n
The Bruins have allowed more shots than Vancouver have during these playoffs but they also have more of a \u201cgame stealer\u201d in goal with Tim Thomas between the pipes. How many times did Tampa outshoot Boston in the Eastern Conference final only to lose? Even at 36 years old, Thomas is as elite as they come. ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/banners.bmaker.ag\/images\/CSPORTS_250_250_0.gif?cmpid=14237_3724\")
<\/a><\/p>\nShould either netminder falter, the Canucks and Bruins each have a starter-caliber backup, with Corey Schneider and Tuukka Rask waiting in the wings. The goalie matchup is oh-so close but I give Boston the slight edge since Thomas has shown more of an ability to carry his team.<\/p>\n
Edge: Bruins<\/strong><\/p>\nSPECIAL TEAMS<\/strong><\/p>\nSpecial \u00a0teams are arguably the most lopsided matchup in the tale of the tape. The Canucks had the NHL\u2019s top power play during the regular season and were third in penalty killing. They\u2019re humming along at 28.3 per cent with the man advantage during the playoffs (the best mark for a finalist since 1988) and their 80.2 per cent PK mark should only get better with Malhotra back.<\/p>\n
The Bruins\u2019 penalty killing has been decent enough during the playoffs but their power play has been pathetic. It sits at 8.2 per cent. Special teams could be the deciding factor in this series.<\/p>\n
Edge: Canucks<\/strong><\/p>\nCOACHING<\/strong><\/p>\nAlain Vigneault and Claude Julien are both former Montreal Canadiens head coaches, both also coached the Hull Olympiques in junior, both are highly respected, both skilled in the defensive arts, they were teammates in the AHL and they\u2019re friends who regularly text each other. Can\u2019t give an edge to one side when these two bench bosses are mirror images of each other.<\/p>\n
Edge: Even <\/strong><\/p>\nFINAL WORD<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Bruins and Canucks are fitting combatants in the Stanley Cup final \u2013 tough, skilled, deep teams. Because they\u2019re even in so many areas, I see this series going seven games. But, on the strength of their special teams and superior offensive touch, I like Vancouver to give Canada its first Stanley Cup since 1993.<\/p>\n
\nRegular season record: 46-25-11 (103 points)
\nPlayoff record: 12-6<\/p>\n
VANCOUVER CANUCKS<\/strong> CHECK OUT BOOKMAKER SPORTSBOOK TODAY! \u2014\u2013><\/strong><\/a> OFFENSE<\/strong><\/p>\n It will likely surprise many bettors to know that the Boston Bruins were the NHL\u2019s fifth-highest scoring team during the regular season. After all, leading scorer David Krejci had just 62 points. The key for the Bruins was depth; 11 different Boston players tallied at least 10 goals. During the playoffs, the Bruins actually average more goals per game (3.08) than the Canucks do (2.55).<\/p>\n However, that stat is a bid misleading. The Bruins faced the sieve-like Flyers goaltending in round two and tired, 41-year-old goaltender Dwayne Roloson in round three. This is still a blue-collar offensive team that relies on two-way centers Krejci and Patrice Bergeron, bangers Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton, plus hard-shooting defender Zdeno Chara to generate scoring chances.<\/p>\n Vancouver is on another level. It led the NHL in scoring; it has the league\u2019s last two scoring champions in Henrik and Daniel Sedin; and it has a 40-goal man in Ryan Kesler who can take over games with his physicality. Offensively, there\u2019s no contest. Remember, Vancouver had to beat much tougher defensive teams to get here (Chicago, Nashville, San Jose).<\/p>\n Edge: Canucks<\/strong><\/p>\n DEFENSE<\/strong><\/p>\n Based on reputation, Boston is the superior defense club in this series. It allowed the second-fewest goals in the league during the regular season. It has perhaps the game\u2019s best true shutdown guy in Zdeno Chara. It also has a deep group of rugged, physical, shot-blocking experts supporting him in Dennis Seidenberg, Johnny Boychuk, Andrew Ference and Adam McQuaid. And, uh, there\u2019s Tomas Kaberle, too. We also can\u2019t discount Krejci and especially Bergeron\u2019s ability to be major defensive contributors from the forward position.<\/p>\n But the Bruins\u2019 \u201cD\u201d loses marks for a lack of foot speed. Vancouver\u2019s group of Kevin Bieksa, Christian Ehrhoff, Dan Hamhuis, Alex Edler, Sami Salo and Keith Ballard is superior in that regard. These guys are also a much more physical group than many people realize. Up front, Kesler is just as solid defensively as any Boston forward and Manny Malhotra\u2019s return is a major plus. And, believe it or not, Vancouver, not Boston, had the fewest goals allowed in the NHL this season.<\/p>\n Edge: Even<\/strong><\/p>\n GOALTENDING<\/strong><\/p>\n This is a tough category to handicap. Both teams are obviously in good hands. Roberto Luongo still has his shaky moments but he seems to be a new man after conquering his Chicago demons. The Canucks also do a solid job limiting high-quality scoring chances against Luongo.<\/p>\n The Bruins have allowed more shots than Vancouver have during these playoffs but they also have more of a \u201cgame stealer\u201d in goal with Tim Thomas between the pipes. How many times did Tampa outshoot Boston in the Eastern Conference final only to lose? Even at 36 years old, Thomas is as elite as they come. Should either netminder falter, the Canucks and Bruins each have a starter-caliber backup, with Corey Schneider and Tuukka Rask waiting in the wings. The goalie matchup is oh-so close but I give Boston the slight edge since Thomas has shown more of an ability to carry his team.<\/p>\n Edge: Bruins<\/strong><\/p>\n SPECIAL TEAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n Special \u00a0teams are arguably the most lopsided matchup in the tale of the tape. The Canucks had the NHL\u2019s top power play during the regular season and were third in penalty killing. They\u2019re humming along at 28.3 per cent with the man advantage during the playoffs (the best mark for a finalist since 1988) and their 80.2 per cent PK mark should only get better with Malhotra back.<\/p>\n The Bruins\u2019 penalty killing has been decent enough during the playoffs but their power play has been pathetic. It sits at 8.2 per cent. Special teams could be the deciding factor in this series.<\/p>\n Edge: Canucks<\/strong><\/p>\n COACHING<\/strong><\/p>\n Alain Vigneault and Claude Julien are both former Montreal Canadiens head coaches, both also coached the Hull Olympiques in junior, both are highly respected, both skilled in the defensive arts, they were teammates in the AHL and they\u2019re friends who regularly text each other. Can\u2019t give an edge to one side when these two bench bosses are mirror images of each other.<\/p>\n Edge: Even <\/strong><\/p>\n FINAL WORD<\/strong><\/p>\n The Bruins and Canucks are fitting combatants in the Stanley Cup final \u2013 tough, skilled, deep teams. Because they\u2019re even in so many areas, I see this series going seven games. But, on the strength of their special teams and superior offensive touch, I like Vancouver to give Canada its first Stanley Cup since 1993.<\/p>\n
\nRegular season record: 54-19-9 (117 points)
\nPlayoff record: 12-6<\/p>\n
\nTalk Smack with other NHL Hockey Fans In Our Forums –><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n