A 38 year-old drought came to an end – and another will last at least 41 years. Led by the stellar goaltending of Tim Thomas, the Boston Bruins became the fourth team in NHL history to win a game 7 of the Finals on the road; they also became the first team to win three game 7’s in one playoff season.
The hometown Canucks came out strong for the first fourteen minutes of the first period, but were unable to score that all important first goal, which proved to be the game winner in all seven games.
With just under five and a half minutes in the first, Patrice Bergeron scored on a quick and short one-time shot from the slot, leaving Luongo and his teammates frozen, as they lost sight of the puck. That goal would turn out to be the game winner and certainly gave Tim Thomas all he needed to earn his first Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe as playoff MVP, and he more than likely will win his second Vezina trophy.
Midway through the second period, the Canucks had a power play down 2-0 with a chance to get back into the game. Patrice Bergeron stole the puck and raced in on a breakaway, was tripped, fell, and his momentum helped carry the puck into the net. Luongo contested the goal to the ref who had his arm up ready to call a penalty shot moments before the puck went into the net. It appeared as if Luongo gave up on the play, unaware Bergeron could still legally score if his momentum carried the puck into the net as he slid into the goal mouth.
The Bruins were up 3-0 after two periods and Vancouver couldn’t muster any offense whatsoever. The Canucks pulled Luongo with just under three minutes left in the third and Brad Marchand scored the empty-net goal to give Boston their first Stanley Cup championship since 1972.
The Vancouver faithful booed Gary Bettman mercilessly when he awarded Tim Thomas the MVP trophy and congratulated the Bruins on their Stanley Cup run. The crowd did show class by cheering Zedeno Chara when he hoisted the Cup, and gave Tim Thomas a well-deserved ovation when it was his turn to lift Lord Stanley.
From the outside it would appear this was an evenly matched series because it went a full seven games. However, in the end, Boston outscored Vancouver 23-8, came back after losing the first two games and beat Vancouver in four of the next five games. The Canucks won their three games by the slimmest of one goal margins and were outscored 17-3 in Boston.
In the end, Tim Thomas was the difference, because Roberto Luongo was unable to steal just one game in Boston. The Sedins were also unable to muster any offense in the Cup Final series, and the physical toll imposed by the Bruins was enough to wear down the Canucks physically and mentally.
The hometown Canucks came out strong for the first fourteen minutes of the first period, but were unable to score that all important first goal, which proved to be the game winner in all seven games.
With just under five and a half minutes in the first, Patrice Bergeron scored on a quick and short one-time shot from the slot, leaving Luongo and his teammates frozen, as they lost sight of the puck. That goal would turn out to be the game winner and certainly gave Tim Thomas all he needed to earn his first Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe as playoff MVP, and he more than likely will win his second Vezina trophy.
Midway through the second period, the Canucks had a power play down 2-0 with a chance to get back into the game. Patrice Bergeron stole the puck and raced in on a breakaway, was tripped, fell, and his momentum helped carry the puck into the net. Luongo contested the goal to the ref who had his arm up ready to call a penalty shot moments before the puck went into the net. It appeared as if Luongo gave up on the play, unaware Bergeron could still legally score if his momentum carried the puck into the net as he slid into the goal mouth.
The Bruins were up 3-0 after two periods and Vancouver couldn’t muster any offense whatsoever. The Canucks pulled Luongo with just under three minutes left in the third and Brad Marchand scored the empty-net goal to give Boston their first Stanley Cup championship since 1972.
The Vancouver faithful booed Gary Bettman mercilessly when he awarded Tim Thomas the MVP trophy and congratulated the Bruins on their Stanley Cup run. The crowd did show class by cheering Zedeno Chara when he hoisted the Cup, and gave Tim Thomas a well-deserved ovation when it was his turn to lift Lord Stanley.
From the outside it would appear this was an evenly matched series because it went a full seven games. However, in the end, Boston outscored Vancouver 23-8, came back after losing the first two games and beat Vancouver in four of the next five games. The Canucks won their three games by the slimmest of one goal margins and were outscored 17-3 in Boston.
In the end, Tim Thomas was the difference, because Roberto Luongo was unable to steal just one game in Boston. The Sedins were also unable to muster any offense in the Cup Final series, and the physical toll imposed by the Bruins was enough to wear down the Canucks physically and mentally.