The Stanley Cup final is in seventh heaven tonight as the Vancouver Canucks host the Boston Bruins, Wednesday June 15th, for Game 7 where one team will lift hockey’s Holy Grail. Home team has won every game through the Cup finals. NHL oddsmakers have the Canucks as -145 moneyline home favourites over the Bruins (+130) with the over/under set at 5 goals. Be sure to check the Bruins vs Canucks NHL Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
Boston (15-9, 5-6 V) will be looking to put a 39-year Cup drought to rest, if they win in Vancouver. The Bruins have been shut out in two of the three games here, have managed just two goals in the other outing and have lost all three games here by a solitary goal each time. So, Claude Julien and the coaching staff had the Bruins change things around a bit. Despite all the depth scoring that Boston has received in these playoffs, it is still a team that feeds off its first line. If Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Rich Peverley, get hot, the bruins become a much more difficult team to handle. Goalie Tim Thomas has given up just 8 goals in the first 6 games of this Final. He has made the high-powered Vancouver offense look discombobulated and ineffective throughout the series. He is also the front-runner to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, even if the Bruins lose tomorrow. But, can he find the reserve to turn in one more gem? Because the Bruins may well need it. Unless there is a change in form, Boston is going to scuffle for goals at Rogers Arena and Thomas may have to keep the Canucks to one goal, if not shut them out.
"I think we need to alter our game here, that's what needs to be altered," Julien said Tuesday.
"We've already started talking about what we need to do as soon as the game (Monday) was done. I think it was important to set the tone and the stage for Game 7, so we started doing that. We've talked about it and our guys realize what they didn't do here well enough and what needs to be done and we're going to be ready to put that on the ice tomorrow."
Vancouver (15-9, 10-3 H) will be looking for their first Cup in the franchise's four-decade history. If the Canucks can't find their offense, it will take another stellar game from Roberto Luongo to win the Stanley Cup. If Luongo gets off to another shaky start like he did in Game 6, it wouldn't be shocking to see back-up Cory Schneider replace him once again. Luongo has needed to be nearly perfect in his three victories. He had shutouts in Games 1 and 5 and allowed just two goals in a 3-2 victory in Game 2. His performances in Boston resulted in Cory Schneider replacing him twice. Luongo allowed 15 goals in 111:52 at TD Garden, but has stopped 95 of 97 shots at Rogers Arena. The Canucks' power play — ranked No. 1 in the regular season and No. 1 in the playoffs entering this series, is just 2-for-31 against the Bruins. They scored in the third period of Game 6, so perhaps that can give them the confidence they need entering Game 7.
"I think Thomas has something to do with the lack of goals," Kesler said. "Obviously we're playing a team that didn't get here by chance. They're a very good team and they play a very good defensive system. We just need to keep getting shots. I liked what our power play did last game and we continue to improve on that.
Recent Trends to Consider:
Under is 4-0-1 in the last 5 meetings in Vancouver.
Favorite is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.
Home team is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.
Under is 6-2-2 in the last 10 meetings.
Canucks are 7-0 in their last 7 playoff games as a favorite.
Canucks are 5-1 in their last 6 Wednesday games.
Canucks are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150.
Bruins are 5-1 in their last 6 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Bruins are 0-5 in their last 5 playoff games as an underdog.
Bruins vs Canucks
When: Wednesday, June 15, 8:00 PM ET
Pick: Canucks -145
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The Bottom Line: The only thing going for the Canucks is home ice advantage. Luongo will have to be at his best, as Thomas is sure to be. The first goal will win the Cup. Be sure to check Bruins vs Canucks Hockey Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
