Home team has won every game as series ends in Vancouver
BOSTON – With the Stanley Cup in the building and Vancouver one win away from hoisting the grand trophy, all the pressure in the world seemed to fall on Roberto Luongo.
He failed. The Boston Bruins scored three goals eight minutes into the first period to chase Luongo and elevated the Bruins to a 5-2 win to force Game 7 back in Vancouver.
After redeeming himself with a shutout in Game 5 in response to allowing 12 goals on their first trip to Boston, Luongo failed to back up his talk leading up to Game 6. Luongo told reporters he would have made the safe on the only goal Thomas allowed and wondered why the Boston goaltender wasn’t saying anything nice about him. Call it bulletin board material, but Boston seemed ready to attack in Game 6 with a barrage of shots on Luongo. Out of eight shots, he allowed three past him. It was evident early that Luongo was not on his game.
Brad Marchand fired a high shot over Luongo for the first goal. Just 25 seconds later, Milan Lucic’s shot went 5-hole past Luongo, than Andrew Ference’s slap shot from the point whizzed by Luongo. With the Boston fans taunting, "LOOOOUUU..."Cory Schneider came on in relief and allowed a goal on the first shot he saw and before you knew it, the Bruins had a 4-0 lead halfway through the first period.
It did not look like it would be Vancouver’s night early. In his first shift just seconds into the game, Mason Raymond was bent over and jammed into the boards awkwardly by Johnny Boychuck. The hit left Raymond motionless on the ice and was eventually helped off the ice by Ryan Kesler and Chris Higgins. Raymond sustained an injury to his vertebrae and Boston did not get a penalty on the play. He was taken to the hospital on a stretcher and Vancouver had to alter their lines and play shorthanded the rest of the game.
It looked like Vancouver would mount a comeback when they opened the third period with a power-play goal from Henrik Sedin. A couple minutes later Janick Hansen appeared to score to trim the deficit 4-2, but replays showed he hit the post and the goal was disallowed. Then David Krejci scored a power-play goal to put the game away. Maxim Lapierre scored this third goal of the playoffs to round out the scoring.
And so the trend continues as the home team wins again and now the Stanley Cup finals is down to one game, a winner take all in Vancouver. The first team to score has gone on to win the game and that also continued. Vancouver could not change their fortunes, losing all three roads games in the finals in blowout fashion. It is disappointing that they were unable to capitalize on winning the cup and now the series will move to one decisive game.
While Luongo has been flat out terrible in Boston, allowing 15 goals in three games, there is no denying his success at home with two shutouts and only two goals allowed in three games. The numbers suggest he will resort back to elite status as his home save percentage is 97% in the finals, compared to sub 80% on the road. Which Luongo will we see in what will be the biggest game of his career? Can he step up and carry his team as he did for Team Canada last year?
One thing is for sure, if the Vancouver Canucks want to win the Stanley Cup, they will need to get more production from their offense. Second line star Ryan Kesler has managed only one assist in the finals and captain and reigning MVP Henrik Sedin has only one point, with his goal in Game 6. Yes Thomas has been superb and the Bruin's D has been fierce, but winners lay it all out on the line and compete with everything they have and find a way to get the job done. Vancouver has not trailed once this entire postseason, but for the second time they have gone to the brink, bailed out by Alex Burrow's overtime goal against Chicago. That was an iconic moment in team history. I hope they have another magical moment on the final game of the season. Go Canucks Go!
It looked like Vancouver would mount a comeback when they opened the third period with a power-play goal from Henrik Sedin. A couple minutes later Janick Hansen appeared to score to trim the deficit 4-2, but replays showed he hit the post and the goal was disallowed. Then David Krejci scored a power-play goal to put the game away. Maxim Lapierre scored this third goal of the playoffs to round out the scoring.
And so the trend continues as the home team wins again and now the Stanley Cup finals is down to one game, a winner take all in Vancouver. The first team to score has gone on to win the game and that also continued. Vancouver could not change their fortunes, losing all three roads games in the finals in blowout fashion. It is disappointing that they were unable to capitalize on winning the cup and now the series will move to one decisive game.
While Luongo has been flat out terrible in Boston, allowing 15 goals in three games, there is no denying his success at home with two shutouts and only two goals allowed in three games. The numbers suggest he will resort back to elite status as his home save percentage is 97% in the finals, compared to sub 80% on the road. Which Luongo will we see in what will be the biggest game of his career? Can he step up and carry his team as he did for Team Canada last year?
One thing is for sure, if the Vancouver Canucks want to win the Stanley Cup, they will need to get more production from their offense. Second line star Ryan Kesler has managed only one assist in the finals and captain and reigning MVP Henrik Sedin has only one point, with his goal in Game 6. Yes Thomas has been superb and the Bruin's D has been fierce, but winners lay it all out on the line and compete with everything they have and find a way to get the job done. Vancouver has not trailed once this entire postseason, but for the second time they have gone to the brink, bailed out by Alex Burrow's overtime goal against Chicago. That was an iconic moment in team history. I hope they have another magical moment on the final game of the season. Go Canucks Go!
No comments:
Post a Comment