Comments on: First look at the 2011 Stanley Cup finals: Are the Bruins the junior varsity Canucks? http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/28/first-look-at-the-2011-stanley-cup-finals-are-the-bruins-the-junior-varsity-canucks/ ProHockeyTalk on NBCSports.com Sat, 25 May 2013 09:32:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: graves9 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/28/first-look-at-the-2011-stanley-cup-finals-are-the-bruins-the-junior-varsity-canucks/comment-page-1/#comment-11279 Sun, 29 May 2011 06:29:27 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=38803#comment-11279 Calling the Bruins a JV version of Vancouver is laughable. It’s easy to look at the Nucks’ stats this year in the regular season and turn into a bumbling fanboy. But let’s be honest…Bruins are the better 5-on-5 team statistically in these playoffs (the best in these playoffs, actually); the teams have nearly identical PK percentages (and don’t try to tell me that stopping the Sharks, Preds and Blackhawks was more difficult than stopping Tampa, the Flyers, and Montreal); and in truth, it’s all about matchups. If you think that Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis are going to shut down the Lucic-Krejci-Horton line, you have to be delusional. That line is large, physical, and shifty- they are difficult to contain along the boards when they are on top of their game. Also, you should watch Patrice Bergeron more- his decision making along the boards and his ability to win draws and battles makes him just as formidable as Kesler, albeit in a different way.

The Canucks better hope their secondary scoring is up to the challenge, considering Chara and Seidenberg- especially Seidenberg- are not going to give the Sedin twins an inch to operate in back of the net. That renders Burrows relatively harmless. Kesler will create a mismatch with the B’s second pairing, but I don’t think Christopher Higgins or Mason Raymond will be morphing into Pavel Bure circa 1994 anytime soon. In the end, the Bs’ two-way forwards (especially the two newly-acquired ones) will be the unsung heroes of this series- meet Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley.

Yes, I am a Bruins fan; to readers, please do not think that I am unaware of Vancouver’s skill and successes. I am merely arguing that calling the B’s Vancouver-lite, especially when they beat Vancouver this year 3-1, is moronic.

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