Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks Pick
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The quest to achieve the oldest trophy in North American sports is coming to a close with Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals in the books. With a thrilling finish, the Vancouver Canucks snatched the first meeting with a game-sealing goal in the waning seconds of the final period of regulation.
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Date/Time: Saturday, June 4, 8:00 P.M. ET
Venue: Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada
Broadcast: NBC
Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks Betting Lines
Money Line: Vancouver -190, Boston +165
Spread: Canucks -1 ½
Over/Under: 5
After nearly three periods of scoreless hockey, and 12 wasted power plays between the two teams, Vancouver’s Raffi Torres scored the game winner with just 18.5 seconds remaining in the match, stunning Boston in the Wednesday-night matchup.
Torres had an average season in 2010-11 with just 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that someone on Vancouver’s side ended up scoring, as the team was ranked first in goals per game and power play percentage during the regular season.
The two goalies in the game performed spectacular and the matchup was a defenses slugfest throughout entire 60-minute contest.
Tim Thomas of the Bruins had 33 saves before allowing the goal that sealed the game for a save percentage of .971, a spectacular performance considering he had a matchup with the number-one scoring team in the NHL.
Torres’ game-winning goal put an end to Thomas’ shutout streak that stretched back to game six of the Eastern Conference Finals, ending at just below 129 minutes.
Roberto Luongo of Vancouver had a flawless game with 36 saves and no goals allowed.
Vancouver did this without one of their top players; center Manny Malhotra, who has been out since he was hit in the left eye by a deflected puck March 16. Although Malhotra was cleared for the series, he sat out as a precaution, and expects to get on the ice before the series is all said and done.
In the history of the Stanley Cup Finals, only 33 percent of those teams losing game one have gone on to win the series since the NHL went to the best-of-seven format in 1939.
Boston had plenty of chances throughout the game, having six power plays, but failed to capitalize and any.
Boston had every chance in the world to win the game, considering they held the best offensive team to just one goal, but was shutout for just the second time of the post season. The Canucks defensive dominance over the Bruins in Game 1 is surprising considering Boston is the same team that put up five or more goals against the Philadelphia Flyers three times in the four-game conference semifinal sweep. Philadelphia was the third-ranked team in terms of goals allowed.
The odds makers have the Vancouver Canucks as a -1.5 point favorite with an over/under of 5.
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Matt’s Free Prediction: Vancouver – Don’t count on Boston’s defense to hold up for long against the Canucks’ premier scoring offense. Game 1 being as close as it was, was lucky for the Bruins, and they failed to take advantage of it. The Canucks will no doubt light up Boston’s Thomas eventually, especially with Malhotra coming back any day.
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Boston Bruins Betting Trends:
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston’s last 6 games
- Boston is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston’s last 5 games when playing Vancouver
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston’s last 6 games when playing on the road against Vancouver
Vancouver Canucks Betting Trends:
- Vancouver is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Vancouver’s last 15 games at home
- Vancouver is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Vancouver’s last 5 games when playing Boston
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