Bruins @ Canucks Stanley Cup Game 1 Odds and Predictions – Free Stanley Cup Picks 6-1-11

Free Stanley Cup Finals Picks and Odds – Game 1 Boston Bruins @ Vancouver Canucks Favorite, Moneyline, Total and Predictions 6/1/11: The Boston Bruins are finally where most analysts have put them the last three years. The Stanley Cup finals has long been the predicted place for the Bruins, but playoffs of past have proven them mentally weak and physically broken. This year they averted another collapse against the Montreal Canadians, steam rolled Philly, and went the distance with the young and talented Tampa Bay Lightning. Their resiliency has been the story of their improbable run towards the finals and it remains to be seen if they still have enough in the tank to finish the job. Patrice Bergeron has been the catalyst behind this year’s playoff run and, he too, will be considered for the Conn Smythe when everything is said and done. He is showing up every night and is providing not only an offensive effort, but also a physical one. His play is contagious and many times he has rallied his team around the merits of his hard work.
The city of Vancouver is electric these days with their hometown hockey club in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 16 seasons. The buzz around the city is loud and the fever for the Canucks has spread across the entire country of Canada. The Vancouver Canucks are without a doubt the most talented NHL hockey club and this merit and skill has afforded them a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. Roberto Lulongo, although not statistically the best goaltender in this year’s playoffs, is having a fantastic campaign to this point and he is granting his team the chance to win on a consistent, nightly basis. Vancouver will most likely be re-inserting forward Manny Malholtra to the starting lineup, Malholtra has been out the last two months after taking a puck to the eye. He will be welcomed with open arms as he provides a solid two-way presence on the ice and his special team’s ability is next to none. The Sedin twins have long awaited a chance to play for hockey’s ultimate honor and they should be ready to go tonight. Slow out of the gates, but the twins have ramped up their game and are currently playing at an extremely high level. They are creating opportunities on the majority of their shifts and are seen getting involved in the physical game that the playoffs have come to be known for.
Tonight we will recommend a play on the Boston Bruins to open up the Stanley Cup Finals. Tim Thomas is without a doubt the best goaltender in the league at the current moment and he has his paws all over this years’ Conn Smythe trophy. He has the ability to manage games, as well as steal them. He has outstanding technique and he loves to challenge shooters. The Bruins roll into this game on the heels of an epic game 7 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, so the momentum should be a factor for the Canucks to be weary of. The pressure is definitely on the home side tonight as the Canucks have the weight of an entire nation on their side, a fairly daunting factor. We have seen that the Canucks get tight and flustered when the pressure starts to amount. Boston brings to the forefront an excellent track record against this west coast bunch and their style of play is something the Canucks don’t see regularly. Boston is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Vancouver and is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against the Canucks. Vancouver is 3-7-1 SU in its last 11 games, when playing Boston and Roberto Lulongo owns a 3.12 GAA lifetime against the B-Men. The Bruins are a poised, determined hockey club right now and I expect this series to be one of the most entertaining and competitive affairs in some time. Boston will give the Canucks fits with their aggressive fore-check and dizzying offensive zone game. We will consider the Boston Bruins opening up this mega series with a victory tonight in hostile, Canadian, territory. Cheers!

Free Pick: Boston Bruins +170(Moneyline)

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