Vancouver Has a Date with Lord Stanley

The Vancouver Canucks disposed of the San Jose Sharks Tuesday night in overtime to advance to only there third ever Stanley Cup Finals.  The last time Vancouver made the Stanley Cup was all the way back in 1994 when they lost in game seven to the New York Rangers.  Vancouver has yet to win a Stanley Cup in their franchise history however look to end the drought this year against either the Tampa Bay Lightning or Boston Bruins.  Vancouver has seen stellar play from Kevin Bieksa, Ryan Kesler and both the Sedin twins.  Vancouver finds out tonight who they will play for the chance to hoist Stanley’s Cup and the title of best team in the National Hockey League. 

Tampa Bay Forces Game Seven in Boston

The Tampa Bay Lightning avoided elimination Wednesday night by beating the Boston Bruins 5-4 at home.  Tampa Bay looks to keep the momentum going by beating Boston tonight on the road and advancing to there first Stanley Cup since they won it back in 2004.  Boston looks to avoid the Tampa Bay comeback and have a chance to play the Canucks in the cup final.  Boston has a hot goaltender in Tim Thomas who they look to ride all the way to the Stanley Cup where as Tampa Bay is relying on firepower up front.  Regardless tonight’s game is going to be one for the ages and set up an extremely exciting Stanley Cup Finals.

Conn Smythe Watch

The Conne Smythe is a very prestigious award that goes to the playoff MVP typically to the winning team.  If Vancouver is to win the Stanley Cup there is a number of players in there line up that could win the award.  The front runners right now are Ryan Kesler, Kevin Bieksa, Henrik Sedin and Roberto Luongo.  All three of them are having Conn Smythe deserving playoffs however the finals will be the final factor in who takes the award away if Vancouver is to win.  If Boston is to win it’s either going to be Tim Thomas of Zedeno Chara.  Both of them have been holding down the Bruins back end and deserving of the award.  If Tampa Bay is to win the Conn Smythe is going to Martin St. Louis.  St. Louis is having a solid playoff performance and if his team can avoid elimination tonight and make the Stanley Cup Finals anything is possible.