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The first game of the finals lacked such appeal that Don Cherry referred to it as the worst Stanley Cup game he has ever watched. For once, Cherry made a statement most would agree with.(Vancouver Canucks ) The officials were intent on sending an early message-- that everything both teams had gotten away with throughout the previous rounds would not be tolerated in the first game. As for remaining games in the series (there could be as many as six), you can take this prediction to the bank: the whistles will quickly be pocketed.
Refereeing aside, the game featured negligible flow and even less excitement. There was physicality and great goaltending, but the game lacked the kind of intensity you expect to see, given what's at stake; the kind of intensity that has marked one of the most exciting Nhl Jerseys playoff seasons we've ever witnessed. Such a boring game would clearly play into Boston's hands. They may not have effectively disrupted Vancouver's flow all by themselves, but on the road, in the Stanley Cup Finals, not allowing the home team on the board for the first 59:41 of the game was as good as they could've asked for. The only problem is, the game is played at two ends of the rink and the Bruins had nothing to show for it after 60 minutes of play. The 1-0 result on the only glaring error made in the third period of the hockey game, as Johnny Boychuk leapt at Ryan Kesler in the neutral zone despite the fact that there was no back-pressure from a teammate to support his decision, cost Tim Thomas a shutout, and it gave the Bruins a true indication of how tough this task will be. The Canucks were patient enough to wait for that single opportunity, and though many are suggesting the Bruins can take the confidence of knowing they can play with Vancouver, they can't escape the reality that they lost a game that was theirs for the taking. It would seem the Canucks have become accustomed to either overpowering their opponent with crushing speed and scoring, or managing to squeeze by in games they don't necessarily deserve. Regardless of how they've done it, they've done it more than any other team in these playoffs.
They have three wins to accumulate before they earn the right to lift hockey's most coveted prize over their heads. And if the Bruins can't even beat them under the favourable circumstances they were able to generate last night, it seems hard to believe they'll be able to do it in a free-flowing hockey game.