NHL Playoff Predictions Re-Cap
After I went 8-0 with my round one predictions I dropped off in round two going 2 – 2. However in the Conference Final I picked both Vancouver and Boston to move on to the Stanley Cup final. This brings my record to 12 and 2 through the first three rounds. However, as you may have guessed, there is really only one game I want to get right, which of course is the Vancouver Canucks versus the Boston Bruins for the Stanley Cup.
How They Match Up
Vancouver and Boston have identical records of 12 and 6 to reach the Stanley Cup final, with Vancouver being the league’s best team throughout the regular season. Boston did beat Vancouver in the one regular season game they played.
Vancouver Canucks - Johnny Canuck
Forwards
Vancouver has three players in the top 10 in playoff scoring, including current play points leader Henrik Sedin (21) while Boston has two players in the top 10. However Boston has a slight lead in total goals having scored 58 to Vancouver’s 50. Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin and Boston’s Nathan Horton are both tied for 4th with 8 goals each in this year’s playoffs. Henrik Sedin leads all players with 19 assists while Boston’s leader is tied for ninth with 11 assists to lead all Bruins. Vancouver also has the ability to roll three and sometimes four lines while Boston’s core players log more minutes which should be in Vancouver’s favour the more physical and longer the series goes. Boston leads in face offs won 52.3% to Vancouver’s 50.4%
– edge to Vancouver
Defenceman
Vancouver’s defence has contributed 40 points in these playoffs while Boston’s defence has contributed 38 points. The Canucks defence has been key to Vancouver having the playoffs’ best power play at 28.3% while Boston has been operating a very dismal 8.2% with the man advantage. The Canucks also hold the edge in penalty killing at 80.6% to Boston at 79.4%. The Vancouver defence has also proved it is deep, having used a number of different players due to some injuries. With the layoff we can expect a healthy core group of players on the ice for Vancouver.
– slight edge to Vancouver
Goaltending
Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo and Boston’s Tim Thomas hold identical Stanley Cup playoff records this year at 12 and 6 and have identical goals against of 2.29. Both also have two shutouts in this year’s playoffs. Thomas has a slight edge in save percentage at .929 to Luongo’s .922. Thomas has also faced more shots (646) then Luongo (569). Luongo plays a typical style of today’s modern goalie while Thomas plays what can summed up as no particular style. I do think Thomas has the ability to steal a game or two for his team, but while Luongo has been good he hasn’t been the sole difference in any game for the Canucks.
– slight edge to Boston
Best Stat I Read on Twitter
Thanks to Jeff Paterson of the Team 1040 radio for this… Boston’s Milan Lucic leads the Bruins with 43 hits while Vancouver’s Maxim Lapierre (63), Kevin Bieksa (62), Ryan Kesler (56) and Chris Higgins (48) all have more. Big Bad Bruins?
Stanley Cup Playoff Prediction
Vancouver Canucks in 6 games!!
I like the Canucks as well Jeff but I see this going 7 and the Presidents Trophy playing a significant role as they’ll host said game.
Should be a great series and lets see the Nucks take the body!
Jordan,
I agree I had a hard time choosing between game 5 and 6 as would love to see them clinch at home, but you may be right about 7.
Cheers, Jeff