Game 1 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals ended up being similar to a pitchers duel in baseball, except replace pitchers with goaltending. Shots were 36-34 Boston, but both goalies were sharp. It was with 18.5 seconds left that Canucks grinder and 3rd line forward Raffi Torres broke the ice and finally solved Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins and scored the games lone goal. Luongo made 36 saves in the shutout and Thomas could not stop the 34th shot on goal by Vancouver.
Boston did have its chances though. In the 1st period they had a 4 minute power play and it looked good, but could not convert. In the 2nd they had close to a full 2 minute 5 on 3, but failed to generate much. If their is one thing that will be the demise of the Bruins this playoff, it could be their special teams. Zdeno Chara was chosen to play in front of Luongo on the power play, but it seems that it did not work very effectively.
Canucks forward Alex Burrows is expected to face a hearing with the NHL for the end of the 1st period scrum with Patrice Bergeron in which he supposedly bit his finger. It seems talks of a possible suspension died down today. Once again, Canucks forward Manny Malhotra did not play in Game 1, because he was not cleared to play yet, even though this past Saturday reports indicated he was, but GM Mike Gillis said that he was still day-to-day. If he practices today and tomorrow very hard, I expect him to play in Game 2 and we will see him in the series for sure since he is practicing. He will wear a full face shield to avoid any serious facial injury. Malhotra's left eye was seriously injured in March and needed two very complex surgeries to save it. It is a miraculous recovery considering the injury was career threatening.
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