2011 NHL Stanley Cup Finals Series Preview: Vancouver Canucks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Vancouver Canucks is through to the final round of the play-offs after defeating San Jose Sharks, 4-1, in the National Hockey League (NHL) Playoffs Western Conference Finals series. It will be the first time since 1994 that Canucks has a chance at winning
the Stanley Cup and hopefully will able to rewrite history with this opportunity.
Tampa Bay Lightning, on the other hand, is still preparing for the final Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals series against Boston Bruins. If they emerge victorious against Bruins, it will be their first Stanley Cup stretch since winning it back in 2004
against Calgary Flames in a Game 7 decider.
If both teams go head-to-head in the Stanley Cup Finals, the series is bound to be highly energetic and intense. Lightning is experienced in playing in the finals as compared to Canucks which is returning to the platform after 17 years.
Hence, Tampa Bay has an advantage over Vancouver, but the experienced team is not always the one that wins as we saw in San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings, Western Conference Semifinal series.
Looking at all aspects of the teams can give us a taste of what we can expect to see in the series.
Offensive Advantage: Tied
Both teams are equally talented with regard to their offense with attackers in their teams who score brilliant goals.
Canucks has the Sedin brothers, Daniel and Henrik, and Ryan Kesler while Tampa Bay has a powerful trio, Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos and Vincent Lecavalier.
Both trios are exceptionally capable of attacking and leading their teams to win as we witnessed in their respective series.
Game 6 was elimination time for the Lightning, but they fought back as St. Louis, Stamkos and Lecavalier each potted in a point and picked up a total of eight points combined. If they continue to play like this, Lightning will outclass Bruins and enter the
final round of the play-offs. Boston will be a better opponent for Canucks anytime with regard to Vancouver having the offensive advantage.
Defensive Advantage: Tied
Unlike Boston Bruins, both, Lightning and Canucks, have a mild defensive lineup that also acts as attacking forwards rather than solely defensemen. Boston has defensemen that solely defend and can take a player down if they have to.
Both teams also have extremely talented goalies, Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) and the veteran goalkeeper, Dwayne Roloson (Tampa Bay), both equally talented.
Again, Tampa Bay and Vancouver are tied in this aspect as well.
Special Teams Advantage: Tied
Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning both have special teams which they use most of the time to tackle difficult situations. The above mentioned trio’s for both teams work their magic when needed the most.
The only way to make a tie-breaker would be to look at the stats but there is not much difference their either.
Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin led the league in points and assists during the regular season and continuing into the postseason, with marginal difference.
Henrik leads with 21 points which include 19 assists while Martin St. Louis leads in goals scored (10) as Daniel follows behind with 8.
Verdict: Unclear, assuming Vancouver wins Game 7.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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