Bruins vs. Canucks Stanley Cup Betting Odds

Written by:
Carrie Stroup
Published on:
Jun/01/2011
Bruins vs. Canucks Stanley Cup Betting Odds

Sportsbook.com Stanley Cup betting odds:  Line/Total: Vancouver -200, Boston +170/5.5 under -145

After outlasting the other teams in their conferences, the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks will meet in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The Canucks are making just their third visit to the Finals in team history, while the Bruins are making their first visit since 1990.       

The Bruins relied on a balanced attack of scoring and goaltending to earn 103 points during the regular season, and have showcased both in winning the Eastern Conference. Tim Thomas has been at the top of his game for the majority of the postseason, and when he has faltered (three times allowing five goals against the Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals), he has made up for it with outstanding performances. Thomas allowed just one goal in the Bruins final three wins against the Lightning, posting a save percentage of .989 over those games, and will need to be just as sharp against the offensive-minded Canucks. Thomas has dominated Vancouver in his career, winning all three of his starts and stopping 97 of the 98 shots they have fired at him. That’s a GAA of 0.33 and a save percentage of .990.

Offensively the Bruins have looked to David Krejci and Nathan Horton for goals (18 combined) and to Patrice Bergeron for outstanding overall play (4 G, 11 A). Horton and Krejci have combined for seven of Boston’s 12 GW goals so far this postseason. On the downside for the Bruins, they have lost their last five Stanley Cup Finals appearances. Only Philadelphia (six straight) has lost more consecutive (current). Boston has also lost its past eight Stanley Cup Finals appearances against teams from Canada, and is 1-10 all-time against teams from Canada in the Stanley Cup Finals.

After struggling to find their offensive groove for the first two rounds of the postseason, the Canucks finally broke out against the Sharks in the Conference Finals. Vancouver averaged 4.0 goals per game last round, compared to just 2.3 in the first two series. The Brothers’ Sedin enjoyed an excellent Conference Finals, combining for three goals and 15 assists. Henrik leads all players this postseason with 21 points (2 G, 19 A) and tied a Vancouver record for most points in a series when he registered 12 against the Sharks. After not scoring a goal in his first nine games this postseason, Ryan Kesler has scored seven goals in his past nine games, and is one behind Daniel Sedin for the team lead. In goal, Roberto Luongo has finally quieted his skeptics, with a Conn Smythe performance so far. Luongo has posted a 2.29 GAA, while stopping 92.2 percent of shots fired at him, and has been in goal for all 12 of the Canucks wins.

Both teams are arguably the best in each conference and this should be an excellent Stanley Cup Finals. Both teams have superb goaltending and both teams can light the lamp very well. The Canucks have won their past seven playoff series openers, which is not only a franchise record, but also the longest current streak of its kind for any NHL team. Since 1995, the only other NHL team to win seven or more consecutive Game 1s was the Red Wings with a streak of nine in a row from 2007 to 2009. Luongo has an 8-1 career record in Game 1 of a playoff series. That's the highest such winning percentage for any goaltender in NHL history with at least five decisions, surpassing Ryan Miller and Johnny Mowers, each 7-1.

- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter

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