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Five Thoughts: Tuning up for a Game 7

Vancouver Canucks v Boston Bruins - Game Six

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 13: Shawn Thornton #22 of the Boston Bruins fights with Kevin Bieksa #3 of the Vancouver Canucks during Game Six of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 13, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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It almost had to be this way didn’t it? Game 7 on the way on Wednesday between Boston and Vancouver and these two teams truly do deserve each other. With the physical play, the off-ice comments, the on-ice shenanigans, and the questionable hits it’s as if these two are playing the mirror image of each other. Think of it like that final stage of an 80’s Nintendo game where you think you’ve beaten the game but then have to square off against the evil version of your own character. Of course, who you decide is the evil one in this series is a matter of opinion.

1. We know that both of these teams have played out of their minds on home ice and have protected it the way an attack dog would a rich person’s mansion. There’s a flip side to looking at things here though and it’s that both of these teams have been absolutely miserable road teams. Obviously the Canucks issues in Boston have been obvious and beyond awful. Roberto Luongo can now add Boston to his list of personal hells to go along with Chicago. The fact that the organist at TD Garden serenaded the Canucks with his own version of “Chelsea Dagger” helped add to the pain.

Boston hasn’t been much better in their three road games in Vancouver though. Sure the scores are closer and they had their opportunities to change the game in all three of them, but if they show up the way they did in Game 5, the Canucks are going to skate away with the Stanley Cup. The fact that neither of these teams have yet to play a road game worthy of the road dominance we’ve seen throughout the playoffs is somewhat embarrassing. After all, these are the best two teams left in the league and neither of them can bring their “A” game with them on the road? That’s no good. It’s up to Boston to show that they can do it in Game 7 but if they don’t we’ll be left wondering what happened to the greatness of road teams in the end.

2. Much of the talk today is going to center around Mason Raymond’s injury suffered in the first period of Game 6 thanks to an awkward but late hit from Johnny Boychuk. Now that everyone’s had a chance to sleep on things and get caught up to the news that Raymond was stretchered out of TD Garden and taken to the hospital, the outrage in Vancouver is building. After all the verbal lashing Aaron Rome took for his reckless hit on Nathan Horton, Canucks fans will be acting out in kind towards Boychuk. Justified though? Not at all as the hit just strikes us as awkward yet ugly. Should Raymond end up being hurt seriously, as is the rumor, it’ll add fuel to their fire.

Of course, that doesn’t excuse the chants Bruins fans delivered as Raymond was down on the ice. It was an ugly incident all around made worse by the spectacle this series has become thanks to everything that’s gone on. Some fans should learn to get a grip on things and that goes for everyone.

3. Interesting to see that Henrik Sedin took about five straight rights to the face from Brad Marchand late in the game to which Sedin didn’t so much as do anything in return. After the game, Sedin said that that’s the kind of player he is and it’s to be expected. Don’t think the Canucks won’t have that in the back of their heads throughout Game 7. Taking swipes at the captain is a good way to get noticed in all the wrong ways.

4. Crazy part about Game 6 is that Vancouver actually played well for most of the game. They played solid through the final 40 minutes of play and outside of the four minute span of the first period that saw them give up four goals it was a good game out of the Canucks. Of course, brain farts of any kind have cost both teams opportunities to win this series already. Here’s to hoping Game 7 will see both teams bring their best to the ice and leave all the drama and mistakes at home.

5. Some fun Game 7 factoids for you to help get you revved up for Wednesday. The last time Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals was decided in overtime it was 1954 when Detroit beat Montreal 2-1 in overtime. Your game-winning-goal scorer that year? Tony Leswick.

We’ve actually had plenty of recent Cup finals Game 7’s. Since 2000, five finals have gone seven games. In 2009, Pittsburgh beat Detroit. In 2006, Carolina beat Edmonton. In 2004, Tampa Bay beat Calgary. In 2003, New Jersey beat Anaheim, and in 2001 Colorado beat New Jersey to give Raymond Bourque his one and only Stanley Cup.

Boston will be attempting to be the first team to win three Game 7s in one playoff year. It’s never been done before. Should they pull it off, what a testament it will be to their resilience and stamina as well.