Cup, Cops, and Conn Smythe - An NHL Finals Post-Mortem - Boston Bruins Champions Edition

(Photo via soccer2008bygorddunphy.blogspot.com)

After 40 years of disappointment, the Boston Bruins prevailed with a perfect road win to claim the challis of the Hockey Gods. The Stanley Cup is returning to a team that I believed had no right or chance to win. Call it misdirected patriotism. Call it blind faith. Call it a sense of entitlement. You can spin it anyway you like, but the Bruins earned this championship and should've closed it out in less games.

Why Boston Won

The Oddest and Most Intriguing Stanley Cup Final In History - Boston Bruins Force Game 7 Versus Vancouver Canucks

(Photo via washingtonexaminer.com)

I've been watching hockey for close to 20 years. I've seen teams dominate the seven game final where there's a clear winner before the opening faceoff. On the other side of the puck, I've witnessed epic see-saw battles between 2 evenly matched, committed and determined clubs. You can always expect the unexpected in pro sports. The 2011 edition of the Cup Final is no exception, with unexpected underlined and bold....in 50 point font.

Without taking anything away from the Bruins, the Canucks were meant to dominate this series with authority and make it quick. Now here we are, 6 games in the books with every NHL fanboy's wet dream on tap: a deciding game 7. What happened? What's going to happen? Which bandwagon do I jump onto? The only way to get the answers we desperately seek is to have a Q&A...with myself.

Canucks vs Bruins - NHL Playoffs - Stanley Cup Final

This is it! 1,230 games have been completed and the 2nd season begins. 16 teams participate and 1 will hoist the most coveted trophy in professional sports: the Stanley Cup. This is one of the toughest tournaments in the world and P&B will be your round by round guide.

(Photo via zimbio.com)

1

VS

3

2011 Season Series:

Boston won 1-0

Stanley Cup Finals Schedule:

All games are available on CBC, RDS, NBC and Versus (check your local listings) and have an 8pm EST start time:

1 - Wednesday, June 1 in Vancouver, 2 - Saturday, June 4 in Vancouver, 3 - Monday, June 6 in Boston, 4 - Wednesday, June 8 in Boston, *5 - Friday, June 10 in Vancouver, *6 - Monday, June 13 in Boston, *7- Wednesday, June 15 in Vancouver

*If necessary

What's the story?:

To start this off...it feels good to be right! From the beginning, I picked a Boston-Vancouver final and I wanted to let you know.