2011 stanley cup finals

This Trophy Could Be Awarded Tonight

Photo: NHL Images/2011 NHLI
Photo: NHL Images/2011 NHLI

Fake coughs and last night’s mid-court “skirmish” were fun and all, but the NHL’s compelling Finals series has the NBA’s beat in the category of “How badly these teams have grown to hate each other over the past two weeks.” This year’s Stanley Cup Finals has to this point featured biting, pissed-off coaches, bite-related taunting, goalies leveling opposing players, and an illegal hit that will cause a key player to miss the remainder of the series. (It’s also featured three one-goal games, though it’s also included two routs.) The latest bit of intrigue: Roberto Luongo — who’s been awfully inconsistent in this series — described the lone goal that Tim Thomas allowed in Vancouver’s 1–0 Game 5 victory as “an easy save for me.” Sure, he may have meant it as bit of analysis — that he would have played such a shot differently — but it’s nevertheless provided a storyline for the two off-days before tonight’s Game 6. So! Said Game 6 will take place at the TD Garden in Boston, where the Bruins won Games 3 and 4 and eventually chased Luongo after he’d allowed twelve goals over those two games. The two teams have held serve in their respective buildings so far, but the Canucks are just one win now from their first-ever title. The Stanley Cup will be in the house tonight. (Anthony Weiner — pictured above, with said Cup — will not be.)

This Trophy Could Be Awarded Tonight