Daily Pucking Grind. Do You Believe? June 15th.

Today’s music choice is Once In A Lifetime by Talking Heads!

Game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals is tonight in Vancouver.  A perfect setting for Canada as the Vancouver Canucks have a chance to bring home Lord Stanley for the first time ever, and back to Canada for the first time since the Montreal Canadians did it in 1993.  The first six games have been drama filled as we know, and may not have been the type of hockey that you or I was expecting.  All of the drama can be erased with a solid performance by both teams tonight, in what is hoped to be an exciting contest.  If the Canucks play they way they have been playing at home, and the Boston Bruins can play the way they have played on their home ice, anything is possible.

Yet, there are questions, and the biggest one for me is not which Bruins team shows up.  The one that scores in buckets when in Boston, or the one that has difficulty scoring on the road.  No, the big question for me is which Roberto Luongo shows up in net for Vancouver.  While the games he has played in The Rogers Arena have been solid, he has looked absolutely horrible in three other contests, and he’s coming off an early exit in game 6 after giving up three goals in a four minute span.  Luongo lasted 9 minutes.  His teammates say they believe in him.  His coach says he believes in him, and Luongo says he believes in himself.  Well, of course you must tell yourself that right?  I mean you know the old saying, “Say something enough to yourself, you’ll start to believe it”.  Or some psyhco babble like that.

Thing of it is, Boston goes into this game with a ton of confidence.  They can play loose.  They don’t have their backs against the wall, and they can take the energy from the Vancouver crowd and translate it into a positive for themselves.  The Can’t Nucks on the other hand have to be filled with a lot of uncertainty.  As much as you try to leave your last game behind you, they nave to be nervous.  Let’s face it, this team has been in this position many times before over the past few post seasons.  This year’s squad is expected to win based on their regular season performance and the performance of their stars as they marched their way to the President’s trophy.  Anything can happen in the playoffs.  Anything can happen in a game 7.  Each team must believe in themselves and each other.  Some players while young enough to get back “here”  again, may never get this chance after tonight.  If I were a betting man you know where my money’s at tonight.

So I ask, if you really believe in your heart that the team you want to win has what it takes to win tonight’s game?  I remember last year as the Chicago Blackhawks went into each game, I never ever doubted them.  Do you have a similar feeling tonight for your team?

I’ll close my comments with this.  Henrik Sedin was asked after game six in Boston if Vancouver’s confidence was shot.  His answer?  “Why”?.    I was always taught, never answer a question with a question….you’re trying to hide something if you do.

Here’s your Wednesday links:

Alain Vigneault is confident in his goaltender. CBC Sports.

There is no reason to doubt Tim Thomas.  He has been light’s out for Boston.  TSN.ca.

Check out some of the unlikely hero’s in past game seven’s.  NHL.com.

Justin Bourne breaks down each teams blue line.

Johnny Boychuk escapes suspension for his hit on Mason Raymond. And of course Vancouver’s Mike Gillis isn’t happy about that.

Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins has done quite alright for himself this post season. CSNNE.

Deadspin asks, ” If the Canucks win, can they go to the White House?

Down Goes Brown gives his idea on how to present the Stanley Cup.

Thanks for reading.   We welcome your comments and opinions.

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