'Nucks Push B's to Edge,

With the series tied at two games apiece, Bruins’ nemesis Maxime Lapierre scored the only goal of the game to give the Canucks a 1-0 win and a 3 to 2 series edge. The series now heads back to Boston and the Canucks have two opportunities to win their first Stanley Cup in the franchises’ 40-year history. A sellout crowd of more than 18,000 fans at the Rogers Center cheered on the Canucks as they responded extremely well to being hammered in the previous two games in Boston. Roberto Luongo stopped all 31 shots he faced for his second shutout of the series, coming back strongly after letting in a dozen goals in his previous two games. Tim Thomas was nearly his equal, halting 24 of the 25 he faced to give the Bruins more than a decent opportunity to win the game.

Roberto Luongo got the start for the Canucks after some significant external discussion of whether Corey Schneider would get the start for the team in Blue after Luongo gave up 12 in the previous two games in Boston. The first period saw early chances for each team, with Chris Kelly ringing the post on a two-on-one and Mason Raymond of the Canucks getting robbed by the blocker of Tim Thomas down low. The Bruins benefited from early penalties called against Henrik Sedin and Raffi Torres; however, some excellent and aggressive penalty killing from the Canucks negated both opportunities. The Canucks used the momentum from those successful kills to build a significant physical advantage, taking a 23 to 13 lead in hits to the first intermission.

Roberto Luongo was excellent; making several key stops (including several on the B’s third and final PP of the period) on his way to twelve saves in the first period, apparently regaining the mojo he had in the first two games. Several Vancouver embellishments went uncalled, but late in the period, Bruins fans’ favorite Alex Burrows took Milan Lucic with him on a tripping minor which replays showed was clearly the result of a Burrows dive. Playing four-on-four, the teams went to the locker room after twenty minutes of icetime, tied at no goals apiece. Of note, Bruins rookie Tyler Seguin didn’t take to the ice until over halfway through the period, and totaled less than two minutes of icetime, remarkable considering B’s grinder Greg Campbell received more than two minutes on the PP.

The Canucks came out with some more aggressive physical play to start the second. Tim Thomas made some solid saves to negate some good opportunities, and drew a high-sticking penalty against Ryan Kesler early in the period. His rival across the ice, Luongo wasn’t particularly challenged during the B’s fourth man advantage, and again the Bruins failed to convert. The Canucks drew their first powerplay of the game when Chris Higgins stepped around Adam McQuaid and forced the Bruin to impede him with a hold. The Bruins killed their sixteenth consecutive penalty of the series, and went on the offensive with an extended stay in the Vancouver zone, which was immediately followed by a heart-stopping attack by the Canucks which was barely covered by Thomas and the B’s defense.

The end of the period seemed to be dominated by the Canucks, who won most of the battles and earned a ton of offensive possession. An obstruction penalty to Patrice Bergeron gave the ‘Nucks their second advantage of the game with just over four minutes to go. Some excellent blocked shots and great play by Thomas denied the opportunity, their 17th straight. Both teams failed to score through 40, zero-zero entering the third. Going to the second intermission the Canucks had 36 hits to Boston’s 22.

As the third period began, each team looked to score that one goal that might be the only one each would need to go up 3 to 2 headed back to Boston on Monday. Vancouver finally broke through with a goal from the hated Maxime Lapierre with a nearly no-angle shot that he banked in off of the sprawling Thomas just under five minutes into the third period. Raffi Torres and Kevin Bieksa assisted on the play, which was started due to a failed attempt by Milan Lucic to cover for a defender in the offensive zone. With the pressure on, the Bruins tried to force the play, but were consistently thwarted in the neutral and offensive zones by a Canucks team that seemed to have fresher legs and win all of the battles for the puck. An unnecessary penalty on Rich Peverley with just over seven minutes to go put serious pressure on the Boston squad, not only to successfully defend the man advantage, but also because of the clock, which was now totally on Vancouver’s side. Despite some desperate play from the Bruins down the stretch, they were only able to manage a few more credible opportunities, and as time ran out, the Canucks celebrated their third win, moving them within one of the most prestigious trophy in all sports.

The win by the home team tonight continued a remarkable streak by home teams in recent Stanley Cup Finals, having now won 16 of their past 18 games. Roberto Luongo has allowed two goals at home versus twelve on the road in the series, a remarkable differential. Tim Thomas has allowed a grand total of six goals in his previous six games.

Bruins Nail 'Nucks, Even Series with Shutout Win

Tim Thomas secured his third shutout of the 2011 postseason and the hometown fans at TD Garden were treated to a great show as the Boston Bruins evened the Stanley Cup Finals at two games apiece with a strong 4-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Wednesday night. Rich Peverley was credited with two goals to equal his to-date playoff total and David Krejci added two assists to lead the Bruins scoring charge.

The first period started off with both teams pressing their physical advantages, with the teams eventually tallying twenty-seven hits in the period. Two powerplays for Vancouver were unsuccessful and Tim Thomas managed to stop all 12 shots in the period to preserve the zero. Just under twelve minutes in David Krejci poked a pass through to Peverley, who jumped into the zone unmolested and snuck a shot through Roberto Luongo’s five-hole, giving the Bruins the early lead. Neither team scored to end the period and the teams went to the locker room with a one-goal difference.

The second period started up with the Canucks looking to come back and take advantage of some man-advantage time. However, Thomas and the Bruins were able to negate their advantage and turn those penalty kills into momentum. The Bruins erupted for two goals. The first was the result of an excellent neutral zone pass from B’s rookie Tyler Seguin to Michael Ryder who sniped a shot under Luongo’s glove to extend the lead to two-nil. The Bruins furthered their advantage just over two minutes later, when a great forecheck by the “Wolverine”, Brad Marchand produced a turnover behind the goal line, and Patrice Bergeron won a puck battle to get the puck to Marchand who roofed it past a surprised Luongo to put the Bruins up by three. The teams both put up around twelve shots in the period, and while the Bruins tallied two, Thomas dominated another period and kept the zero on the board.

In the third, the B’s killed off three additional powerplays and Tim Thomas managed to shut down the offensive charge of the ‘Nucks. Milan Lucic advanced the Bruins’ cause further when he took a Krejci pass up the boards and dangled around Kevin Bieksa to find some open space and feed Peverley for his second goal and gave the B’s a four-goal edge. A Brad Marchand penalty and hip check on Daniel Sedin sparked a fight between him and Keith Ballard which devolved into a ground hug-fest. Adam McQuaid challenged several Canucks to a fight but was denied and earned a 10-minute misconduct. More shenanigans ensued when Tim Thomas and Alex Burrows engaged slashes and jumped each-other, and the Captain Zdeno Chara and Ryan Kesler each earned misconducts for their actions. The Bruins killed of the ‘Nucks PP and kept the zero.

The next game is scheduled for Friday in Vancouver, as the Canucks will hope to preserve their home team advantage. The Canucks won the faceoff battle for the second game, by a total of 39 to 32 (55%). The Canucks outshot the Bruins 38 to 29 and the teams tied with 27 checks thrown apiece. Tim Thomas now leads the playoffs in GAA, Save %, shots faced and wins. Roberto Luongo allowed twelve goals on fifty-eight shots in the two games in Boston.

Mock Draft Part Two - Picks 11-25

11. Colorado Avalanche: Nathan Beaulieu, D – St. John (OHL) – This toolsy defenseman has been ranked all over the board, from top five all the way to outside the top-thirty. Big but not huge defender stands 6’3” and plays with a definite edge. He will drop the gloves readily if aggravated. He’s a solid point producer, tallying 12-33-45 totals in each of the last two seasons. Beaulieu owns a booming point shot and is a plus passer with outstanding vision. He plays a solid defensive game with physicality but he definitely needs refining. Scored 33 playoff points in two postseasons (and only 40 games) with the Seadogs. Colorado will not pass on him if he falls out of the top-10 (which is by no means assured). A lefty shot, Avs fans will look toward a future Johnson-Beaulieu top pairing.

Projects at Prime as: 15-30-45 (Best-Case 20-35-55) (Worst-Case 10-20-30)

Playstyle Compares to: Dustin Byfuglien, Alex Edler, P.K. Subban

ETA: 2 years

Wild Card Selection – Brandon Saad – Avs could go with a power winger with some tremendous offensive upside to fill the hole left by Chris Stewart when he left in the trade that brought Erik Johnson to Colorado.

12. Carolina Hurricanes: Mark McNeill, C – Prince Albert (WHL) – The power center might be one of the most NHL-ready players in the draft. At the combine he was one of the true standouts, at 6’2” and 210 lbs., his great performances in grip strength and push-pull strength only heightened his already high profile going into the draft. He has the physique of a NHL-veteran. His skills are not world-class at this point but he has a plus-shot with a great release, above average passing ability, and good puck handling skills. McNeill possesses plus-speed but his agility and acceleration are only slightly above average. He’s one of the more talented pugilists in this year’s draft but he doesn’t have great technique. Very intense, but prone to being lackadaisical at intervals. Carolina picks him up to add to their already handsome list of skilled young players, and to add some more sandpaper to their franchise.

Projects at Prime as: 27-28-55 (Best-Case 30-35-65) (Worst-Case 15-25-40)

Playstyle Compares to: Milan Lucic with better skating and less size; Andrew Ladd

ETA: 2012

Wild Card Selection – Oscar Klefbom – Sublimely talented Swedish defender could be groomed to replace the probably-exiting Pitkanen.

13. Calgary Flames: Sven Bartschi, LW – Portland (WHL) – The shifty and talented winger from Switzerland will have a lot of suitors heading into the 2011 NHL draft. In his first season with the Portland Winterhawks, Sven established himself as a premier prospect. With a plus shot (and one of the fastest releases I’ve ever seen), plus passing and vision (in my opinion, vision second only to RNH in this draft class), and above average speed, Bartschi will challenge for a top-10 slot in the upcoming draft. His size might be the only thing holding him back: If he were 6’2 and closer to 200, he’d be a surefire top-five pick. His defensive game is unrefined at this point and while he gets to the dirty areas and shows some grit, he’s not an overtly physical player. The Flames grab Bartschi because he’s got the potential to be the best all-around scorer left on the draft board – and if he bulks up and can handle the men’s game at the NHL level, he’s a safe 25+ goal scorer with great hockey sense.

Projects at Prime as: 25-30-55 (Best Case 35-40-75) (Worst Case 15-30-45)

Playstyle Compares to: Mike Cammalleri, Martin Havlat

ETA: 2013

Wild Card Selection – Matt Puempel – Puempel has the chops to be just as good as Bartschi if not better as a pure-scorer. I could easily see a team like the Flames sold on Puempel’s tremendous upside.

14. Dallas Stars: Mark Scheifele, C – Barrie (OHL) – The Kingston, Ont. native has the potential to be a first-line playmaking center. His offensive acumen is quite excellent, and he projects to be one of the least risky players in the 2011 draft. He’s got extremely solid vision, and always seems to find the open man. He’s the type of guy who makes his linemates better through his skating, dexterous puck handling and crisp setup passes. Scheifele is a tall young man (at 6’3”) but he needs to add pounds to his frame and strength if he wants to become the power-forward/playmaker hybrid like Joe Thornton. His shot is mediocre and he’s just an above average skater. If the Stars indeed lose Brad Richards to free agency (and it appears all but sure they will) then Scheifele would be an adequate replacement in their system.

Projects at Prime as: 15-45-60 (Best Case 25-50-75) (Worst Case 10-40-50)

Playstyle Compares to: Joe Thornton-lite, David Krejci with size

ETA: 2012-13

Wild Card Selection – Boone Jenner – The not especially talented but profoundly hardworking two way player who has a nose for the net and might be one of those “glue” guys who can be a clutch leader for a team. It’s doubtful that he could ever be a first-line player, but he’ll be in the NHL before long and he’s a guy who will help from day one.

15. New York Rangers: Tomas Jurco, RW – St. John (QMJHL) – The wizard of Station Street, Tomas Jurco is a magician with the puck. His deking and dangling has made him a Youtube sensation within and without the hockey community. He’s got the size (6’2”, 195 lbs.) and skating ability to match his amazing skills with the puck. The only problem is putting everything together on a consistent basis. He’s prone to streaky play and disappearing for shifts at a time. There’s no doubt he’s not a finished product, but the allure of his massive talent is enough to trigger some team in the teens to take a flyer on him. The Rangers are a team overflowing with forwards with grit, but only a few real toolsy players. If Jurco pans out, he could be even more than an excellent dangler – he could put butts in the seats.

Projects at Prime as: 30-20-50 (Best-Case 45-30-75) (Worst-case 20-15-35)

Playtyle Compares to: Alex Kovalev, Rob Schremp (but a better goal scorer)

ETA: 2013

Wild Card Selection –Vladimir Namestnikov– Excellent playmaking Russian center with intangibles out the wazoo who needs to gain some mass to be able to compete at the NHL level but is definitely a guy on everyone’s radar from 15-30.

16. Buffalo Sabres: Oscar Klefbom, D – Farjestads (SEL) – Anyone looking to pick up Klefbom in the early second round (as a B’s fan you can probably hear the sound of my weeping from across the continent) has missed the boat. Klefbom is going to go in the first-round unless something truly unexpected happens. As a solid skater and physical defender with size (6’3”, 200+ lbs.) he will not struggle to make the NHL. The big question is his upside, which some scouts see as mediocre, while others are optimistic. Bill Ladd of Bruins 2011 Draft Watch (B2011DW) in ranking Klefbom the #14 overall prospect: “He has NHL star written all over him, but even if he doesn’t reach his impressive possible ceiling, we see Klefbom as a middle-pairing guy and PP specialist at the absolute worst. He’s only scratching the surface of what he could become.” If his powerful shot’s accuracy is improved and his puck movement skills increase, he’s going to be a dynamic top-pairing defenseman. The Sabres envision a dominating top pairing of Meyers and Klefbom anchoring their defense for years to come and snatch up this talented Swedish youngster.

Projects at Prime as: 15-35-50 (Best-Case 25-35-60) (Worst Case 15-30-40)

Playstyle Compares to: Marc Staal, Mike Green (but more physical), Shea Weber-Lite

ETA: 2012

Wild Card Selection –Jamie Oleksiak – Just imagining the towering Oleksiak and Meyers defending Miller for the next decade is enough to make any Sabres fan drool. Over thirteen feet of D-man between them would make passing within their lengthy wingspans a nearly impossible task.

17. Montreal Canadiens: Brandon Saad, LW – Saginaw (OHL) – Montreal uses their pick to add size and power to their admittedly small forward corps. While Saad started the year as an early candidate for a top-five pick, his lack of progress has contributed towards his stock dropping significantly… some have suggested he may not even be selected in the first round. While I agree the luster has worn off and he’s been passed by other power forwards (McNeill, Zibanejad and Landeskog) he still possesses the skillset and physical traits to be a top-line power forward in the NHL. He’s got great north-south speed for a player his size and excellent hands. While not possessing as chiseled a frame as McNeill, he is very strong and uses that strength effectively to shield the puck with the best of them. His shot is very close to the tops in this draft class, and is very heavy. He could be a bit of a project, and his work ethic needs improving, but he’s a relatively safe bet to make it to the Bigs, and if Montreal takes him, it could really pay off big for Les Habitants.

Projects at Prime as: 25-30-55 (Best-Case 35-40-75) (Worst-Case 20-20-40)

Playstyle Compares to: Nathan Horton (albeit less skilled and more north-south); Faster Eric Cole

ETA: 2014

Wild Card Selection – J.T. Miller – Patrick Kearns of the Hockey Writers suggested that American JT could by Ryan Kesler-lite—exactly the type of player that would give the Canadiens an added gritty, powerful dimension.

18. Chicago Blackhawks: Duncan Siemens, D – Saskatoon (WHL) – The big and strong young d-man would be an excellent pick for the Blackhawks who already own the rights to several big and mobile defenders. Siemens is a guy with minimal risk because of his size and excellent skating ability, but also possesses decent offensive upside and has better-than-adequate puck-moving skills. He’s not expected to be a dynamic player, but has great intangibles and will very likely wear and additional “A” or “C” on his jersey at some point in his NHL career. However, scouts have pointed out that he’s not a guy with big upside and his point totals may be misleading. Additionally, despite his penchant for dropping the gloves, he’s not an overtly dominating pugilist. Any team that selects Siemens after the top 15 is getting good value and teams picking after 25 who have a shot at him should not think twice about snatching him up.

Projects at Prime as: 10-20-30 (Best-Case 15-25-40) (Worst-Case 5-15-20)

Playstyle Compares to: A mobile and more talented Johnny Boychuk

ETA: 2013-14

Wild Card Selection – Jamie Oleksiak – The bigger mobile defensive d-man from the college ranks might be a more tempting prospect given the similarities to Siemens combined with the greater size.

19. Edmonton Oilers: Jamie Oleksiak, D – Northeastern U. (NCAA) – Standing 6’7” and weighing in at a massive 244 lbs., the Husky Huskie will be a hot commodity on draft day. In addition to his size, Jamie has good skating ability and a very heavy shot. His awareness in the defensive end is good, but like nearly all young defenders he could benefit from some significant coaching. He will need to be more patient with the puck and learn to make some better decisions in the offensive end, but its’ easy to see why teams want this guy. The Oilers gladly pick him up at nineteen, especially if they took a center at #1.

Projects at Prime as: 10-20-30 (Best-Case 20-25-45) (Worst-Case 10-10-20)

Playstyle Compares to: Zdeno Chara-lite; Tyler Myers

ETA: 2012-13

Wild Card Selection – Alexander Khokhlachev – The Oilers would do well to consider the supremely talented Russian center with their nineteenth selection if they fail to take a center first overall. Khoklachev has some of the highest offensive acumen/skill combination in this draft class, and should he put it all together – he’d be one heck of a player.

20. Phoenix Coyotes: Alex Khokhlachev, C – Windsor (OHL) – The speedy Russian import wowed OHL fans with an exceptional rookie year in which he tallied 76 points and consistently wowed us with his high-end puck skills. His diminutive size might be the only thing holding him back from greatness. As Andrew Weiss of the Scouting Report stated: “it seems as if the 5’10” forward plays much smaller with the puck on his stick. Khokhlachev was frequently seen not coming out of the corners with the puck and struggling to fight through checks along the wall.” The so-called “Russian Factor” would seem to not apply to Khokhlachev, who spurned a second year in the Russian juniors for a chance to play in the CHL and perhaps earn a spot as a high draft pick this year. In this analyst’s estimation, the rewards outweigh the risks, and Alex should be looking at a top-30 selection this year.

Projects at Prime as: 30-35-65 (Best-Case 35-40-75) (Worst-Case 15-20-35)

Playstyle Compares to: Michael Grabner, Alex Burmistrov

ETA: 2012

Wild Card Selection – John Gibson – With the departure of Ilya Bryzgalov to Philadelphia/free agency, the Coyotes might try to snag the best netminder in the draft to be their goaltender of the future, and that’s John Gibson of the U.S.

21. Ottawa Senators: Rocco Grimaldi, C – USNDT (USHL) – Perhaps the most all-around skilled player in the 2011 NHL draft comes in a neat little package! All kidding aside, the 5’6” 160 lbs., forward from the U.S. National Development Team might be the next Brian Gionta or Martin St. Louis. With outstanding talent and drive to match. Grimaldi is an explosive skater, extremely shifty in tight places and owns a quick, powerful shot for a young man of his dimensions. He’s a guy with great offensive acumen and who will outwork opponents for the puck. Put it this way – if Rocco was three inches taller and 10-20 pounds heavier, he’d be a no-brainer for a top-10 pick. If he possessed Couturier’s dimensions, you’re probably looking at the consensus #1 overall. That being said, you can’t teach “size” and as a result some team like the Senators will be happy to take a chance and hope the little guy from Auburn Hills, Michigan will play big in the future.

Projects at Prime as: 30-25-55 (Best-Case 45-35-80) (Worst-Case 15-20-35)

Playstyle Compares to: Brian Gionta, Mike Cammalleri

ETA: 2014-15

Wild Card Selection – Jonas Brodin – An intelligent two-way PMD, might be the safest value pick at this point in the draft. Despite having one of the best and most dynamic young offensive defensemen in Erik Karlsson, Brodin might be an appropriate future partner for him with his patience and conservative play.

22. Anaheim Ducks: Boone Jenner, C – Oshawa (OHL) – Driven player without first-round talent, Boone is the type of guy you love having on your team. While it’s a safe bet that he won’t break any records or win any scoring titles, Jenner will break opposing teams’ spirits with his determination and he will win the support and admiration of whoever he plays with. He’s a relatively big customer at 6’3”, 200+ lbs., and he’s strong on the puck, effective at board battles and a decent net-front presence. Jenner’s skating is still an issue (though improved) and he’s no magician with the puck, but he’s relatively low-risk and projects to be a solid 2-way player at the NHL level. Anaheim picks him up, and could see him in the League as soon as next year (though 2012 is more probable).

Projects at Prime as: 20-20-40 (Best-Case 25-25-50) (Worst-Case 15-15-30)

Playstyle Compares to: David Backes, Bigger Patrice Bergeron (with lesser puck skills)

ETA: 2011-12

Wild Card Selection – Jonas Brodin – With Scott Niedermayer retired and Lubomir Visnovsky fast approaching his twilight years, the Ducks are in need of an influx of two-way talent on the back end. If Fowler pans out, Brodin and he would make a dynamic powerplay pairing for years to come.

23. Pittsburgh Penguins: Matt Puempel, LW – Peterborough (OHL) – Perhaps the best pure sniper in the draft, possesses some amazing hands and the ability to create his own offense although I believe he’ll be a guy who relies on a quality distributer at the next level to fully effective. He’s capable of gritty play although he doesn’t always show it. He has decent pugilistic ability though he only dropped the gloves twice in two seasons. Injuries prematurely ended the 2010 OHL rookie of the year’s campaign. He didn’t improve as significantly as originally hoped after his promising 09-10 season, and his draft stock has suffered as a result. However, with his plus-plus shot, creativity and nose for the net, Puempel is a tremendous value pick anywhere outside the top-15, and at 23, he’s a downright steal. Pittsburgh snatches him up gladly to groom him to be a wingman to one of their elite centers.

Projects at Prime as: 30-25-55 (Best Case 40-30-70) (Worst case 20-20-40)

Style Compares to: Michael Ryder, Patrick Sharp

ETA: 2012

Wild Card Selection – Ty Rattie – Rattie will be one of the steals of this draft if he goes here or lower. He has great hands, solid vision and an underrated shot. While slightly undersized, Ty’s talent makes him a very hot commodity leading up to draft day.

24. Detroit Red Wings: Jonas Brodin D – Farjestad (SEL) – The yin to his teammate and sometime defensive partner Klefbom’s yang, Brodin is the thinking man’s defensive prospect. He’s got excellent puck skills and displays quite a bit of patience when setting up the break-out. He’s a plus skater with decent size and will be a solid player on the defensive end. He is not very risky, and projects to be a solid two-way player. Undoubtedly, the Wings have scouted Sweden and Brodin well given their track record. Jonas would be an excellent eventual replacement for Rafalski/Lidstrom.

Projects at Prime as: 10-40-50 (Best-Case 15-45-60) (Worst-Case 5-35-40)

Playstyle Compares to: Tobias Enstrom, Ryan Suter(at his best)

ETA: 2013

Wild Card Selection – Scott Mayfield – Mayfield is a big, talented defenseman whose stunted growth has dropped his once hefty draft stock this year. Perhaps the Wings take a chance on a guy whose upside might equal the best defenders in the draft?

25. Toronto Maple Leafs: Zack Phillips, C – St. John (QMJHL) – Phillips may not be the most talented skater on this list, but his awareness and vision and playmaking ability are right up there with Scheifele near the tops in this draft class. His size is not exceptional (6’1”, 190 lbs.) but Phillips has the offensive acumen to be a top-line player without a doubt. After scoring 38 goals and 95 points in his second full year in the Q, it would seem as though the doors to the first round would throw themselves open to Zack. However, his doubters point to his mediocre physical tools and the fact that he centered one of the most dynamic lines on the best team in the CHL this year as evidence that Phillips is merely a product of his environment. Don’t be fooled – Zack will be a very productive first-or-second line center in the NHL when he makes it, so expect the center-craving franchise from Toronto to make no mistake and pick up this talented pivot from New Brunswick.

Projects at Prime as: 15-45-60 (Best-Case 20-55-75) (Worst-Case 10-35-45)

Playstyle Compares to: Paul Stastny, David Krejci

ETA: 2012-13

Wild Card Selection – Vladimir Namestnikov – Vlad had another excellent year with London and has the all the physical attributes (save for size) and drive to be a first-class center at the NHL-level.

Bruins Bite Back, Get the 2-point Conversion, Win Game Three 8-1

The Boston Bruins drubbed the Vancouver Canucks with a stunning eight goal annihilation. Michael Ryder was credited with three points (a goal and two assists) and embattled veteran Mark Recchi tallied two, the Bruins scored two shorthanded and two powerplay goals and Tim Thomas was outstanding in stopping all but one of the 41 shots he faced. Nathan Horton was injured on a questionable hit from Aaron Rome and had to leave the game via a stretcher. Of the 17 Bruins’ skaters who finished the game uninjured, twelve registered at least one point and seven recorded multi-point games.

With Shawn Thornton in for the Bruins for the first time since game two of the Bruins conference semifinals versus Tampa, the B’s looked to up their physical edge and hopefully take home their first win of the Cup Finals. Coming out with energy early, the Bruins seemed to pressure the Canuck defense with some early zone play. The Boston crowd was stunned five minutes in, when Nathan Horton was rocked with what seemed to be a very late and blind-side hit to the head from Canuck defender Aaron Rome. Horton was taken by stretcher to Mass General Hospital after a lengthy delay that also saw Rome ejected on a game-misconduct interference call. The five minute powerplay that followed produced several significant chances but ‘Nuck goaltender Roberto Luongo held his ground and kept the score tied. Both netminders were solid throughout the first, and the teams went to the locker room knotted at zero.

The second period started with an early goal from the Bruins. D-man Andrew Ference snuck a slapper past Luongo eleven seconds in, giving the B’s their second lead of the series. Just over four minutes later, Mark Recchi scored his second powerplay goal of the series, knocking a puck off of Vancouver center Ryan Kesler’s stick past the Canuck goalie and giving the Bruins the first multi-goal lead for either team in this Stanley Cup Final.

A spurious slashing call on Milan Lucic gave the Canucks their third powerplay of the evening, but consistently aggressive penalty killing disrupted the usually dominant Vancouver PP, and Bruin agitator Brad Marchand made a pretty do-it-yourself rush up the wing and out-waited Luongo with a smart wrist-shot that gave him a shorthanded goal and the Bruins a big 3-0 lead. With less than five minutes to go, David Krejci fired home a bad Luongo rebound for his playoff-leading eleventh goal and putting the Bruins up by an even four. With the hometown Bruin fans rocking, the teams went off the ice after 40 with two extremely different emotional states.

Coming out of the dressing-room still on the PP, the Canucks sought to turn up the effort and narrow the gap. The game grew chippier and chippier as the third period progressed, with several players receiving misconducts including Milan Lucic, Shawn Thornton and an unlikely Daniel Sedin (along with four others). The Bruins tallied their second shorty of the evening when Daniel Paille (whose PK play throughout the game was sublime) gave a stellar solo effort and knocked the puck just past Luongo. With the game solidly in-hand, two plus-effort-goals from Recchi and Chris Kelly and a powerplay tally from the Bruins (Michael Ryder) and Jannik Hansen from Vancouver scored the 'Nucks lone goal, pushing the score to 8-1, and as the clock ran down, the Bruins celebrated their first Stanley Cup Final Win since 1990.

In this wild game, 125 penalty minutes were given out, including eight misconducts. Tim Thomas was nearly perfect, allowing only 1 goal on 41 shots while his counterpart allowed eight on thirty-eight (a .789 Save %). Christian Ehrhoff led all skaters with nearly 28 minutes of ice-time. The vaunted Vancouver PP went 0 for 8 and is now 1-for-16 on the powerplay, one goal shy of the oft-maligned Bruins’ PK, which totaled 2 goals tonight. This was the first game in the series where the Canucks won the faceoff battle, 38 to 27 (58 %). The Bruins played amazingly well physically and outhit the Canucks 40 to 31. June sixth was the anniversary of one of the greatest trades in Boston history, which brought 50 goal scorer and current Bruins’ team president Cam Neely to Beantowne. The 8-1 final score was the most lopsided result in a Stanley Cup Final since 1996's Colorado-Florida match of the same score.

Bob Mand's Mock Draft One, Part One, Picks 1-10

1. Edmonton Oilers: Sean Couturier, C – Drummondville (QMJHL) – The Oilers have a choice between several top-end players; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Larsson, and Couturier are the most obvious possible selections. While the conventional wisdom suggests they’ll go with RNH – who’s considered to have the highest potential of all the 2011 draftees, I believe that the Oil will go to the early favorite for the top-spot – Couturier. At 6’4” and nearly 200 lbs., he’s got the size you want from an elite NHL forward, is physical, plays well without the puck and he’s got the hands and shot to be a top-line player. His skating isn’t above average, but it’s tough to suggest that that downfall is enough to second-guess this emerging star.

Despite failing to secure his second consecutive scoring title in the Q, Couturier owned the highest PPG total of all draft eligibles. Based on stats from the hockey blog, Blue Chip Bulletin, Couturier’s production was significantly affected by the games he lost due to contracting mononucleosis midseason. It’s conceivable his stock would be significantly higher if he’d played out those games and out-produced St. John Seadog, Huberdeau. If the Oilers have a chance to trade down to three, where Couturier might still be had – but in the end, I feel they select the safest guy who fills a distinct need for them and has the first-line scoring upside that you want from a #1 overall.

Projects at Prime as: 35-40-75 (Best-Case 40-45-95) (Worst-Case 25-35-60)

Style Compares to: Eric Staal (but less skating ability), John Tavares (but bigger), Brad Richards

Wild Card Selection – Adam Larsson – The Swedish defender fills another one of Edmonton’s pressing needs; that of a can’t-miss anchor defenseman. I would not be surprised to hear his name called first overall.

2. Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog, LW – Kitchener (OHL) – With a big, righty defensive anchor of the future already in the fold via a midseason trade (Erik Johnson), and excellent center depth, Colorado looks to grab an elite winger with the second overall pick. The choice between Huberdeau and Landeskog is a difficult one, for sure. However the Swede gets the edge due to his two-way play, physicality and leadership. He might not have the top-end point totals and puck skills Huberdeau has, but he makes up for it well. His leadership (he captained Kitchener) is well-documented, and there’s certainly no fear he might take his skills across the pond at this point.

Landeskog’s certainly won the love of scouts and fans alike, as Kirk Luedeke of Boston Bruins 2011 Draft Watch writes: “You have to look long and hard for any flaws in Landeskog’s game, and his character, intelligence and attitude are beyond his years…” Landeskog is consistently ranked top-5 in pre-draft rankings across the board and in draft blogs around the web. Have to love a guy who’s the complete package. The kid oozes intangibles.

Projects at Prime as: 30-30-60 (Best-Case 40-40-80) (Worst-Case 25-25-50)

Style Compares to: Jarome Iginla, Dustin Brown

Wild Card Selection – Jonathan Huberdeau – The Q’s leading scorer is a masterful perimeter player from the wing. It’s hard to find many pass-first wingers of his caliber, especially ones with his ability to finish.

3. Florida Panthers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C – Red Deer (WHL) – I know I’ll get lambasted for dropping RNH so low. Here’s the skinny: RNH is a magician with the puck. Some scouts have labeled his ice-vision as Gretzky-esque. He’s got an above-average shot (more accurate than heavy) and passing ability that will undoubtedly rival the best in the game. His skating ability is definitely plus, but he’s more of a shifty, agile guy than someone with top-end speed. He might be the top talent in the entire draft, but his risk factors should make teams pause. At 6’1” – 171 lbs., he’ll be one of the lightest players in recent memory to go top-five, lighter than any player (goalie or not) taken in the top-10 in the past 20 years…by over 10 pounds. His listed weight puts him lower than any player in the NHL who played more than 2 games this season, save for waterbugs like Steve Sullivan and Tyler Ennis. It’s enough of a gap to make anyone wonder if his lanky frame will stand up to the constant assault of a NHL season. Additionally, more than 50% of RNH’s offence came from the powerplay, as compared to under 35% for Couturier. Still, Nugent-Hopkins is a very impressive prospect and is a tremendous value pick below first overall.

Projects at Prime as: 15-60-75 (Best-Case 20-80-100) (Worst-Case 10-45-55)

Style Compares to: Marc Savard, Henrik Sedin

Wild Card Selection – (None if RNH is available) Couturier – Couturier is a good value-pick here, as is Huberdeau. Don’t expect a Defenseman, as Florida is pretty stocked with quality defensive prospects.

4. New Jersey Devils: Adam Larsson, D – Skelleftea AIK (SEL) – As the top overall prospect on many draft boards, New Jersey takes the obviously talented young defenseman Larsson with the fourth overall pick. Larsson has an impressive two-way game and sees the game at a very high level, as evinced by his excellent performance as a 17-year-old among men in the Swedish Elite League. He’s got great skating ability for a D-man of his size (6’3”, 220 lbs.) and is very strong puck mover and outlet passer. He’s got an above-average point shot and outstanding hockey awareness. He’s got the potential to be an amazing, front-line two-way defenseman. He’s not a heavy checker, but he uses his size well to force turnovers and own the defensive zone. Despite having some promising defensive prospects in their system (Jon Merill and Alex Urbom in particular), Larsson should be able to step in immediately and grow into a franchise-type defender.

Projects at Prime as: 15-35-50 (Best-Case 20-45-65) (Worst-Case 10-30-40)

Style Compares to: Ray Bourque, Nick Lidstrom, a more physical Drew Doughty

Wild Card Selection – Ryan Murphy – If Lou Lamoriello is sold on the massive upside present in the Kitchener defenseman; he won’t hesitate to pull the trigger. Murphy has the talent to be an all-world transformative blue-liner, but the risk is certainly higher than the near-certainty that is Larsson.

5. New York Islanders: Dougie Hamilton, D – Niagara (OHL) – Hamilton is one of those guys who’s got it all: Size (6’4”, 190+ lbs.), offensive acumen (12-46-58 this year), decent skating ability, physical play and intelligence. He’s almost a no risk prospect, as Kirk of BB2011DB says:” [With a bust factor of l]ow to medium; Hamilton will play in the NHL; he’s too big and mobile not to at least reach that level…given his intelligence and work ethic, it’s tough to bet against him.” But some think he doesn’t have the high-end potential of Murphy or Larsson, which could push him down a few slots come draft day. The Isles snatch him up here to be their defenseman of the future, and he easily supplants Travis Hamonic as their number one defensive prospect.

His offensive outbreak this season certainly bumped his draft stock. A 42-point improvement during the regular season is impressive enough, let alone for a defenseman with solid capabilities in the d-zone. He produced at a better than point-per-game clip in the postseason. Only big issues with his game are a need for some refining of his defensive positioning and his tendency to get out-maneuvered by skilled opponents.

Projects at Prime as: 10-35-45 (Best-Case 15-45-60) (Worst-Case 5-25-30)

Style Compares to: Jay Bouwmeester, Alex Pietrangelo

Wild Card Selection – Sven Bartschi – The Isles have a chance to draft Nino Niederreiter’s teammate and fellow Swiss countryman, Bartschi who has the tools (but not the size) to be a star in the NHL.

6. Ottawa Senators: Mika Zibanejad, C – Djurgårdens IF (SEL) – The guy who’s rocketed up the draft boards these past few months, the Finnish-Iranian who plays in the Swedish League has all kinds of across-the-board talent. He plays a great physical game, he’s got top-end speed even though he’s more of a north-south guy than east-west. He possesses a plus shot and solid on-ice vision, is trilingual and loves to play a strong two-way game. At 6’2” and 190+, he’s got the size teams want from a top-end player, and is not afraid to use that frame to deliver impressive hits and gain leverage on the attack. While his all-around game may leave some scouts drooling, there’s certainly some buzz that his top potential doesn’t quite match some of the other high-risers on this board. That being said, he makes sense for a team looking to stock up on can’t miss plus talents, i.e.: Zibanejad.

Projects at Prime as: 25-35-60 (Best-Case 35-40-75) (Worst-Case 15-25-40)

Style Compares to: Ryan Kesler, R.J. Umburger

Wild Card Selection – Jonathan Huberdeau – Huberdeau certainly makes a lot of sense, and his production with St. John was excellent. He’d be a no-brainer if it weren’t for Zibanejad’s amazing and unexpected rise to prominence in draft-boards around North America.

7. Winnipeg Jets: Jonathan Huberdeau, C/W – St. John (QMJHL) – Huberdeau is an amazing prospect, winner of the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as Memorial Cup MVP. He tops six feet, has great hands and ice vision (though not as high-end as RNH) is an outstanding playmaker but can also finish, as evinced by his 43 goals in this Q campaign, leading all CHL draft eligibles. As Leudeke writes, he “carries himself well and exudes professionalism.” I see some issues with his playstyle translating to the pro game (he’s more of a perimeter guy who doesn’t get to the dirty areas as well as could be hoped) and his strength (he’ll need to bulk up to make the jump). But there’s no denying the talent and intelligence of this top draftee. He could certainly go higher, but because he played for such a dominant team in St. John, there are going to be those who diminish his accomplishments due to his potent teammates.

Projects at Prime as: 25-50-75 (Best-Case 35-60-95) (Worst-Case 15-45-60)

Style Compares to: Alex Tanguay, Loui Eriksson, Patrick Kane

Wild Card Selection – Ryan Murphy – The dynamic defenseman could easily be targeted by anyone in the top-9 who thinks his massive potential outweighs his innate risk factors…even with the Jets possessing a deep defensive team; Murphy’s talent is difficult to ignore.

8. Columbus Blue Jackets: Ryan Strome, C – Niagara (OHL) – Strome was another of those guys who seemed to fly up the charts as the season progressed. Not blessed with great size, it took an absolute explosion in scoring before he started showing up on the top-10 radar of draft analysts (33-73-106). He’s got top-notch skating abilities, could be one of the top three or four skaters among contenders for the first round. Strome is patient with the puck and finds the soft spot in the zone to shake defenses. His statline indicates he’s more of a playmaker, but his shot is equally impressive, and he shows elite accuracy with both the slapper and the wrist-shot. Some concerns include his size, which is underwhelming; his strength (which is mediocre at best); and his handling of the physical aspect of the game, which is extremely troubling. Strome is able to get away with not playing hard on the puck and shying away from physicality in the juniors, but many a promising prospect has fallen off the map due to not being able to handle the physical nature of the game. At 8, however his risk is mitigated entirely by the extremely impressive offensive promise he holds, and the Blue Jackets would do well to snatch him up if he’s available.

Projects at Prime as: 20-55-75 (Best-Case 25-65-90) (Worst-Case 10-45-55)

Style Compares to: Claude Giroux, Henrik Zetterberg

Wild Card Selection – Sven Bartschi – Aquiring top prospect (and 2010 #4 overall pick) Ryan Johansson’s teammate and sometime linemate, Bartschi makes some real sense for a Blue Jackets’ organization that’s looking to grow offensively.

9. Boston Bruins: Ryan Murphy, D – Kitchener (OHL) – With Zibanejad moving into the top-8, the Bruins luck into the guy who has been hyped by Bruins draft-watchers all year. The final pick in the trade with Toronto for Phil Kessel is used by Boston to select the dynamic and potent offensive defenseman. He’s lightning quick, and can create plenty of offense and space while at top speed. His shot is excellent, and he scored 24 goals from the point, tops in the CHL (tied with Nashville prospect and Windsor Spitfire, Ryan Ellis). Despite his size, (5’10” and 175 lbs.) Murphy is an adequate defender with the ability and desire to play physical, evidenced by his usage of the hip-check. He thinks the game on a very high level and will effectively quarterback the powerplay of whoever takes him.

His concussion history is enough to give teams (including the concussion-plagued Bruins) plenty to think about, but with his incredible upside (perhaps higher than any other player in the draft) someone in the top 10 will take him, and with the Bruins powerplay woes and no true blue-chip defensive prospects in their system, Murphy’s their man.

Projects at Prime as: 25-35-60 (Best-Case 35-45-80)(Worst-Case 15-30-45)

Style Compares to: Mike Green, Nick Lidstrom (with more emphasis on goals)

Wild Card Selection – Nathan Beaulieu – If Murphy, Hamilton and Larsson are off the board by nine, the Bruins could look to St. John Seadog Beaulieu as the next best defensive prospect in the draft. Beaulieu has all the tools necessary to be a top-rate d-man talent, and would be a very satisfactory fallback selection should one of the aforementioned defenders not be available.

10. Minnesota Wild: Joel Armia, RW – Assat (SM-L) – When he fills out, the 6’4”, 190 lbs., winger from Finland could become an elite player. With 18 goals and 29 points in 48 games playing among men in Finland’s top division (eleventh in goal scoring in that league), he’s shown the kind of offensive ability that’s coveted among top draft selections. He’s not extremely strong, but he already can use his size well to gain leverage on opponents. He’s an underrated passer with a plus-plus shot that could be the best in the draft – he’s a pure goal scorer. He’s mobile, with above average speed and agility.

Despite his high-end potential, there are several major questions surrounding the “Armia of One”: He’s prone to taking shifts off, not playing a rounded two-way game, and still hasn’t reached his physical potential. Luedeke compared him to failed Bruins prospect Mikko Lehtonen, saying: “Armia is an alternately a dazzling and frustrating player to watch…He doesn’t backcheck much and just looks lazy skating up and down the wing at times…[he’s not talented enough to support his] lackadaisical approach to play in the neutral zone or his own end.” Despite Kirk’s reservations, I believe that Armia is just way too talented to pass up at ten, and the Finnish connection in Minnesota (Koivu, Granlund, Miettinen, Backstrom) makes him just too good to pass up.

Projects at Prime as: 35-30-65 (Best-Case 45-35-80)(Worst-Case 25-25-50)

Style Compares to: Jeff Carter, Alex Semin

Wild Card Selection – McNeill – This Big, strong center who looks like the prototypical power forward in the making. With his impressive NHL-combine performance, solid skill and massive physique he could be a decent alternative if the Wild want to look for someone with more consistent work ethic.