Online Sports Betting Overview The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks looked like two teams with no Stanley Cup Finals experience in game one of this series. They were both tentative and tight. As the game wore on, things seem to loosen up a little. But the Bruins never seemed comfortable or organized at all during game one. As the 2011 Belmont betting gets closer, the Bruins and the Canucks have a chance to gather themselves and think about how they want to play game two. The Canucks have NHL scoring leaders on their team, while the Bruins do not. The Canucks have a Canadian national hero in net, while the Bruins have an American warrior in their goal. The series makes for some interesting sub-plots, but the main concern is the overriding feeling that the Canucks may just be too much for these Boston Bruins. Vancouver Canucks The price per head Canucks fans have been frothing at the mouth for a Stanley Cup since their team got so close in 1994, only to have it taken away by the New York Rangers. It has been 16 years since a Canadian team has won the Cup, and what better team to bring the trophy back to Canada than the team back-stopped by the Canadian national goaltender, Roberto Luongo. Luongo has had a long journey to respectability, and it looks like he is finally ready to arrive at his destination. After winning the Olympic gold medal in 2010, Luongo fell apart in the NHL playoffs and the Canucks fell short again. This season, with the momentum of the gold medal still pushing him, Luongo is leading the Canucks closer to realizing a dream that the city of Vancouver has had since the first season in 1970-1971; a Stanley Cup win. Boston Bruins The Bruins were running into each other in game one, making really bad passes and missing clutch scoring opportunities. It was obvious that the Bruins, aside from goaltender Tim Thomas, were nervous. As the game picked up, the Bruins also managed to pick up their play. But Boston got itself in the exact kind of game that it did not want to get into with these Canucks. The Bruins were chasing the Canucks around and letting Vancouver get in front of the net. Tim Thomas was incredible in goal, and the Bruins can expect more of that kind of play from their goaltender. But if Boston wants to win this second game, they are going to need to play a looser style of hockey while clamping down on the Canucks at the same time. The Bottom Line The Bruins are fighters, so losing game one is not something that will bring their confidence down for the series. The Canucks cannot let their guard down at all, and Vancouver needs to stay on the attack. This could wind up being a homer series where the home team always wins. If that is the case, then the Bruins are in trouble. Pick: Vancouver Canucks
