The NHL championship is on the line as the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins take the ice in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals at TD Garden Arena on Monday night. The Canucks are just one game from clinching the Stanley Cup after Max Lapierre's third period goal lifted Vancouver to a 1-0 win at Rogers Arena in Game 5 on Friday night. But the series heads back to Boston on Monday, and the Canucks must shake the nightmare that was Games 3 and 4, and the 12-1 goal differential on the Bruins home-ice in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Roberto Luongo was back in net on Friday after a shaky two games in Boston, and was back to his normal self. In Game 5, Luongo stopped all 31 shots from the Bruins, earning a clean sheet for his efforts. Tim Thomas was spectacular again, but was unable to cover the far post after Vancouver played a pass off the boards and behind the net that landed square on Lapierre's stick in a perfect spot for the goal.
Game time for Monday's matchup is 5 p.m. here on the West Coast. The Stanley Cup Finals are back on NBC again for Game 6, but in Seattle the broadcast will be aired on KONG 6/16. If the Canadian broadcast is your thing, and the coverage has been outstanding throughout the series, check out CBUT for the CBC feed.
SB Nation has all the previews and pre-game news you can handle in this StoryStream. Of note, Vancouver is closing its liquor stores before the game in a futile attempt to prevent wide-spread rioting and drunkness if the Canucks seal the series and bring the Stanley Cup home. Ryan Kesler skipped the morning skate, but will play on Monday, though rumors have run rampant about a possible injury.
Nucks Misconduct is your source for all things Canucks, and does a superb job previewing Game 6 and all the storylines that go along with it. The game preview, including statistics for both teams, can be found here. You can also find a first-hand account of the finals here, fans recalling why they root for the team here, a passionate look at Game 6 here, and a look at the goaltenders here. Like I said, wall-to-wall coverage on everything Canucks.
On the other side of the ice is the Bruins, whose backs are up against the wall after Friday's loss in Vancouver. Stanley Cup of Chowder previewed Game 6, and also took a look at the goaltending situation while noting it's do-or-die time for Boston. They also posted the video of Roberto Luongo that's been receiving attention after the Canucks goaltender seemed to call-out Thomas.
The puck drops at 5 p.m. PDT as the Bruins and Canucks face-off in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Again, Vancouver leads the series 3-2, and is just one game away from clinching its first Stanley Cup. If Boston is able to pull out a win on its home ice, the series will head back to Vancouver on Wednesday for one of the best events in sports: Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Stay with this StoryStream for the latest on the game up to, and throughout, Monday's matchup. For more on the Canucks, head over to Nucks Misconduct. For a deep look at the Bruins, check out the aptly named Stanley Cup of Chowder.