Unlike Games 3 and 4, Friday night's Stanley Cup Finals matchup between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins was a low scoring affair as both teams struggled to find the back of the net. After giving up 12 goals on the Boston road-trip, Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo came up big on Friday night, saving 31 shots in a shutout win. Tim Thomas was his usual self, as well, but this time around it wasn't quite enough and the Boston offense wasn't able to find the fire-power it possessed earlier in the week.
Vancouver caught its break early in the third period as Max Lapierre finally broke through, beating Thomas and netting the first, and only, goal of the game. Kevin Bieksa and Raffi Torres registered assists on the go-ahead goal, and Rogers Arena erupted knowing the Canucks were inching closer to a Game 5 win and 3-2 series lead.
The finals 15 minutes were hotly contested, and it came down o the final minute once again as Boston pulled Thomas and let free a barrage of shots with the extra attacker. But with time winding down, no goal could be found, and the Canucks moved one win away from their first Stanley Cup with a 1-0 victory. It may not have been pretty or high scoring, but after the two games in Boston saw the Canucks give-up 12 goals, Vancouver will take it.
With a 3-2 series lead, the Canucks and Bruins head back to Boston on Monday for Game 6 of the Stanley Conference Finals.
For more on Game 5, be sure to stay with this StoryStream throughout the evening. More on the game can be found over at Nucks Misconduct, SB Nation's Vancouver Canucks blog, and Stanley Cup of Chowder, SB Nation's Bruins blog.