The Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins series has been very entertaining to watch, but with a 3-2 games lead, the Canucks can end it in game six at Boston.
Penalty killing, Roberto Luongo and a lucky bounce got the Canucks over a 12-1 shellacking during two games in Boston, leaving them just one victory shy of the first Stanley Cup in the franchise's 40-year history. After the Canucks' PK shut down four straight Boston power plays early, needing only two great stops from Luongo in the process, Maxim Lapierre shoveled in Kevin Bieksa's wide point shot off a sprawling Tim Thomas just 4:35 into the third period for the only goal. Luongo made his best saves late for his second shutout in the final.
Maybe now is the time for even the Canucks' own fans to finally stop doubting goalie Roberto Luongo.
Realistically, however, the questions and second guessing won't end until he wins a Stanley Cup. But the way he got within one win of the Cup should at least make it hard to critique his mental strength.
Luongo bounced back from giving up 12 goals in two games in Boston and getting pulled from Game 4 to make 31 saves in a tight, 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 5 on Friday night. That's not bad considering his own fans watching at the arena back in Vancouver cheered when he was taken out of Game 4.
So much for all those questioning whether Luongo should even start Game 5. On the strength of Luongo's bounce-back, which again included a mind-clearing stroll around Vancouver's picturesque seawall, the Canucks can now win their first Stanley Cup in Boston on Monday.
It will be a different scene in Boston and the Bruins have dominated at home. This series will go to a game seven as the Bruins defend their home ice.
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