Ryan Kesler

After two hard-fought games against the Western Conference's elite—the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings—it is clear that there is little separating the top teams in the NHL's West.  

Last year, the Vancouver Canucks were one win away from their first Stanley Cup. The Boston Bruins, however, would not allow it and won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals handily by a score of 4-0.

The Canucks were great up until they had finished their two-game home stand that started the series. After taking a 2-0 series lead, it was time to go to Boston.

Ryan Kesler has been a shadow of the Selke Trophy-winning, 41 goal-scoring machine that dominated games for the Canucks last season. 

This lack of prowess has been understandable, as Kesler underwent major hip surgery during the summer, and missed training camp plus the first five games of the regular season. 

Last spring the Vancouver Canucks took us on an amazing roller coaster ride with many unforgettable highs and lows. After a long and hockey-less summer it's easy to forget that only a little more than two months ago our 'Nucks were just one win away from the ultimate prize in hockey.

Before delving into the tangled guts of the now very deceased Vancouver Canucks, it should be stated clearly and succinctly that the better team won. Congratulations to that team, the Boston Bruins.

The Vancouver Canucks are just two wins away from becoming Stanley Cup Champions and the anticipation level is rising in Van City.

There has been no shortage of outstanding performers for the Canucks in these playoffs. They have had contributions from many sources throughout their run to the finals. But in the end their star players have, for the most part, acted like their star players.

Often times when players reach a pinnacle in their career, there is a defining moment where those on the outside can say, “That was the moment when...”   In the case of Roberto Luongo, that moment was clearly Game 7 of the Canucks first-round matchup with the Blackhawks on April 26^th. 

They did it run and gun against Chicago, they did it tight and close against Nashville, and they did it big and physical against San Jose.

Along the way, they’ve faced some of the league's best shooters (Kane, Toews, Thornton, Heatley), some of defensemen (Keith, Seabrook, Weber, Suter), and goaltenders (Rinne).

The Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins are about to engage in a best of seven game series to claim the Stanley Cup.

As is befitting the last two teams standing in the grueling endurance challenge that is the NHL playoffs, the Bruins and Canucks both have an abundance of stars.

The matchup for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals has been set as the Boston Bruins punched their ticket after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 with a 1-0 shutout win.