Stanley Cup Final Game 4: Now what?

Vancouver has been tied twice in the postseason: 3-3 with Chicago and 1-1 with Nashville. The Canucks have never trailed in the postseason.

After scoring 1 goal in 2 games in Boston, obviously, the previous statistic may be in danger. Do you believe this is like the Chicago series, a scenario where Vancouver went up and let a team back into the series?

After all, last year, Chicago went up 2-0 in the series, then Philadelphia won two straight. Then Chicago won the crucial Game 5 on home ice.

Boston knows what it is like to trail in the postseason, and the Bruins' wins were more convincing than the Flyers victories over Chicago.

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One great sports cliche in hockey and basketball when a 7-game series is tied at 2 — "it's now the best 2 out of 3."

Boston has the momentum: 12-1 in the last two games. But Vancouver has the home ice advantage. This is when winning the President's Trophy counts for something.

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The experts have denounced Vancouver for its power play struggles. Though even with better power plays, the team's struggles wouldn't be solved. Boston went into the Stanley Cup finals with a horrible power play.

Even as the series returns back to Vancouver, psychologically, the Canucks could use a power play goal or two.

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Aaron Rome received the longest suspension in Stanley Cup playoff history. Rome got knocked out of action by San Jose's Jamie McGinn: no penalty. Rich Peverley didn't even get a penalty for his slash on Kevin Bieska. Still waiting for punishment one for Zdeno Chara for Max Pacioretty.

Listening to Mike Murphy cite Horton's injury as a motivation to make Rome's suspension long was horrifying. Murphy is the one who said what Chara did to Pacioretty wasn't worth a $1 fine. Chara's motivation against Pacioretty was much more obvious than Rome would have had.

Vancouver knows that it won't get the benefit of the doubt, much less a fair shot with the referees. So when the Canucks complain about Rome's suspension, the complaint is broader.

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This headline sums up a lot of people's feelings about this series:

Hey Canucks, Bruins … can we just play hockey please?

Nonsense clouds a great NHL final

Let's hope for that to happen in the last games of the series.

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As the series returns to NBC, we are hoping that the Versus crew (the same as the NBC crew) will start noticing that there are two teams in this final. The pro-Boston coverage is getting much more annoying.

We aren't surprised that NBC/Versus has resorted to this — they have before when Edmonton and Ottawa played in the finals. The network(s) feel threatened by the idea of having a Canadian-based team win the Stanley Cup.

Thank goodness for the NHL Network showing us that the CBC knows what is doing, and respects Boston way more than NBC/Versus respects Vancouver.

We know why Gary Bettman gets his panties in a bunch over the issue. But Vancouver had great ratings in Game 1; it's a city that speaks English and is familiar with U.S. audiences. NBC even knows its way around Vancouver.

It's been 18 years. If this doesn't happen, a Canadian-based team isn't likely to be here for a long time. Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, and Ottawa aren't even close to making the playoffs. And as for Montréal, sure Les Habs can break the barrier. But this year was Montréal's best shot and look what happened.

Appreciate the story of the Canucks. NBC, you don't have to favor the Canucks. Just treat them as if they were playing for the Stanley Cup.

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Yes, Rogers Arena will also host Game 6, charging $10 that will go to charity. The fans are hoping that the event they are watching will be more exciting than Games 3 and 4.

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The rest of the Stanley Cup finals will air on KONG in Seattle and not the NBC affiliate, KING. The remaining games will air on weekdays on NBC, and KING has been clear that it won't interrupt its news block, even for the (somewhat) local team.

Would be hilarious if KING joined in progress at a crucial movement, of course, as long as that moment was outside the news block.

This is June — no sweeps — and this involves 3 (at the most) news blocks that KING could run on KONG. There is this technology called digital TV where a TV station can broadcast two signals at the same time. And then the FCC would make them split KONG from KING.

Comments

[Tim]

I am rooting for Vancouver. I had to turn off game 4 long before the end result, even though it was merely 1-0. I just got that feeling I get when I watch my favorite football team, the Vikings. The feeling is: things don't seem too out of whack, but this won't end well. Despite the fact that this indeed is a final with the best of both worlds: Original 6 vs. Canadian team. Boston's won enough titles for a while.

[Chad]

Thanks for bringing up the Original 6 angle. While I'm not thrilled with Boston's style of play and their Teflon when it comes to refs/Mike Murphy.

But normally, Original 6 is high on our list on who to root for in a Stanley Cup final.

If this was Vancouver-Tampa Bay, the lines would be easier to see.