Around The NHL: Stanley Cup Finals Game 6, McLean

Last night, the Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 5-2, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The series is now tied 3-3 and will head back to Vancouver for Game 7 on Wednesday. You can find the game recap on TSN here. 

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CH: I absolutely did not see this coming. I thought Vancouver would really take it to Boston in this game, but just the opposite happened. Tim Thomas was outstanding again and probably locked in the Conn Smythe Trophy regardless of if Boston wins the Stanley Cup or not. It would be well deserved. As far as the other side goes, I don't understand Roberto Luongo. He's put together three magnificent games at home and three absolutely atrocious games on the road. He was downright terrible last night and should have had at least two of the goals he gave up. Major props should be given to Cory Schneider, who came into the game and kept Vancouver in a game they were far out of, even after giving up an early goal. But regardless, there is no controversy. Roberto Luongo is the goalie for Game 7 without any doubt.

AT: Luongo just can't handle this kind of pressure in an opposing arena I suppose. It's one thing to be great in San Jose when it's the conference finals, but when it's the Stanley Cup finals, it's really hard not to realize the pressure's getting to him. I really hope he can rebound and shake this stigma. And yes, Luongo as game 7's starter. No question in my mind.

CH: Two other Vancouver storylines to touch on here: Mason Raymond and the Sedin line. Starting with Raymond, you have to feel absolutely terrible for this kid. Vancouver was incensed that Boston did not get a penalty on that play, and they were right. The puck was nowhere near Raymond. Reports are now coming out that Raymond has a fractured vertebrae and will miss not only Game 7, but up to 6 months. That's already half of the 2011-12 season. It's the same situation with Horton - they wait their whole lives for this moment and to go out with a major injury - its heartbreaking.

AT: Just awful for Raymond. Such an awful injury to go through that could mess with his career in a serious way. Just as with Horton, you can only hope for the best and that they can rebound next season when they return. Just awful to leave a Cup final game like this. This series troubles me.

CH: Secondly, it was nice to see Henrik Sedin wake up with his first point of the finals last night. Granted, it was a 4-0 game but if that's what gets him going the Canucks will be in much better shape. I realize going up against Zdeno Chara is no picnic, but that line needs to be better. Guys like Max Lapierre and Chris Higgins have been more noticeable and that cannot happen in the Stanley Cup Finals. If that line has a big game on Wednesday, I believe the Canucks will win. If not, it could really go either way. I do know that Wednesday will be a fantastic hockey game.

AT: I feel so bad for the Vancouver police officers taking their shift around the time that game will end. It's going to be nuts. The Sedins definitely need to wake up and the 'Nucks need to show the world that they're the team that powered through the regular season and the 2nd and 3rd rounds, not a bunch of chokers.

According to TSN, the Ottawa Senators are calling an 11:00 AM press conference today to announce Paul McLean as their new head coach. McLean has spent the last six seasons as an assistant coach on Mike Babcock's staff with the Detroit Red Wings.

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CH: This is somewhat shocking to me. I thought Dave Cameron from Mississauga would be the choice seeing as Eugene Melnyk owns both the Senators and the Mississauga OHL team. Cameron was considered a real up-and-comer as he coached the World Juniors team as well. That said, McLean has certainly paid his dues with Detroit. He won a Stanley Cup with the team in 2008 and went to two more Cup finals in 2009 and 2003 (with Anaheim) as an assistant coach. His transition should be an interesting one. The Sens are going with inexperience here, which may turn out okay since they traded a ton of their veterans at the deadline last year. Good luck to McLean.