Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Cup finals, Game 1: Playoff points to watch
By ESPN Stats & Information
- The team that has won Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals went on to win the Cup 77.5 percent of the time. When the home team won Game 1, it won the series 86.3 percent of the time. When the road team won Game 1, it won the series 55 percent of the time.
- Both the Bruins (last won Cup in 1972) and the Canucks (never won Cup) are trying to end long droughts without winning the Stanley Cup.
- In their one regular-season meeting on Feb. 26 in Vancouver, the Bruins beat the Canucks 3-1, scoring twice in the final five minutes to break a 1-1 tie.
- The Bruins reached the finals despite scoring only five power-play goals in 18 postseason games. This is the fewest power-play goals for a team entering the Cup finals since 1977, when the Canadiens scored five power-play goals in 10 playoff games before winning the Cup against Boston, according to Elias.
- Roberto Luongo could become the first goalie to win a gold medal at the Olympics and the IIHF World Championships and win the Stanley Cup.
- The 1992 Pittsburgh Penguins are the last team to win the title after being taken to seven games in the first round of the playoffs. Both Boston and Vancouver went seven games in the opening round.
- The flight from Vancouver to Boston is about 2,500 miles.
- The Canucks have won their past seven playoff-series openers, the longest current streak of all NHL teams, according to Elias.
- Luongo is 8-1 (.889) in his career in Game 1s, the highest winning percentage for any goaltender in NHL history who has played at least five games, according to Elias.
- The Canucks are the first Canadian team since the 1989 Calgary Flames to win the President's Trophy and advance to the Stanley Cup finals.
- Vancouver allowed the fewest goals (180) in the league during the regular season, while Boston allowed the second-fewest (189).
