All posts in Rants

This is it.

After 9 months, hundreds of games, four postseason series, several season-ending injuries, questionable refereeing and bad blood, it’s all down to one game.

And oh, what a game it will be.  Bruins vs Canucks. USA vs Canada. Thomas vs Luongo.

And it is Roberto Luongo, and only Roberto Luongo, who will tell the tale, at least in the minds of Canucks fans. It doesn’t matter that Vancouver’s defense has been laughably absent in Boston, their gusto apparently anal-cavity-searched at the border. It doesn’t matter that while Vancouver’s Aaron Rome took off Nathan Horton’s head and was slapped with a four game suspension, Johnny Boychuk was apparently able to snap Mason Raymond’s back in half and not even get a penalty. (Although, WTF?) It doesn’t matter that while Raymond lay immobile on the ice, Bruins fans were cheering. (Ugh.) It doesn’t matter that the Sedin twins have barely shown up the entire final round except to pratfall in front of the refs.

No, it all falls on Bobby Lou’s shoulders. Unfairly, it has to be said. He may have had a couple of spectacular meltdowns in this cup round, but a goaltender does not carry a team alone. On at least two of Luongo’s three epic netsaving failures last night, his own defense was caught flatfooted – when they weren’t completely absent. Add on the dismal fact that on four separate occasions in Game 6, the Canucks whiffed on an empty net behind Tim Thomas. These opportunities, if seized, would  have led to them lifting the cup Monday night.

It’s utterly unfair, then, to hang Luongo out to dry, as if he alone bears the responsibility of carrying the entire Vancouver organization to Cup Glory. But somehow, perhaps, I wonder if hanging him out to dry is exactly what he needs. When he was pulled in Game 4, Vancouver fans cheered – and he came out with a flawless effort in Game 5, just as he did in games 1 and 2. Boston does not agree with Luongo – but Vancouver apparently does. Tim Thomas unfortunately has no geographical requirement to kick ass in this round, but he’s not infallible.  He let two in last night, and it was only the Canucks’ bad luck that he didn’t let in more.

What will we see in Game 7? Look for Vancouver to try to get back to their fast, skilled game. Look for the Bruins to continue chipping, chipping, chipping constantly, particularly on the Sedin twins. Look for the refs to back completely off; they don’t want to take the blame in a game with so much on the line. Look for Luongo to have the game of his life – or to get pulled in the first. He only has two personas: on, or horribly off. We will find out shortly which one will show up for Game 7.

Roll on, Cup Final.

PS: Don’t call Canada Wednesday night. Let’s just say we’ll all be busy.