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Canucks Mount a Third Period Comeback to Win 4-3 and take a 3-1 Series Lead

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
May 24, 2024

Sam Lafferty makes his return to the lineup, replacing Pius Suter as the third line centre.

Nils Hoglander would get the party going at Rogers Arena with a wrist shot near the outside of the left faceoff circle that sailed past Georgiev. Lafferty in his first game back, assisted on the goal. That would be the only goal in the first as Colorado led in shots 14-11.

However it was all Colorado in the second as they scored three straight with goals from Cogliano (28 seconds in), MacKinnon and Johansen. The biggest moment of the period for the Canucks faithful was when, around the 7:30 mark of the second, Thatcher Demko stretched across to make a save and as the play continued he stayed down on the ice in pain. The whistle blew and the trainer came out to help the American but he was forced to come out of the game. Casey DeSmith enters the net as the Canucks try and mount a comeback. Andrei Kuzmenko was able to get one back before the end of the period which gives the Avalanche a 3-2 lead heading into the third. Despite three minor penalties from the Avalanche that period, the Canucks powerplay failed to score.

Vancouver came out hot to start the third as the Canucks fans rallied behind them. Kuzmenko would score again with a bomb from the top of the circles to tie the game. Brock Boeser wouldn't take long to make it a 4-3 Canucks lead with a one timer goal from the Rockstar Zone that will surely be seen on SportsCenter later tonight. A one goal lead with 13 minutes to go... can the Canucks hold on? As the clocked ticked down in the period, the fans kept getting more and more excited until the clock hit 0. Your Vancouver Canucks will head to Ball Arena with a 3-1 series lead and a chance to book their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals!

The shots ended up being 17-5 in the third in the Canucks favor and a 37-30 total for the Nucks. There has been no word yet on Thatcher Demko but expect updates to come by tomorrow.

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Ross Colton keeps the Avalanche Alive with an Overtime Winning 2 Goal Performance

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
May 26, 2024

Vancouver fans can breathe a sigh of relief... Thatcher Demko is all good. He left game 4 after looking to hurt himself trying to make a save but luckily the netminder will be fully healthy after the injury scare two nights ago. Now the Canucks will head into Colorado to try and send themselves to the Cup Final, something that won't be easy on the road. Game 5. Series potentially on the line. Let's Go.

Despite a 10-6 shot lead for the Avs, Demko shuts the door and Ilya Mikheyev scores 8 minutes in to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead for the second period.

The second period turned into a barn burner with 6 goals. Nichushkin opened the scoring for the Avs on the Powerplay just a 1:15 in. Ilya Mikheyev however wouldn't take long after to have his second of the game. But not even a minute later and Ross Colton had himself a goal. Then it was Drouin that scored from a tough angle to give the Avs a 3-2 lead. Even though 7 minutes passed before the next goal, the Canucks weren't going away. Boone Jenner would get himself one on a one timer from below the faceoff dot and Chris Tanev, who has been a sneaky scorer these playoffs, drove to the net off a rush chance and buried a rebound to give the Nucks a 4-3 lead. 20 minutes left for the Canucks and they could be going to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The third period started with a Ross Colton high stick less than a minute in. Canucks to the Powerplay with what has been a rough stretch of games for the unit. Coach Schenn made some adjustments to the man advantage before the game so let's see if it pays off... And it Does!! Elias Pettersson would score in tight on Georgiev and give Vancouver a 2 goal lead! Vancouver fought on but Colorado has winning pedigree, they weren't going away easily. Miles Wood would score with 5:18 left in the third to make it a 5-4 game. As the minutes ticked down from the scoreboard Canucks fans started to get jumpy and Colorado fans started to get disappointed. 3 minutes left.... 2 minutes left... 1 minute... NATHAN MACKINNON SCORES. 5-5 GAME. Ball Arena almost blew the roof off after the Nate Dogg's tying goal. This game was headed to overtime. The Avs really put the pressure on in the third as they led 38-26 in shots after 60 minutes. Who was gonna be the winner in this one?

It would be the Colorado Avalanche as Ross Colton would score off an errant pass that went off the foot of defender Carson Soucy. He picked it up and sent it past the sprawling Demko to send the series back to Vancouver. Heartbreaking for the Canucks.

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Vancouver Holds on to Win 3-1 and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2011

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
May 28, 2024

Back to Rogers Arena we go. Vancouver has to be disappointed they didn't get the job done in Colorado when it was there for them but they'll need to regroup and get it done in Game 6 here at home.

It was a quiet first period until disaster struck for the Canucks. He'd saved all 10 shots thrown at him but after going down into the butterfly Thatcher Demko was once again in agony. It looked like Game 4 all over again. Demko was once again forced to leave the game and Casey DeSmith came in to replace him. After the first period it was your Canucks with a 1-0 lead as PDG scored at the 11:32 mark on a wrap-around goal that beat Georgiev. Shots were close with a 10-9 advantage to Colorado.

The second period was a battle with both teams refusing to give an inch. There was no goals scored and no penalties for either team as Vancouver had 10 shots to Colorado's 7.

Third Period here in what could be the series. Here. We. Go. Both teams came out with the same intensity as the second period and with would be Sam Lafferty of the Canucks to score at 17:46 to make it a 2-0 game for the Nucks. He crashed the net and buried a rebound past the sprawling Georgiev. A few minutes ticked by before Nils Hoglander was called for a suspect interference penalty that drew boos from the Vancouver crowd. Colorado was headed to the Powerplay. They would muster three shots off the man advantage but none that were high danger chances. Great penalty kill from the Canucks. However Nathan MacKinnon would get the Avalanche's first goal with a rocket of a wrister off the rush that hit the back bar past Demko. Vancouver now had a 2-1 lead with just over half the period left. This one was going to come down to the wire.

Both teams fought hard for every chance they could get but Vancouver was able to keep the Avs from scoring. With 5:28 left in the third Devon Toews took a holding penalty to send the Canucks to the Powerplay. Much like the Avs powerplay earlier, nothing much came of it. Time continued to dwindle down as the Avalanche pressed hard, looking for that tying goal. They pulled their goalie with 1:30 left in the game. Drouin had a nice chance on net that DeSmith made a crucial pad save on. Time was not on Colorado's side as they tried to work the puck around, looking for any opportunity... BUT WAIT. J.T. Miller interception. He flew down the ice with Avs on his tail but he sailed it into the empty net!! 3-1 Canucks with under a minute to go!! Colorado would get three more shots on net but DeSmith would save all of them. YOUR VANCOUVER CANUCKS ARE HEADED TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL!!! Despite having to come into the game cold, Casey DeSmith was stellar, making 20 saves and finishing with a .952 SV%. All ears will be on Thatcher Demko's health as the Canucks prepare for their Stanley Cup Final Matchup.

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2024 Conference Finals Playoff Review and Predictions Recap

By Vincent Barlow 30m Ago
__________________________________________________

And then there were two. The New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks will meet in the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals for the Stanley Cup. Both teams have ousted three teams and now find themselves head-to-head for the most sacred trophy in hockey. As per usual, let's take a look back at our predictions and how they faired

As always, feel free to join in on the fun if you wish, I'll track the predictions and reveal the winner by the end of the playoffs!

Series MVP (Best Player of Series) - Samuel Montembeault
If the Devils go on to win it all this season, acquiring Sam Montembeault may be one of the best trade acquisitions ever made in franchise history. In 3 out of the 6 games he held the dominant Bruins to 2 goals or less. The Devils offense helped him out in the other 3 games but he was solid throughout.

Finals Lundqvist (Best Player on Losing Team) - David Pastrnak
What two things do Nathan Mackinnon and David Pastrnak have in common? They’re both going home after the Conference Finals and they both still lead the playoffs in goals. Pasta had 5 goals in the series (Game 1 and 2 being back-to-back 2 goal performances) and finished with 10 through 14 playoff games. His 21 points are 6 ahead of teammate Pavel Zacha, who finishes 2nd on the team in scoring

Ghost Award (Most Disappointing Player) - Brad Marchand
For such an experienced veteran, having just 3 points in the series isn’t enough for Boston’s Captain. The longest tenured Bruin was shut down by New Jersey and once again Boston chokes away another attempt at a Stanley Cup. How much longer does this core have to contend?

Spotlight Award (Best Individual Game of the Series) - Nico Hischier (Game 1)
An absolute carry job by Nico Hischier and Timo Meier in Game 1 set the tone for this series. The Swiss center had a goal and three assists in a dominating opening act by the Captain.

Pat Maroon Award (Least Impactful Player on Winning Team) - Erik Haula
While he is a bottom six forward, you would have liked more production from the 32 year old that has Cup Finals experience (Vegas in 2018) He had 0 points in all 6 games and just 1 goal throughout the 17 playoff games.

My Prediction - Boston in 6 Games
The Result - New Jersey in 6 Games
Score - 2 Points

Series MVP (Best Player of Series) - Brock Boeser
Leading the series in points was surprisingly Brock Boeser. With 3 goals and 6 assists, Boeser’s play against Colorado was a Boeser we haven’t seen in quite some time. His 3 point performance in the Game 2 OT win was big and he of course had the pivotal game winner in Game 4.

Finals Lundqvist (Best Player on Losing Team) - Nathan MacKinnon
The Nate Dogg did his best to get the Avalanche back to the Cup Finals but Colorado just didn’t have enough to get past the Canucks. His 4 goals and 7 points were team leaders in this series (Makar was tied in points with 7)

Ghost Award (Most Disappointing Player) - Gabriel Landeskog
Coming into the Conference Finals as the playoff leader in points, Captain Landeskog would only muster three assists in the 6 games. Colorado needed more from their leader in this one and the Swede didn’t have it.

Spotlight Award (Best Individual Game of the Series) - Ross Colton (Game 5)
If the Avalanche were able to come back and win this series, Ross Colton would be a legend in Colorado for his performance in Game 5. His 2 goal and 3 point game, including the clutch OT Winner, was incredible to witness.

Pat Maroon Award (Least Impactful Player on Winning Team) - Ian Cole
The Pairing of Cole and Poolman were at the receiving end of a lot of goals against and didn’t exactly have a great series. Cole was a -4 and struggled against the fast and quick Avs. They’ll both look to have a better series in the Finals

My Prediction - Colorado in 6 Games
The Result - Vancouver in 6 Games
Score - 2 Points


My Prediction Score after Round 1 - 12 Points

My Prediction Score after Round 2 - 17 Points

My Prediction Score after Round 3 - 21 Points

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2024 Stanley Cup Finals Preview and Predictions

By Vincent Barlow 30m Ago
__________________________________________________

Matchup Preview
	@
New Jersey Devils (12-5)		Vancouver Canucks (12-7)
Stat Leaders Nico Hischier - 8 Goals Nils Hoglander - 9 Jack Hughes - 15 Assists Quinn Hughes - 15 Jack Hughes / Nico Hischier - 20 Points J.T. Miller / Conor Garland- 19 Injury Report Luke Hughes Post Concussion Syndrome (1-2 Months) Kevin Bahl Sore Shoulder (Day-to-Day) Series Notes Last Playoff Matchup - N/A All Time Playoff Record - N/A

In what promises to be an electrifying showdown, the Vancouver Canucks and the New Jersey Devils are set to battle it out in the Stanley Cup Finals of the 2024 NHL Playoffs. Both teams have fought tooth and nail to earn their spot in the championship series, showcasing their resilience and determination along the way.

The Canucks, boasting a 12-7 record in the playoffs, have proven themselves as formidable contenders after dispatching the Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, and Colorado Avalanche in previous rounds. However, concerns loom over the health of goaltender Thatcher Demko, who has twice been forced to leave games due to a nagging lower-body injury. While Demko is slated to start Game 1, questions linger about his ability to withstand the rigors of the Finals. Casey DeSmith stands ready as a capable backup, but the Canucks will undoubtedly rely on Demko's presence between the pipes.

On the opposing side, the Devils, with a 12-5 record in the playoffs, have found their stride under the leadership of captain Nico Hischier. Hischier has been a force to be reckoned with, leading by example and rallying his team with stellar performances. Alongside Jack Hughes, Hischier has spearheaded the Devils' charge, emerging as one of the top point-getters in the postseason. However, the absence of defenseman Luke Hughes poses a challenge for New Jersey, who will need other players to step up in his absence. The return of Kevin Bahl from injury will provide a much-needed boost to the Devils' blue line.

For the Canucks, Elias Pettersson holds the key to unlocking their offensive potential. After a lackluster performance against the Oilers, Pettersson bounced back with a six-point showing in the Conference Finals. However, with just one goal to his name last round, the pressure is on the Swedish center to deliver as one of Vancouver's top forwards.

As the two teams prepare to clash on hockey's grandest stage, anticipation reaches a fever pitch. With both squads hungry for glory and the Stanley Cup within reach, every shift, every save, and every goal will be crucial in determining the ultimate victor. Get ready for a showdown of epic proportions as the Canucks and Devils vie for hockey supremacy in the quest for championship glory.

My Prediction - New Jersey in 7 Games

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Jesper Bratt and the Devils shock the Canucks on Home Ice, Score 6 on Thatcher Demko

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
May 31, 2024

And here we are. The 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. Canucks versus Devils. Game 1. Starts now.

We get off to a hot start for the Canucks as Rogers Arena is going bonkers. Boone Jenner opens the scoring less than two minutes in. What a pickup he was for this Vancouver team. It wouldn't be much longer until Brock Boeser would get his first Cup Final goal, coming from almost the exact same spot as Jenner's, bottom of the right faceoff circle. The scoring wouldn't stop there as Chris freakin Tanev would score his 6th goal of the postseason. After allowing 3 goals on 10 shots, the Devils coach had seen enough. Montembeault was pulled and Vitek Vanecek came in for his first appearance these playoffs. It wouldn't be until the last minute until Jack Hughes would score the first goal for the Devils. An electric first period for the Canucks.

The second period saw the Devils come out flying after a difficult 1st period for them. They threw 16 shots on net while the Canucks only had 9 of their own. Dawson Mercer scored halfway through the frame to make it a 3-2 game. It remained at that score as the second period ended, leaving the Canucks with a one goal lead heading into what could be the final 20 minutes of Game 1.

With the third period started, it was on the very first shot for the Devils when Jesper Bratt fired one past Demko to tie the game at 3. And that's when the floodgates opened for the Devils offensive weapons. A little more than a minute after Bratt's goal, Dougie Hamilton scored on a slap shot from the top of the circles. Jesper Bratt would get his second of the game by the 15 minute mark and Tyler Toffoli would score 4 minutes later. All of a sudden this game was out of hand with a 6-3 lead for the Devils. After such a promising first two periods, it was tough to see the game go this way for the Canucks. New Jersey would finish with 42 shots on net to the Canucks 32. Demko was left out to dry. Vanecek showed no signs of rust after such an extended period of time without action, making 22 saves and not allowing a goal. Devils steal Game 1 of the series on the road

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Canucks Win 8-5 Barn Burner to Split the Series at 1-1 before heading to New Jersey

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
June 2, 2024

Game 2 at Rogers Arena as Vancouver really wants to make sure they at least split the series at home with a win tonight.

They come out firing here with a PP goal from Kuzmenko in the slot courtesy of a Erik Haula holding penalty. Sam Lafferty wouldn't take long to make it 2-0 an incredible 6 seconds later on a rebound to the right of Montembault. Great start for Vancouver. However Jesper Bratt would throw a point shot on net that got past Demko to make it 2-1 Canucks. J.T. Miller would score his 9th of the postseason before New Jersey caught fire. Dawson Mercer, Siegenthaler and Bratt again would score three unanswered for New Jersey as Demko struggled. Kuzmenko would also score his second of the game, again on the PP, to tie this game at 4 after a barn burner of a 1st period. The Devils scored 4 goals on 9 shots while Vancouver had 4 on 13. This was a tough night to be a goalie that's for damn sure.

The scoring wouldn't stop in the second for your Vancouver Canucks as Brock Boeser joined the party with a laser of a wrister past the shoulder of Montembeault. About 8 minutes later he did it again with a point shot that squeaked past the goal line through traffic. Lafferty would join Kuzie and Boeser and score his second goal to make it 7 goals for the Canucks. This game is getting out of hand and we still have 20 minutes left to go.

We head to the third and it took longer than the previous two periods to see a goal but Conor Garland would make it 8-4 with a one timer past Montembeault who has remained in net. After a Carson Soucy delay of game penalty, Dougie Hamilton tried to get the Devils closer with a slap shot from the point to make it 8-5. Thankfully the goals stopped there as the Canucks would finish with a ridiculous 8-5 win as they head to New Jersey for Game 3. Shots finished 32-25 in favor of New Jersey.

Vancouver's 8 goals in this Playoff Game tie their franchise record when twice in the same series they had 8 goals scored against the Winnipeg Jets back in 1992.

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Demko and the Canucks go into New Jersey and secure a 4-0 Shutout Win

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
June 4, 2024

4th Line LW Phil Di Giuseppe was taken out of the lineup after being a -2 in just over 7 minutes of ice time last game. In comes Pius Suter to replace him for Game 3.

Talk about a flip flop from last game to the start of this one. 0 goals were scored for either team, probably due to both teams likely being chewed out for their defensive performances last game. Despite two powerplay opportunities for both teams this one remained scoreless. Vancouver led in shots 11-10.

It would be J.T. Miller that finally broke the seal with a funky goal that found its way in the net after a shot from the half wall, catching Montembeault off guard. Timo Meier would be called for a hooking penalty and Vancouver would make the Devils pay as Dakota Joshua potted one to make it 2-0 Canucks. The youngsters Podkolzin and Hoglander would both take stick infraction penalties but the Penalty Kill had their back and killed it off. We head to the third with a 2-0 Vancouver lead and shots in favor of the Nucks 27-19.

Vancouver continued to play good hockey and outshoot New Jersey but then Quinn Hughes would be called for a double minor high sticking penalty all the way behind the Devils net. The Devils go to the PP for 4 minutes in a great opportunity for them to cut the lead in half. It wouldn't go that way for the Devils as J.T. freakin Miller would force a turnover and fly down the ice and score a shortie for the Canucks. 3-0 lead with just under 11 minutes left to play. The Devils were being outplayed and they could feel it and were getting frustrated. Meier would take his second penalty of the game with a hold and once again Miller would capitalize with a PP goal. He has a hat trick and with 7 minutes left, Vancouver has a comfy 4-0 lead, along with 40 shots on Montembeault. New Jersey would fail to get anything going down the stretch and fall to 2-1 in the series. Demko with a huge shutout in Game 3 with 28 saves.

After this game finished, it was made known Alexandre Carrier was injured in this one and is expected to miss about a week or so, hurting New Jersey's blueline even more with Luke Hughes already out

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Canucks Win 4-1 and Head Back to Vancouver with the Stanley Cup on the Line

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
June 6, 2024

Game 4 at the Prudential Center as the Devils look to even this series at 2-2 before we head back to Vancouver.

Who other than the man himself J.T. Miller to stay red hot and score his 5th goal in three games to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead 10 minutes in. It would remain that way until the end of the period after a pretty uneventful first, outside of a Miller goal and a Boeser high stick that led to 0 goals against. Shots are 9-7 for New Jersey.

But wait... Elias Pettersson is not on the bench to start the second period. He took a pretty hard hit from Kevin Bahl earlier in the first but had remained in the game until now. Let's hope he's okay. As the puck drops for the 2nd, before a minute even passed through the period, Colin Miller (who was replacing the injured Carrier) took a holding penalty to send the Canucks to the powerplay. Just 30 seconds into the man advantage, J.T. Miller would find himself open in the slot and Quinn Hughes dished it to him. With the way he's been playing, you know he was going to do something good with it. With the puck on his stick he fired it past Montembeault to make it 2-0 Canucks. This guy is not running, he is sprinting for that Conn Smythe trophy. It wouldn't be until Kuzmenko took a hooking penalty when the Devils finally scored their first goal from John Marino on the PP. That's their first goal in 5 periods, stretching back to Game 3. Despite a PP opportunity for the Canucks, the game would head to the third period with Vancouver holding a 2-1 lead. Shots are dead even at 15 a piece.

Gut check time for the Canucks here. Can they hold on to this one goal lead and take this series back to Vancouver with a chance to win the Stanley Cup at home in front of their fans. Neither team could get one past the goaltenders despite powerplays for both teams. Colin Miller would take his second penalty of the game at the 13:17 mark, an elbowing call, to give the Canucks their second man advantage chance of the period. About halfway through the Powerplay, Andrei Kuzmenko would receive a pass from Boeser and he scored from a tight angle past the shoulder of Montembeault to give the Canucks a 3-1 lead! With 10:27 remaining, New Jersey had to push for offense and Vancouver needed to shut them down. Minutes continued to tick down on the clock as New Jersey pushed. Montembeault rushed to the bench for the extra attacker. They worked it around the offensive zone. Hamilton down to Hughes... Lafferty intercepts! He heads down the ice with Devils on his tail... He SCORES! 4-1 Canucks! Lafferty buries the empty net goal to give his team a 4-1 win and a 3-1 series lead as we head back to Rogers Arena for what could be the game the Stanley Cup is awarded. Massive games once again from Miller and Boeser who have completely taken over this series. No word on Elias Pettersson thus far for his availability for Game 5

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Canucks Without Swedish Star Pettersson for Game 5
Elias Pettersson will be unavailable for a potential Cup Winning Game 5 in Vancouver

Jeremy Evans - June 7th, 2024

They have a 3-1 series lead but the curse of the Vancouver Canucks lives on with the news coming out this morning before Game 5 tonight

Elias Pettersson was leveled by Kevin Bahl in the first period and, although he finished out the period, was not on the bench for the start of the second. It has finally been revealed that the Canucks top scorer in the regular season will not be able to play in Game 5 in Vancouver.

Petey has received a lot of pushback from fans all around the NHL about his play so far these playoffs. Coming into the series he had just 13 points through 19 games, placing him 7th on the team in scoring. After just securing a $9 Million 3 year contract extension this season, he's been at the forefront of the fans discourse this postseason. To his defense, he has been productive so far in the finals against the Devils with 5 points, although all of them are assists.

While those numbers on paper look decent, when you see how dominant his linemates Miller and Boeser have been it outshines Elias heavily. Regardless of his play, Vancouver will be in tough without one of their best players with the cup in the building for Game 5. The Devils have a very good chance to comeback in this series with a win and sending it back to the Prudential Center for a Game 6. We'll see how the Canucks will fare tonight when the puck drops at 6:00 at Rogers Arena.

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2024 Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 Recap

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
June 8, 2024

With the Swedish superstar Elias Pettersson out of the lineup for Game 5, Coach Bear Schenn makes a bold decision and brings back Arshdeep Bains to the lineup. Miller slides to 1st line C between Boeser and Kuzmenko. Mikheyev flanks Jenner and Garland on the left and Bains does the same on the 3rd with Lafferty and Hoglander. Huge moment for the hometown kid in a monumental game. This could be it Vancouver. A 3-1 series lead. At home at Rogers Arena in front of the Canucks faithful who have dreamt of a moment like this for so so long. Game 5. Here. We. Go!

This place is electric with the roof of the building feeling like it could blow at any moment. The Canucks feed off the fans and take it to New Jersey early, forcing them into two stick infraction penalties from Haula and Palat. With a 5-on-3 Powerplay, Conor Garland would make no mistake and bury a wrister from the top of the circles as Rogers Arena goes ballistic! The penalties wouldn't stop there for New Jersey as Meier would take a roughing call, putting the Canucks back on the Power. As the Canucks worked the puck around, Hoglander would find J.T. Miller open in the slot and BANG! He scores! 2-0 Canucks. What a huge start for the home team as New Jersey has no answer. Just a couple minutes passed before... JT FREAKIN MILLLER SCORES AGAIN! Canucks have a 3-0 lead 11 minutes in!! This is incredible from Vancouver right now and this place is absolutely loving it. The goals wouldn't even stop there as Sam Lafferty would score just a minute later. Canucks not only head to the second up 4-0, they are also outshooting the Devils a mind boggling 21-5. You don't even want to mention it but... Could the Canucks actually do this?!

We head to the second expecting a huge push from New Jersey after a brutal first period. And push they did as Timo Meier would score on the Powerplay less than 2 minutes in after a Soucy high stick. We have a game here folks. The Devils aren't going away that easily. Dawson Mercer would score 5 minutes later from the bottom of the circle as the Devils cut the lead to just two. Canucks fans are on the edge of their seats and we're only halfway through the second. Both teams were in a dog fight and were fighting tooth and nail for every battle, loose puck and rebound. Palat was assessed a delay of game penalty with 5 minutes left but the Canucks would fail to score on it. We head to the third period with Vancouver up 4-2 and shots in favor of the Nucks 32-12.

Here we freakin go. 20 minutes until the Stanley Cup could potentially have a winner. New Jersey comes out and pushes earlier, putting pressure on the Canucks but Demko looks strong back there in net. Alas the Canucks retain the puck and head into the Devils zone. Brock Boeser throws a shot to the net and it's a scramble in front as it rebounds all the way out to the top of the circles. Mikheyev quickly regains the puck and with the realization of traffic at the net he fires it quickly at Montembeault... AND SCORES!! Mikheyev scores to give the Canucks a 5-2 Lead!!! 15:10 stands in the way between the Canucks and the Stanley Cup. New Jersey continues to push and it forces Podkolzin to take a slashing penalty to negate a chance against. Devils head to the powerplay and Timo Meier makes Vancouver pay with a half clapper at the top of the circles. 5-3 Game. Not long after Jack Hughes takes a high sticking minor and during that powerplay, Novak takes his own hooking penalty. The result is a short 5-on-3 for the Canucks before a long 5-on-4. While Vancouver did fail to score on the man advantage, it still did take more time off the clock, something the Devils desperately need more of.

With just under 5 minutes to go Siegenthaler destroys Podkolzin from behind, knocking his helmet off in the process.

A costly penalty for New Jersey as he heads to the box for boarding. As time dwindled down on the penalty, and a kill that featured a very offensively driven Devils, Dawson Mercer would get caught with his stick in the skates of Arshdeep Bains. Vancouver now had a powerplay till the end of the game as a result. They just needed to play extra defensively with the man advantage and they had this. But were the hockey gods really going to make it that easy... As Quinn Hughes skated into the offensive zone he had his pocket picked by Marino who sent it up ice to Nosek. As he gained speed down the wall and into Vancouver territory, he saw Miller and Novak beelining to the net. He fed Novak in the slot and he buried it along the ice far side past Demko. The arena was shocked. Suddenly this was a 5-4 game with 1:23 remaining.

New Jersey continued to push hard. Hischier, Siegenthaler and Hughes all had prime chances that Demko barely managed to keep out. New Jersey pulled their goalie with 30 seconds left in the game to make it 5v5. Hischier cut to the slot with the puck and took a shot but Hoglander was there to make a huge block. There was a scramble in front before Hoglander pulled it out of the pile and dished it to Miller heading up ice, and an empty net at the other end of the ice. With Hischier checking him hard, Miller made a move to the outside and turned on the burners, leaving the Devils Captain behind him. He crosses the red line.... the blue line.... HE SCORES. J.T. Miller scores a Hat Trick and the Vancouver Canucks are going to be Stanley Cup Champions!!!

Spoiler

With 28 seconds on the clock and the shots at a mind-boggling 52-29 differential in Vancouver's favor, the puck dropped and the Canucks took possession. Taking it behind their net as time ran out... YOUR VANCOUVER CANUCKS ARE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!

Players rush over the boards head over heels towards each other and to their netminder Thatcher Demko. Gloves, helmets and sticks fly everywhere as Rogers Arena is in a full blown celebration.

As we watch the Canucks on top of the world on one side of the ice sheet, the New Jersey Devils players hang their heads in disappointment on the other. Eventually both teams head to center ice to partake in the handshake line

Very cool moment as during the handshakes, we saw Jack and Quinn Hughes embrace in a hug that shows the love these two guys have for each other. As the Devils vacate the ice, Commissioner Gary Bettman comes out to award the Conn Smythe trophy.

Of course it was only going to be one man and he solidified it and then some after his performance tonight. J.T. Miller was a man possessed this series, breaking Gretzky records along the way.

Now we get to the moment we have been waiting for... the Stanley Cup being awarded to the team captain

Quinn Hughes receives the cup and this place sounds like it just broke the sound barrier!! What a moment for this man and this team!

Quinn Hughes would go on to pass the cup to J.T. Miller who has put his name atop the NHL record book. Thatcher Demko would get the next pass after an up and down season that culminated in him here, raising the Cup above his head. These three players were monumental in this moment right now. And finally we have the picture that will go down in Canucks history as the greatest moment this franchise has had thus far:

[johnstone1987]

Re: NHL 24 Franchise Mode Career

Congrats on the Cup win!