Wednesday’s Three Stars: Bruins blank Canucks to win Stanley Cup
No. 1 Star: Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
Before receiving the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP, Thomas recorded his fourth shutout of the playoffs and second in the Stanley Cup Final as the Boston Bruins won their first title in 39 years after defeating the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 in Game 7. Thomas made 37 saves and finished with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage, tops among all goaltenders.
No. 2 Star: Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Bergeron started the scoring late in the first period and put the game to bed with a shorthanded tally with 2:25 left in the second period to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead. Before Game 7, Bergeron hadn't scored since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
No. 3 Star: Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
Making a name for himself throughout the playoffs, Marchand scored a pair of goals, including the empty netter to put things away for good, and assisted on Bergeron's opening goal. The rookie finished with 11 goals, second overall behind teammate David Krejci, and tied for fourth overall in points with 19.
Honorable mention: In his final NHL game, Mark Recchi recorded an assist and was a plus-3. The 43-year-old Recchi ends his career with a third Stanley Cup ... Zdeno Chara is the second European-born captain to win the Stanley Cup ... Dennis Seidenberg joins Uwe Krupp as the only two Germans to have their names on the Cup ... Before the game, Nathan Horton dumped a water bottle filled with water from TD Garden onto the Rogers Arena ice to try a little hockey voodoo. Horton was also on the ice during the postgame celebration:
Injured Canucks forward Mason Raymond also made an appearance during Game 7:
Did you know? Tim Thomas is the oldest Conn Smythe winner in NHL history at 37 years old. (AP)
Dishonorable mention: Canucks rookie defenseman Chris Tanev was credited with three giveaways ... Vancouver's power play went 2 for 31 in the series ... The Sedins were on the ice for all four Boston goals.
Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins; 2. David Krejci, Boston Bruins; 3. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins; 4. Alexandre Burrows, Vancouver Canucks; 5. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins; 6. Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; 7. Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; 8. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks; 9. Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks; 10. Michael Ryder, Boston Bruins.
