2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Power Ranking the Four Possible Finals Matchups

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, fans of all ages, we are now a mere round away from the main event. With the Tampa Bay Lightning set to face off with the Boston Bruins and the San Jose Sharks set to face off with the Vancouver Canucks, it is time for some good ole fashion power ranking.

I will break down and power rank the four potential Stanley Cup matchups.

In the words of Michael Buffer, for the thousands in attendance, and the millions watching at home Degeneration X proudly presents, wait wrong sport, Lets get ready to rumble!!!!!!!!!

4) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. San Jose Sharks

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SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 12: Goalie Antti Niemi #31 of the San Jose Sharks makes a glove-hand save late in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the HP Pavi

This is based off a couple of variables. The first variable is ratings. With this series it would be Hockey Bay USA and San Jose representing the western part of the country.

Not many people would consider this series as a successful one, but I beg to differ. This series would put the speed of the Lightning against the physicality of the Sharks. Players like Marty St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier would be put to the test against Jumbo Joe Thornton, Dan Boyle and Patrick Marleau.

This series would be a test of goaltenders. The older Dwayne Roloson would square off against the young reigning Stanley Cup champion Antti Niemi.

This series would be a good one to watch because it would prove that hockey can succeed in non-conventional areas of the country.

Dwayne Roloson is going to be the factor in this series. He has played great thus far and hasn't shown any inconsistency thus far. I feel Roloson can lead the Lightning to victory.


WINNER: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING.

3) Boston Bruins vs. San Jose Sharks

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 12: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates after they beat the Detroit Red Wings in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion on May 12, 2011 in San Jose, Califo

The Boston Bruins are one of the deepest teams in these NHL playoffs. They have a world class goaltender in Tim Thomas, stellar defensemen in Tomas Kaberle and Zdeno Chara, and scoring talents in Milan Lucic and Patrice Bergeron and countless others.

San Jose likewise have Antti Niemi, Dan Boyle, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, rookie sensation Logan Couture, Kyle Wellwood and countless others.

This series would feature two very physical and defensive teams. With Niemi and Thomas in net, the series would be very low scoring. While both teams have offensively gifted players, defense would reign supreme in this series.

Ratings would be very good for this series. Boston is a big hockey town with a rich history and they haven't been in a Stanley Cup Finals in quite sometime.

This would be the first time that the San Jose Sharks made the Stanley Cup Finals. It would be exciting for the fans of San Jose. 

The factor in this series will have to be Tim Thomas. He is going to have to play on top of his game to lead the Bruins to victory.


WINNER: BOSTON BRUINS

2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Vancouver Canucks

A lot of things have changed since the Canucks had last made the Stanley Cup Finals. You can no longer buy butter, milk, and eggs for under $10 dollars, gas is $3.00 a gallon higher than it was, and the Canucks have new uniforms.

With that in mind, the Canucks have a lot of pressure on them. They have the pressure of being the Presidents Trophy winner on their shoulders. They have to hope that Roberto Luongo can play a consistent series for a change.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will have to try and match the speed of the Canucks. Ryan Kesler will have to counter Marty St. Louis. Captain Sedin will have to counter Captain Lecavalier.

On offense the Canucks have the Sedins and Ryan Kesler, which makes them a powerhouse. No offense to Tampa Bay but when you add up the role players the Canucks have in Mason Raymond, Alex Burrows, etc., it is a tough series to win if you are the Lightning.

This series would be huge because Vancouver would have continued the Olympic tradition. If the Canucks win they would match the most recent Canadian, the '89 Calgary Flames, winning the Stanley Cup after hosting the 1988 Olympics.

The factor in this series will be Dwayne Roloson. If he plays at a consistent level Tampa Bay will have a chance, but if he falters Vancouver will capitalize.


WINNER: VANCOUVER CANUCKS

1) Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - MAY 06: Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins celebrates victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 6, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. The

Boston has skill players like Milan Lucic, David Krejci, Nathan Horton, Zdeno Chara and his ankle-breaking slapper and skilled puck-disher Patrice Bergeron. 

The Bruins blue line is lead by Zdeno Chara and Tomas Kaberle. These two defensemen are both great puck-movers and are men of size. Chara and his Paul Bunyan-like stick have been known to break up the play on an odd man rush. Kaberle and his shot were acquired to help run the Bruins power play.

The Boston Bruins have Tim Thomas who is on the verge of winning another Vezina Trophy. By all accounts he has had one of his greatest years in the NHL. Thomas has done a good job so far for the Bruins as they faced the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Canucks have Ryan Kesler, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Alex Burrows, Mason Raymond, Christian Ehrhoff, and Kevin Bieksa.

This is one of the toughest series to call. When you add all the variables with the talented players, the venues and the miscellaneous facts (Presidents Trophy, Olympic Tradition, first cup appearance by each team in quite sometime), it makes it a very, very interesting and exciting series.

Tim Thomas is going to be the factor in this series. He is a better goalie than Roberto Luongo and has played more consistently.


WINNER: BOSTON BRUINS

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