2011 NHL Playoffs: Top 5 Storylines of the Stanley Cup Finals

The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals between the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks promises to be one for the ages. 

Both teams are evenly matched in all areas of the game and dominated in the regular season and the playoffs. 

It will be difficult to predict who will take home Hockey's holy grail this season, so as a suggestion, just sit back, relax and enjoy the great hockey we are about to experience in these next couple weeks. 

These are the top 5 story lines going into the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. 

As always, comments, opinions and feedback are greatly appreciated. 

5. The Green Men

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 02: Fans of the Vancouver Canucks, Force and Sully, perform during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on February 2, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Canucks defeated the Coyotes 6-0. (Photo by Christian P

As much as I hate to admit, the Green Men are a storyline for the Stanley Cup Final. 

For those that don't know, these are two men dressed in green spandex suits, covered from head to toe, that have two seats right beside the opposing team's penalty box at Roger's Arena in Vancouver. 

Whenever a player gets a penalty, they dance relentlessly in a mockery of the person situated there. 

They have become world famous for doing this. 

Many people have criticized these two men for what they do, which has just given them more publicity. 

The green men get a lot of media attention and will certainly be a storyline, even though they have no effect on the outcome of games. 

4. Manny Malhotra

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NEW YORK , NY - JANUARY 13: Manny Malhotra #27 of the Vancouver Canucks plays the puck against the New York Rangers during the game at Madison Square Garden on January 13, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Marlin/Getty Images)

One big story that sprung up in the last couple days is the potential return of Manny Malhotra to the Canucks line up. 

Malhotra suffered a severe eye injury on March 17 after getting hit in the face by a puck.

Many people thought he was done for the season, there was even speculation that the eye injury could be career-threatening. 

But Malhotra has been cleared for full practise with the team and may make an appearance in these playoffs after all. 

If Malhotra were to return, it would be a huge boost for the Vancouver Canucks. Malhottra is a solid third-line center who is one of the league's best in the face off dot. 

3. History

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 23: A sculpture of Bobby Orr stands in front of TD Garden prior to Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 23, 2011 in Boston, Massachus

This statue represents the iconic moment of Bobby Orr's overtime Stanley Cup-winner in 1970 over the St. Louis Blues. 

They would win another cup two years later, but there has been a cup drought in Boston since then. A whopping 39 years since they last hoisted Hockey's holy grail. 

The Vancouver Canucks sport an even longer drought. 

They came oh so close in 1994, losing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, but have never won a cup in franchise history, a 41-year drought. 

One thing is for sure this year, one of the longest Cup droughts in the NHL will be broken. 

Another Historical Point: 

No one has given the Canucks more trouble than the Boston Bruins since the team's inception.

Among teams that they have played 100 times, the Canucks have the worst record against the Bruins. They have gone 25-66-15-2 against the Bruins in franchise history. 

2. Special Teams

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 24: (L-R) Alexander Edler #23, Ryan Kesler #17, Alex Burrows #14 and Daniel Sedin #22 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrate Kesler's game tying goal with less than 14 seconds in the third period to send the game into overtime in Game

The area of special teams is where the Canucks have a decided advantage. 

The Bruins are ranked 13th on the power play over the playoffs, while the Canucks are ranked only third. 

The Canucks also have a slight advantage on the penalty kill, they are ranked eight, while the Bruins are ninth.

The Bruins will have to really right the ship with their power play if they are going to have any chance in this series. 

Special teams will be a story line to follow throughout the Final. 

1. The Best Goaltending Battle

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TAMPA, FL - MAY 21: Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins defends against Ryan Malone #6 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at St Pete Times Forum on May 21, 2011 in Tampa, Flor

This series promises to be one of the best goaltending battles in recent history. 

Both Tim Thomas and Roberto Luongo are the best goalies in the game right now, and it is there time to prove themselves in the postseason. 

Both have had sparks of brilliance in these playoffs, but both have also struggled at certain points.

Both are nominated for this year's Vezina Trophy, as the league's best goaltender in the regular season. 

The Canucks gave up the fewest goals all season, while the Bruins were a close second.  

Despite the similarities between the two net minders, they have very different styles of play. 

Luongo is a very technical goalie, a classic student of the butterfly style, while Thomas throws any technical aspects out the door and just does whatever it takes to get in front of the puck. 

Please, in these next two weeks, enjoy a true goaltending showcase.