2011 NHL Stanley Cup: 5 Reasons Boston Bruins Will Hoist the Cup

The Boston Bruins are a great team, there is no doubt about it, and the Stanley Cup Final will test every bit of their skill. 

On paper, both the Bruins and Vancouver Canucks are evenly matched. Both teams have very few weaknesses. There are, however, many reasons to think that the Bruins can hoist Hockey's holy grail. This is a list of my top five. 

As always, feel free to comment with your opinion, or advice to further my writing. 

5. Special Teams

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 06: Milan Lucic #17 of the Boston Bruins is congratulated by teammates after he scored a power play goal as Sergei Bobrovsky #35 of the Philadelphia Flyers stands by on Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL S

The fact that the Bruins have made it to the Stanley Cup Final with such a terrible power play is, frankly, astonishing. 

The Bruins have so far been 4-for-54 in the postseason, good enough for 13th out of the 16 playoff teams. 

In the first round against the Montreal Canadiens, the Bruins became the first team ever to win a series in the playoffs without a power play goal all series. 

If the Bruins can somehow figure out an effective and efficient power play, they will become very dangerous.

This may very well be the reason the Bruins win the cup. 

4. Zdeno Chara

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins skates during warm ups prior to Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 27, 2011 in Boston, Massach

Chara is one of the best defencemen in the league. The 6'9" Norris trophy candidate is an intimidating force on the blue line for the Bruins. Chara has the ability to shut down any of the league's best players. He will be crucial to slowing down the Sedin twins.

Boasting the hardest shot in the league, Chara will be instrumental to getting the Bruins power play back on track. Chara is the defensive juggernaut that will earn the Bruins their first Cup in 39 years. 

A little advice: Chara is a massive man that, for the most part, is immovable. Putting Chara in front of the net on the power play would be a good thing to at least try. The Ottawa Senators did this when they had the best power play in the league. 

3. History Is on Thier Side

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - FEBRUARY 26: Alexandre Burrows #14 of the Vancouver Canucks jumps out of the way of a shot as the puck sails over the head of goalie Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins during the third period in NHL action on February 26, 2011 at Roge

The Bruins have dominated the Canucks in Canucks franchise history. Among teams they have played at least 100 times, the Canucks have the worst record against the Bruins. 

The Canucks are an abysmal 25-66-15-2 against the Bruins in franchise history. The Bruins have also won both of their games in the regular season. If history repeats itself, this should be a walk for the Bruins. 

2. Nathan Horton

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: Nathan Horton #18 of the Boston Bruins scores a third period goal past Dwayne Roloson #35 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 27, 2011

Nathan Horton has found a home with the Boston organization. These playoffs have been a coming-out party for a man whose had a reputation of not giving it all. 

An offseason trade between Boston and Florida got Horton shipped out of hockey's land of obscurity and into the big stage. Horton is the only man ever to score two Game 7-winning goals in the same year. 

If his clutch play continues, Horton will be a difference maker for the Bruins in these Finals. 

1. Tim Thomas

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins celebrates after they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 1 to 0 in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 27, 2011 in Boston, Massach

Considered by many as this year's front runner for the Vezina Trophy, Tim Thomas is the No. 1 reason the Bruins will win the cup. This a bounce-back season from a 2009-10 campaign Thomas would like to forget. 

And what a bounce-back it has been. Thomas has been a difference maker for the Bruins all season and possibly the biggest reason the Bruins are in the position they are now. He has the ability to single-handedly win a series, and wouldn't have it any other way. 

A Stanley Cup ring and maybe even a Conn Smythe Trophy may be great additions to a biography that is extremely inspirational and unmatched by anyone.