2011 NHL Stanley Cup: 7 Players Who Will Do Heavy Lifting for Cup

It all comes down to this, two teams, the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks, one series: the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. The Bruins and the Canucks have combined for three series that have gone to a Game 7. The grind of the playoffs have been felt, but now we are at the final stretch.

The Bruins have been led by their enormous defenseman Zdeno Chara, while Ryan Kesler have pushed the Canucks into the finals. The Bruins reach the finals for the first time since 1990, while the Canucks have not reached the finals since 1994. Either way, one of these storied franchises Stanley Cup droughts will be over, but the question is who?

More specifically, the question is who will put the team and city of each respective club, on their backs. We will look now at five players who will have to do some serious lifting in order to return Lord Stanley back to either Boston or Vancouver.

Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly shakes the hand of Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins as he presents the The Prince of Wales trophy after they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 1 to 0 in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals dur

Winning the Eastern Finals maybe fun and all, but defenseman Zdeno Chara, along with the rest of the Bruins, understand that they did not play the season to win the Eastern Finals. Chara has been one of the most talked about defenseman in the NHL, mainly for his physical attributes. However, what has not been as storied, is his leadership and the motivation he brings to the team. 

Chara is going to have to lift his game more than any other player on the ice, come Wednesday night in Vancouver. He is going to have to be the quarterback for the defense against the best top line in all of hockey. He, along with the rest of the Bruins defense, will have to lower the shoulder early and often against the Sedin twins and Ryan Kesler. 

The Canucks offense is not only potent, but deadly. They can light the lamp at any point in the game and they can also score in bunches. Chara will need to do some heavy lifting and hitting in order to wear down the Canucks top line if the Bruins want to have a chance at winning this series. 

Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 24: Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks controls the puck as teammate Daniel Sedin #22 looks on in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena o

After talking about Chara and what he will have to do, what better pair to discuss than the two brothers who will be giving him the most headaches over a seven-game series: Daniel and Henrik Sedin. 

Thus far in the 2011 playoffs, Henrik leads all players with 21 points and brother Daniel has 16 points. Henrik leads in assists with 19. This duo have combined for 37 points in just 18 games played. The twins will have to continue their tremendous point production against Tim Thomas and the Bru Crew if they want any part of that trophy called the Stanley Cup.

Now is not the time to get cold for the brothers, but the last time they played against a top defenseman was Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators. The media, along with Vancouver, were asking for their heads, until a poor defense from the Sharks let the twins explode for 18 points combined in the series.

The twins performance will have major implications in terms of who gets their names etched into the Stanley Cup. 

Nathan Horton, Boston Bruins

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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 will be crucial in the next four games, possibly seven, against the Vancouver Canucks. His late Game 7 heroics will need to be duplicated in what will be a tightly contested matchup. Every shift and every goal can be a game changer or even a series changer. For Horton, every shift he seems to bring a spark to the team, and having eight goals in the playoffs doesn't hurt either. 

Horton has had a knack for being in the right spot at the right time, but he is going to have to work hard down low behind the net in order to cause confusion for the Canucks defenders. Horton will need to score at least three or four goals in this series to keep it tight. That is the kind of production the Bruins not only expect, but need. 

Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 24: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks skates during warm-up prior to Game Five of the Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 24, 2011 in Vancouver,

Without question, far and long, the best skater in the 2011 NHL playoffs has been Ryan Kesler. He was one of the main reasons that the Canucks were able to avoid a first-round collapse against Chicago, withstand a tough defense against Nashville, and overpower the San Jose Sharks to advance to the finals. 

The media and fans adore him, and for good reason, for the simple fact that he is the spark the Canucks needed down the stretch. His ice vision along with his point production is deadly. Kesler, has 18 points in 18 games and has scored seven goals. 

The Canucks and Vancouver will be leaning hard on top of Kesler's shoulders so that Stanley Cup glory may return to Vancouver.

Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins

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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

Tim Thomas has literally been standing on his head the entire playoffs, not to say the Bruin defense has been bad, but at times Thomas has been left out to dry. A Vezina nominee, Thomas came off a terrific regular season, only to continue to have a phenomenal playoffs. 

Holding a 2.29 goals against average in the playoffs, Thomas has been the reason the Bruins are where they are. Holding on for wins in two Game 7s, one in overtime and the other a shutout victory sending Boston to the Stanley Cup finals. 

Thomas will have to do some serious lifting if Beantown wants to add another trophy to the already storied and historic Boston sports trophy case. 

Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 24: Goaltender Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks makes a save in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 24, 2011 in Vancouver, Br

Roberto Luongo. Many question the contract the Canucks had given him (12 years, $64 million), saying that is was too long and not worth it. Well, how how much is it worth if the Canucks are able to win the cup?

This series probably means the most to Luongo, for the simple fact that he has the most to prove. Doubters have followed him everywhere he has gone, fans have booed him and the media has ridiculed him. His response: two shutouts, a 2.29 goals-against average and a Stanley Cup Finals berth. 

As he matches up against Tim Thomas, the psyche of Luongo has to be the same as during the regular season, for the simple fact that he cannot lose focus, the consequences of which will be a Stanley Cup loss.

Whichever goalie has the best series, will be the Stanley Cup Champion, as well as the Vezina winner come June. 

Who do you think I have missed? Who do you have winning it all?

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