NHL Finals 2011: 5 Biggest Storylines Of the Finals

The Boston Bruins will match up with the Vancouver Canucks in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday.

The Canucks won the President's Trophy this season and stormed through the Western Conference playoffs, proving themselves as undoubtedly the best team in hockey.

The Bruins, on the other hand, shocked some by making the NHL Finals as the third seed in the Eastern Conference. They knocked off the Montreal Canadians, Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning on their way to the Finals.

Story lines abound for this series. In fact, it was relatively hard to get it down to just five.

The Canucks could become the first team since the NHL lockout to win the Stanley Cup as a President's Trophy winner, and the Bruins have overcome a lot since letting the Flyers come back from a 3-0 series lead in last year's playoffs to go to the Stanley Cup.

Those are just two of many story lines in the highly anticipated 2011 Stanley Cup Finals.

5. Manny Malhotra

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DENVER, CO - JANUARY 18: Manny Malhotra #27 of the Canucks warms up prior to facing the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on January 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Canucks 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Im

Malhotra may or may not be able to return to the Canucks for the Stanley Cup Finals, but if he does, that is one crazy story line.

Malhotra was sidelined earlier this season after a puck struck him in the eye during play. The left eye injury was extremely serious at one point, and many thought his career was over.

After many surgeries, he is back, but not ready for game situations just yet.

Malhotra was acquired by the Canucks this past offseason to bolster the face-off and defensive side of the puck, and he did just that in 72 games this season. He also tallied 30 points.

Malhotra is, in fact, cleared to play by doctors, but there is no word as to whether or not he'll actually play.

If he does play, it will be one of the greater comebacks in hockey history.

4. Can Canada win a Stanley Cup?

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 24: Goaltender Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks looks on during 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

It must be painful for Canada to be without a Stanley Cup year after year.

Canada has not hoisted the Cup since the Montreal Canadiens won it all in 1993 over Wayne Gretzky's Los Angeles Kings. Also, it is only the fifth time a Canadian team has made it to the Stanley Cup in the past 17 years.

Canada picked a good year to put all hopes on the Canucks, though.

Vancouver is the heavy favorite to win the Stanley Cup.

If the Canucks' play in the first three rounds were any indication, Canada will be hoisting their first Stanley Cup since 1993.

3. Boston Defense vs. Sedin Twins

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 23: Ryan Malone #6 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins exchange words in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 23, 2011 in Boston, Massachu

The Bruins boast shutdown defenders Zdeno Chara, Dennis Seidenberg and Tomas Kaberle, all of whom hope to corral the duo of Henrik and Daniel Sedin.

The Sedin brothers finally went off against the San Jose Sharks, especially Henrik, who tallied 12 points in five games.

Overall, the Sedin brothers have been rather quiet all postseason. They were called into question (up until the San Jose series) for disappearing since the playoffs began.

Now up against the Boston defense, both Henrik and Daniel will have to live up to the hype once again.

2. Can Roberto Luongo Meet Expectations?

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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

Luongo was not tested very often in the San Jose series, but he got the job done, and that is what matters.

The gold medal-winning goalie was called into question, much like the Sedin brothers, for crumbling in the playoffs. Luongo had a terrible Game 4 and 5 against Chicago, allowing six goals and four goals, respectively, and letting the Blackhawks come back from a 3-0 deficit.

Even when Luongo could not close it out in Game 5 against Nashville, fans were calling for the Canucks' back-up goalie, Corey Schneider.

After his rather impressive effort in the Western Conference finals, Luongo is here to stay. But with the hopes of all of Canada on his shoulders, will he crumble?

We will see.

1. Can the Canucks End Their Drought In Vancover?

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 24: Henrik Sedin #33, Jannik Hansen #36, Maxim Lapierre #40, Alex Edler #23, Raffi Torres #13 and Mason Raymond #21 of the Vancouver Canucks acknowledge the fans after the Canucks defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-2 in double-overti

The Vancouver Canucks have never won the Stanley Cup in the franchise's 40-year history.

Lucky number 40 I say.

It will be the team's third trip to the Finals, and undoubtedly the most favorable trip.

The Canucks are heavy favorites due to their relentless offense and suffocating defense, paired with their gold medal-winning goalie.

Even with history going against them, this Vancouver team has so much chemistry that it is hard not to pick them to win in either five or six games.

The only thing standing in the way of them hoisting the Cup in year No. 40 is Boston goalie Tim Thomas, who has arguably been the best player in these playoffs.

Get the puck past Thomas, and the Canucks can win the Stanley Cup for the first time in their history.