Stanley Cup Finals 2011: Luongo, Lapierre Come Through, Canucks Take Game 5

When the Vancouver Canucks give up a series lead, you don't usually need to worry. But when your star goalie gives up 12 goals in less than two games, that's a problem. Would Luongo return?

No need to worry.

Luongo stopped 31 goals, Maxim Lapierre scored his second goal of the postseason and the Vancouver Canucks held off the Boston Bruins to take a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The game was a goaltending duel for the first 44:34, just like Game 1, but Lapierre's shot from just past the left faceoff circle put the Canucks on the board. Luongo did the rest and Vancouver won, 1-0.

Although Boston had more shots on goal (again), Tim Thomas was the one making the big saves. Whenever Vancouver had a scoring chance, it always seemed like a good one.

However, one of the shots he didn't save was Thomas' fault. Lapierre put the shot right at Thomas, but Thomas couldn't handle the puck and the puck dropped cleanly into the net as fans started going crazy all over British Columbia.

They have reason.

The Canucks are on the brink of their first Stanley Cup title ever, as one win in these next two games will be the finishing touch on an amazing season for the Presidents' Trophy winner.

Boston, however, is looking for their first title since 1990. They have had a great season as well, fighting through two Game 7s to stay alive here. However, they need to rally from behind 3-2 in a series for the first time this year to claim Lord Stanley.

Although Vancouver leads the series 3-2, an interesting stat is that, in regulation, the Bruins have outscored the Canucks 14-5 (Vancouver scored one goal in overtime). The B's outscored Vancouver 12-1 in Beantown.

Boston may have won their last five home games, but the Canucks are also 5-5 on the road this season and they have closed out a series in six games on the road (at Nashville). The Bruins have reason to worry.

Overall, this series has been close (sort of), but I think it will come down to six games where Vancouver avenges their Boston woes and finishes off the B's in overtime to claim the prize Canuck fans have fixed their eyes on for so long.

It will rest...in Vancouver.