2011 Stanley Cup Finals: 5 Keys to the Vancouver Canucks Winning Game 6

Here are five things that the Vancouver Canucks need to do in order to win Game 6 in Boston. 

If they hit all the points on this list, the Canucks should be able to hoist the Stanley Cup tonight, or at least force a close game rather than the blowout losses of Games 3 and 4 in Boston. 

Of course, the Bruins will be playing for their lives and might have something to say about the result as well.

#1: Score First

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VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 10: Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks looks on against the Boston Bruins during Game Five of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Arena on June 10, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Ge

The first team to score has won all five games so far. With the way Tim Thomas and Roberto Luongo are pitching shutouts, it only takes one goal to win.

More importantly, with the Bruins on the verge of elimination, scoring first would quiet the boisterous Boston fans and force the Bruins into desperation play. 

If the Bruins are forced to open up the game and trade chances, the Canucks could use their speed and skill to counter attack.

#2: Speed

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VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 01: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins during game one of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Rogers Arena on June 1, 2011 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty

The Canucks are the faster team, and showed it in Games 1, 2 and 5. It isn't a coincidence that those are the games that the Canucks won. 

Even in the first period of Game 3, the Canucks were clearly beating the Bruins wide in the neutral zone and turning their defensemen. 

When the Canucks stopped skating in Games 3 and 4, it showed by the way the bigger Bruins team dictated play.

The Canucks need to use their speed to expose the Bruins' lack of the same, and to keep the Bruins' size from being a factor.

#3: Pound the Bruins

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VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 10: Adam McQuaid #54 of the Boston Bruins collides with Kevin Bieksa #3 of the Vancouver Canucks during Game Five of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Arena on June 10, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by B

This ties into the point about speed. The Canucks can't afford to get engaged after the whistles with the Bruins, but if they use their speed, they can outhit the Bruins, especially pounding on their defencemen with a relentless forecheck. 

The Canucks out hit the Bruins 47 to 27 in Game 5, led by Alex Edler's 10 hits, and it showed in the Bruins play by the third period.

They need to bring this controlled physicality to Game 6 as well.

#4: Jump Start the Power Play

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VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 10: Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks handles the puck against Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins during Game Five of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Arena on June 10, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The Canucks were a league leading 28% on the power play through the first three rounds. And they are currently running at 4.0% (1/25) in the Stanley Cup Finals. 

I'm not sure what they need to do at this point, but the powerplay needs to score a goal to push the Bruins back when it comes to taking liberties with the Canucks skill players.

#5: The Canucks Best Players Need to Be Their Best Players

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BOSTON, MA - JUNE 08: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks talks with teammate Henrik Sedin #33 during Game Four against the Boston Bruins in the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 8, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty

This is a cliche, but it is true, especially when it comes to hockey's biggest stage. Alex Burrows came through in Game 2, Alex Edler had a monster game in Game 5, and Roberto Luongo was amazing in the three home wins. 

Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler may be playing injured, but legends are made in the playoffs by guys who play injured and win. 

The Canucks stars need to step up and play big to get one last win.