Boston Bruins Shutout Vancouver Canucks to Win First Stanley Cup in 39 Years

For the first time since 1972, the Boston Bruins are bringing Lord Stanley's Cup back to Beantown.

In their first Finals appearance since 1990, the Bruins seemed to be in trouble with the Vancouver Canucks having home ice. The home team won each of the first six games of the series. Claude Julien's club seemed to forget that on Wednesday night.

On Wednesday, it was all Bruins as they once again dominated the Canucks in a 4-0 win to beat the President's Trophy winners 4-3 in the series. The Bruins are the first team to ever post a shutout in Game 7 on the road in the Finals.

Once again, Tim Thomas was flawless, stopping 37 shots. The soon-to-be Vezina Trophy winner was rightfully awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy at game's end, signifying him as the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He set playoff records for playoff saves and saves in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The scoring was done by two of Boston's offensive dynamos. Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand each had two goals in the effort to ensure the victory.

The Bruins have finally added their hardware to the Boston trophy case that has been growing bigger since 2002.

Starting with Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002, the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, and Boston Bruins have combined for three Super Bowl wins, two World Series trophies, an NBA Finals triumph, and now the Stanley Cup. They are the only major sports city to win each of the four major sports this century, truly earning Boston, Massachusetts the honor of being called Titletown.

This was a fantastic series, one of the best finals in any North American sport in recent memory. While there was the black marks—the Burrows bite, Horton's concussion, Raymond's spinal fracture, and the ridiculous amount of late hits and after-whistle scrums from both teams—this series has created a rivalry that will provide great entertainment in the future. It's a shame that they will not get to meet six times a year like Boston and Montreal, but it will be a great affair when they do.

Both teams were guilty of some unsportsmanlike play, but Game 7 appeared to be more in control. It was truly just a battle of two teams simply playing hockey with the same purpose they used to play with on the ponds as kids. Every game was Game 7 of the Finals. Everyone was playing to win the Stanley Cup. Wednesday night, Bruins players celebrated for real.

One particularly happy Bruin was Mark Recchi. The 43-year old ended the final game of his 22 year career by winning his third Stanley Cup.

For most, it was their first. For Zdeno Chara, he also made history by becoming the second European to lift Lord Stanley's Cup.

While everything about Game 7, from the classy ovations by the Canucks fans following the game (despite some head-butting between the fans, myself included, through social networking all series) to the incredible play on the ice, things were not so good outside the arena. Riots ensued in downtown Vancouver.

Thus ends an exciting NHL season and particularly an exciting edition of the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

From the Lighting sweeping the Capitals to the incredible Canucks-Sharks series, and the incredible record set by the Bruins of winning three Game 7s in the playoffs, this was a year to remember.