Winner takes all tonight in Stanley Cup Final

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – For the last two months fans have arm-chair coached, splurged on new TVs, grown some epic facial hair, and even measured each others loyalties. Today, it’s all about the dream, and the mood around town is festive and tense.

“It’s epic,” says one fan. “This is what they dream about, right? Game 6 and 5, that doesn’t mean anything… When you’re kid in the backyard playing hockey or in the driveway, it’s always Game 7.”

We’ve all survived Chicago, played some banjo in Nashville, and stuck it to San Jose [and] now fans are ready to make history with one final puck drop at home. Little has united the city like this team’s dramatic journey. Today, fans are trying to find the balance between nerves, pride, and hope.

“I’m anxious, very anxious, but I’m confident that they’ve won in their hometown and they can do it,” one woman says, before letting out a barrage of cheers.

For today, what’s done is done. Fans are putting the upsets of the past behind them, focusing instead on the talents that got their team here, some even urging the Canucks to play like kids on a frozen pond.

(read more below)


Do the Canucks have anything left in the tank?

“Tonight is the night that even if they don’t, they suck it up, they tape it up, and they give it all that they’ve got. There is one more game left, winner takes all,” says News1130 Sports Director Ann Schmaltz.

“These guys are playing for the Stanley Cup, this is a dream for all of them. Are they hurt, battered and bruised? Sure, but none of that matters now. No regrets will be the theme inside the locker-room, leave it all on  the ice.”

Schmaltz says if the Canucks fall behind, they will naturally look to Ryan Kesler, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and Alex Burrows for leadership, but “in a Game 7 Stanley Cup deciding game, it can’t be one guy.”

“Roberto will need to be outstanding,” she says. “The pressure of battling back can not be handed to just one guy, all 20 that will be wearing that jersey on the ice will have to leave it all on the line.”

All the blood, sweat, and tears have led to this. Hockey’s ultimate game is hours away and ultimate glory for the Vancouver Canucks is on the line.

Players nervous, excited

“You can bet there are some nerves, and there should be,” says Schmaltz. “Kevin Bieksa said before Game 6 that the players wouldn’t be human if they weren’t nervous. But he commented that it was an excited nervous energy.”

After all, look at the opportunity in front of them: a shot at winning something very few people do,  the Stanley Cup, she says.

“I think that the team will find a way to channel their nerves, focus on getting the job done and playing with everything they’ve got inside, nerves and all.”

Schmaltz doesn’t anticipate the sort of long-winded locker-room speech tonight that has preceded previous games. “After all, what is there left to say?” she asks.

“Raffi Torres addressed the group prior to the last game about leaving it all on the ice, having no regrets,” she says. “He’s been there and he’s lost.”

“Mikael Samuelsson has talked all season long about what it takes to win.  He’s been there and he’s won with the Wings. This group, the Canucks, are all professionals. They’ll be ready to seize the moment, no words are needed.”

News1130 will have complete coverage with updates on the game every 10 minutes on the fives. We’ll also break in whenever a goal is scored.

For up to the minute Sports coverage, you can follow us on Twitter @News1130Sports or subscribe to breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox. We also have sports reports at :15 and :45.

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