Schedule and 2010-11 Results
Regular Season Records: Vancouver 54-19-9=117pts, Boston 46-25-11=103pts
Game 1 on Wednesday, 01 June: Boston loses at Vancouver, 1-goal-nil
Game 2 on Saturday, 04 June: Boston loses at Vancouver, 3-goals-2 (OT)
Game 3 on Monday, 06 June: Vancouver loses at Boston, 8-goals-1
Game 4 on Wednesday, 08 June: Vancouver loses at Boston, 4-goals-nil
Game 5 on Friday, 10 June: Boston loses at Vancouver, 1-goal-nil
Game 6 on Monday, 13 June: Vancouver loses at Boston, 5-goals-2
Game 7 on Wednesday, 15 June: Boston wins at Vancouver, 4-goals-nil

SERIES NOTES:

After Game 7: Recording the sole road victory in MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1136, the Boston Bruins visited and defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-goals-nil to win the 2011 NHL championship. With the series 1136 win, the Boston Bruins improved their best-of-7 NHL playoff series record to 44-45 overall and 5-10 in the Finals. With the series 1136 loss, the Vancouver Canucks saw their best-of-7 NHL playoff series record fall to 15-17 overall and 0-3 in the Finals. The four shutouts in series 1136 ties series 1136 for the second-most shutouts in a best-of-7 NHL Finals series with series 887 (four shutouts in the 2003 Finals pitting the New Jersey Devils against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks), second only to series 54 (five shutouts in the 1945 Finals pitting the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Detroit Red Wings). The Boston Bruins, with their series 1136 win, continue their best-of-7 NHL Finals order of two wins, five losses, two wins, and five losses with a win; another win and then five more losses would complete the third cycle of this rather unlikely result pattern. The win order for the victorious Boston Bruins in series 1136 was LLWWLWW: Series 1136 thus becomes the third NHL Finals, the seventh NHL series (all rounds), and the 12th MLB/NBA/NHL series (all rounds) to follow this win order to completion. Other noteworthy best-of-7 playoff series from the Bostonian perspective to follow this win order to completion: series 215, in which the NBA Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win the 1969 NBA championship; series 475, in which the MLB New York Mets defeated the Boston Red Sox to win the 1986 MLB championship. Series 1136 Game 7 featured the first three- and four-goal leads ever held by a road team in a best-of-7 NHL Finals Game 7. Series 1136 Game 7 was the first shutout road team victory ever in a best-of-7 NHL Finals Game 7. Series 1136 Game 7 was the most lopsided victory (with a four-goal victory margin) by a road team in a best-of-7 NHL Finals Game 7, and ties series 161 Game 7 (Detroit Red Wings lose four-goals-nil in Toronto to the Maple Leafs in the 1964 NHL Finals) and series 168 Game 7 (Chicago Blackhawks lose four-goals-nil in Montreal to the Canadiens in the 1965 NHL Finals) for the most lopsided victories by either team (home or road) in a best-of-7 NHL Finals Game 7. The eight total goals by the Vancouver Canucks in series 1136 are the fewest ever in a best-of-7 NHL Finals series lasting seven games, breaking the previous best-of-7-NHL-Finals-series-lasting-seven-games record of nine total goals, set by both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings in series 54 (the 1945 NHL Finals). The eight total goals by the Vancouver Canucks in series 1136 are the fewest in a best-of-7 NHL Finals series since series 862, when the Carolina Hurricanes were limited to seven total goals by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2002 NHL Finals. The Boston Bruins outscored the Vancouver Canucks 23-goals-8 (a 15-goal differential) in series 1136; by contrast, note that the Dallas Mavericks outscored the Miami Heat 568-pts-554 (a 14-point differential) in series 1151, the 2011 NBA Finals. The 15-goal differential achieved by Boston over Vancouver in series 1151 is the largest in a best-of-7 NHL playoff series (all rounds) since series 683, in which the Detroit Red Wings swept and outscored the San Jose Sharks 24-goals-6 in their 1995 NHL Quarterfinals series. The 15-goal differential achieved by Boston over Vancouver in series 1151 is the largest ever in a best-of-7 NHL Finals series, besting the previous largest differential of 13 goals, set in series 223 in which the Boston Bruins swept and outscored the St. Louis Blues 20-goals-7 in the 1970 NHL Finals.

After Game 6: With four goals in the first 9:45 of MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1136 Game 6, the host Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-goals-2 to knot the 2011 NHL Finals at 3-games-all. In best-of-7 NHL playoffs Game 7, the Boston Bruins have an 11-10 overall record and a 0-0 Finals record, while the Vancouver Canucks have a 6-4 overall record and a 0-1 Finals record (having lost 1994 NHL Finals Game 7 to the New York Rangers [series 665]). The Boston Bruins thus become the last "Original Six" NHL team to play an NHL Finals Game 7 (and it took a while: Toronto Maple Leafs, 1942; Detroit Red Wings, 1942 [Toronto achieved first MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series comeback from a 3-games-nil deficit for a 4-games-3 victory over Detroit]; New York Rangers, 1950 [sustained first NHL Finals Game 7 overtime loss, in Detroit]; Montreal Canadiens, 1954 [sustained last NHL Finals Game 7 overtime loss, in Detroit]; Chicago Blackhawks, 1965 [shut out in Montreal]). Boston in Game 6 took a 4-goals-nil lead only 9:45 into the first period, thereby seizing the fastest 4-goals-nil lead from the start of a game in best-of-7 NHL Finals history (breaking the old record of 13:41, set by the Pittsburgh Penguins in series 590 Game 5 at home against the old Minnesota North Stars in the 1991 Finals). The Boston 4-goals-nil lead is also the third-fastest 4-goals-nil lead from the start of a game in best-of-7 NHL playoff game history (all rounds), behind only the 7:07 by the Pittsburgh Penguins (in series 535 Game 5 in Pittsburgh against the Philadelphia Flyers in their 1989 NHL Quarterfinals series) and the 8:55 by the Montreal Canadiens (in series 117 Game 1 in Montreal against the Detroit Red Wings in their 1958 NHL Semifinals series). The first four goals by Boston were tallied in a 4:14 time span, which is now the shortest four-consecutive-goal time span by one team in best-of-7 NHL Finals history (the previous shortest: The 5:29 by the Montreal Canadiens, who scored four consecutive goals within that time span in series 109 Game 1 against the Detroit Red Wings in Montreal, in the 1956 NHL Finals). That 4:14 time span is also tied for the eighth-shortest four-consecutive-goal time span in best-of-7 NHL playoff game history, all rounds (the two shortest: The 2:56 [goals 6-9] and 2:57 [goals 7-10] by the Montreal Canadiens, in series 48 Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Montreal, won by Montreal 11-goals-nil, in their 1944 NHL Semifnals series). In Game 7 of a best-of-7 NHL playoff series, with all else equal, home teams have an 85-54 (.612) overall record and a 12-3 (.800) Finals record.

After Game 5: With MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1136 back in British Columbia, the Vancouver Canucks hosted and shut out the Boston Bruins 1-goal-nil on a goal 4:35 into the third period to take a 3-games-2 series lead. When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 3-games-2, the Vancouver Canucks have a 6-1 overall series record with an active four-series winning streak, a 3-4 overall Game 6 record, a 0-0 Finals series record, and a 0-0 Finals Game 6 record. When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 3-games-2, the Boston Bruins have a 2-17 overall series record with an active six-series losing streak, an 8-11 overall Game 6 record, and a 0-3 Finals series record by way of a 0-3 Finals Game 6 record. Series 1136 Game 5 constitutes the third series 1136 shutout - the most in a best-of-7 NHL Finals series since series 887 (the 2003 NHL Finals, in which the New Jersey Devils defeated the Anaheim Mighty Ducks). In the history of best-of-7 NHL Finals, teams such as the Vancouver Canucks which win Games 1-2 at home and lose Games 3-4 on the road now have an 11-0 Game 5 record. Through the first five games of series 1136, Boston has outscored Vancouver 14-6; the resulting -8 goal differential is the second-lowest in best-of-7 NHL playoff history (all rounds) for a team leading 3-games-2, higher only than the -9 goal differential by the Buffalo Sabres when they led 3-games-2 in series 297 (over the Montreal Canadiens in their 1975 NHL Semifinals series). Among completed best-of-7 NHL Finals series, the lowest goal-differential ever by an NHL Finals winner was -3, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in series 1070 over the Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 Finals. Among completed best-of-7 NHL playoff series (all rounds), the lowest goal-differential ever by an NHL series winner was -9, by the San Jose Sharks in series 678 over the Calgary Flames in the 1995 NHL Preliminary round - in both series 678 and series 1136, the Sharks/Canucks won Game 1 by a goal, won Game 2 by a goal, and lost Game 3 by seven goals. Among completed best-of-7 NHL playoff series, the fewest goals scored by a series-winning team was nine, first by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1945 NHL Finals against the Deroit Red Wings in series 54, and later by four more teams in lower playoff rounds (it is, through the first five games of series 1136, theoretically possible for the Vancouver Canucks to win the 2011 NHL Finals with as few as seven goals). Thus far in series 1136, the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks have played nil-goals-nil hockey for 8918 seconds - third only in best-of-7 NHL Finals series through five games to the 10,158 nil-goals-nil seconds by the New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars in series 812 (the 2000 NHL Finals, whose Game 5 was decided 1-goal-nil at 6:21 into the third overtime period), and to the 8999 nil-goals-nil seconds by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings in series 54 (the 1945 NHL Finals). This 8918-second nil-goals-nil time in the 2011 NHL Finals ranks eighth-most among best-of-7 NHL playoff series (all rounds).

After Game 4: The Boston Bruins hosted and shut out the Vancouver Canucks 4-goals-nil to tie MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1136 at 2-games-all. When tied 2-games-all in a best-of-7 NHL playoff series, the Vancouver Canucks have a 2-7 overall series record, a 2-7 overall Game 5 record, a 0-0 Finals series record, and a 0-0 Finals Game 5 record, while the Boston Bruins have a 15-13 overall series record, a 15-13 overall Game 5 record, a 0-2 Finals series record, and a 0-2 Finals Game 5 record. In the history of best-of-7 NHL Finals, teams such as the Vancouver Canucks which win Games 1-2 at home and lose Games 3-4 on the road have a 10-0 Game 5 record and an 8-2 series record: The last series loser in this circumstance was the Detroit Red Wings in series 1070 (the 2009 NHL Finals); the last series winner in this circumstance was the Chicago Blackhawks in series 1103 (the 2010 NHL Finals). The 11-goal total winning margin over series 1136 Games 3-4 by Boston is the largest ever by any team winning back-to-back games in a single best-of-7 NHL Finals series, and is the largest by any team winning back-to-back games in a single best-of-7 NHL series (any round) since series 651, in which the New York Rangers pitched consecutive 6-goals-nil shutouts at the New York Islanders in Games 1-2 of the 1994 NHL Preliminary round.

After Game 3: With MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1136 in Massachusetts for Games 3-4, the host Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks 8-goals-1 to narrow the 2011 NHL Finals lead by Vancouver to 2-games-1. When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-1, the Vancouver Canucks have a 9-5 overall series record, a 9-5 overall Game 4 record, a 0-0 Finals series record, and a 0-0 Finals Game 4 record. When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-1, the Boston Bruins have a 7-22 overall series record, a 14-15 overall Game 4 record, a 0-5 Finals series record, and a 2-3 Finals Game 4 record. In series 1136 Games 1-3, the first goals in these three games required a total of 92:04 (59:41 in Game 1, 12:12 in Game 2, 20:11 in Game 3) to be scored - that is the second-longest such total time in best-of-7 NHL Finals history, next only to series 54 (the 1945 NHL Finals pitting the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Detroit Red Wings), in which the first goals in the first three games required a total of 93:03. Series 1136 Game 3 becomes only the second game in best-of-7 NHL history (all rounds) to feature eight or more goals by one team with none occurring in the first period (the first such game: series 633 Game 2, in which the Calgary Flames hosted and defeated the Los Angeles Kings 9-goals-4 in the 1993 NHL Preliminary round). The eight goals by the Boston Bruins are the most ever in a Game 3 of a best-of-7 NHL Finals series, breaking the old record of seven Finals Game 3 goals, set by the Chicago Blackhawks in series 268 (in the 1973 NHL Finals against the Montreal Canadiens) and tied by the New York Islanders in series 388 (in the 1981 Finals against the old Minnesota North Stars) and by the Edmonton Oilers in series 433 (in 1984 against the New York Islanders). The eight goals by the Boston Bruins are the most in any game of a best-of-7 NHL Finals series since series 712, in which the Colorado Avalanche scored eight against the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the 1996 Finals. The eight goals by the Boston Bruins are the most in any game of a best-of-7 NHL playoff series (all rounds) by a home team since series 960, when the Buffalo Sabres hosted and bested the Philadelphia Flyers 8-goals-2 in Game 2 of their 2006 NHL Preliminary round series.

After Game 2: Scoring the winning goal 11 seconds into overtime, the Vancouver Canucks hosted and defeated the Boston Bruins 3-goals-2 to take a 2-games-nil lead in MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1136. When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-nil, the Vancouver Canucks have a 5-1 overall series record, a 2-4 overall Game 3 record, a 0-0 Finals series record, and a 0-0 Finals Game 3 record. When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-nil, the Boston Bruins have a 1-26 overall series record, a 12-15 overall Game 3 record, a 0-7 Finals series record, and a 2-5 Finals Game 3 record. The sole Vancouver series loss after a 2-games-nil Vancouver lead was sustained in series 852, in which the Canucks lost Games 3-6 and thus their 2002 NHL Preliminary-round series to the Detroit Red Wings. The sole Boston series win after a 2-games-nil Boston deficit was achieved in series 1124 (Boston's last such series), in which the Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens in their 2011 NHL Preliminary-round series earlier this very playoff season. Series 1136 Game 2 mirrors series 58 Game 2: In both cases, Boston on the road gave up the first goal of the game (to Vancouver in the 2011 NHL Finals; to Montreal in the 1946 NHL Finals), scored twice to take a 2-goals-1 lead, and then yielded the last two goals to fall 3-goals-2 in overtime. The Vancouver goal 11 seconds into overtime is the second-fastest goal into overtime in best-of-7 NHL playoff game history (all rounds), second only to series 465 Game 2 in which the Montreal Canadiens scored nine seconds into overtime to defeat the Flames in Calgary in the 1986 NHL Finals. The Vancouver goal 11 seconds into overtime is, however, the fastest goal by the home team into overtime in best-of-7 NHL playoff game history (all rounds), breaking the record set in series 1063 Game 1 in which the Blackhawks in Chicago scored twelve seconds into overtime to defeat the visiting Calgary Flames in the 2009 NHL Preliminary round. (A pair of early flame-outs, it might be said.)

After Game 1: Scoring MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1136 Game 1's only goal 19:41 into the third period, the host Vancouver Canucks shut out the Boston Bruins 1-goal-nil to take a 1-game-nil series lead. The Vancouver Canucks have now won eight consecutive Game 1s in NHL playoff series. When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 1-game-nil, the Vancouver Canucks have an 11-9 overall series record, a 6-14 overall Game 2 record, a 0-1 Finals series record, and a 0-1 Finals Game 2 record. When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 1-game-nil, the Boston Bruins have a 12-32 overall series record (but with an active three-series winning streak), a 17-27 overall Game 2 record, a 0-9 Finals series record, and a 2-7 Finals Game 2 record (with an active four-Game 2 losing streak). In the history of best-of-7 NHL playoff series, teams winning Game 1 via a 1-goal-nil shutout have a 10-3 overall series record and a 2-0 Finals series record. Series 1136 Game 1 sets a best-of-7 NHL Finals record for longest scoreless start. With its goal 19:41 into the third period, the Vancouver Canucks in series 1136 Game 1 set a best-of-7 NHL playoff game record (all rounds) for the latest regulation goal in a 1-goal-nil win; the previous record was 19:38 into the third period, set by the Toronto Maple Leafs in series 52 Game 1 (in Montreal against the Canadiens in the 1945 NHL Semifinals).

Pre-series assessment: In the 2010-11 regular season, Vancouver finished 14 points ahead of Boston. From 1939 through the 2011 NHL Semifinals round, when NHL teams led their best-of-7 playoff series opponents by 14 regular-season points, they have posted a 12-7 (.632) best-of-7 series record in those series against those opponents. MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 playoff series 1136 is the 89th best-of-7 playoff series for Boston, and the 32nd for Vancouver. In best-of-7 playoff series, Boston has a 43-45 overall series record, a 4-10 Finals-round series record (in a two-win, five-loss, two-win, five-loss active pattern), and a 44-44 Game 1 record, while Vancouver has a 15-16 overall series record, a 0-2 Finals-round series record, and a 20-11 Game 1 record. Series 1136 is the first best-of-7 NHL playoff series meeting between the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks.