The Stanley Cup will be in attendance tonight at the TD Garden in Boston, as the Vancouver Canucks take a shot at clinching their first championship (7:00 p.m. Central on NBC). Given the way Tim Thomas continues to play in goal, however (just 6 goals allowed in 5 games), the Bruins certainly aren't going to go down without a fight, and hockey fans all over are pulling for this series to go a Game 7, which would surely be an epic battle.
Use this thread to discuss the game in progress, and follow after the jump for a dose of hockey news & notes, including developments on three head coaching jobs around the league...
Father's Day Gift Idea #5: NHL Team Jerseys | Hockey Gear HQ
Face it, Dad needs a new hockey jersey for his favorite NHL team, but you don't have to pay through the nose to get him one.
Stanley Cup Final
Bruins confident they can reclaim aggression, earn Game 7 - Puck Daddy
Boston hopes to bring more of a grizzly effort tonight.
How on earth are the Vancouver Canucks are on the verge of a Stanley Cup against the Boston Bruins? - Grantland
A good general-sports view of how this unloved squad from B.C. managed to put themselves in position to win it all.
Nashville Predators News
Paul McCann - A Request... and some Monday Morning Thoughts
Paul shares news that a young man who dropped the puck at Hockey Fights Cancer Night back in March is having surgery today.
Preds On The Glass: POTG Monday Headlines, News, and Morning Links
Buddy's roundup covers all the bases and tosses in his pick for tonight's game.
Preds in review: Marcel Goc - Predators Insider
Josh reviews the year gone by for Great Goc Almighty.
Around the NHL
CBCSports.ca - Desire to win at all-time high
Elliotte Friedman serves up a number of notes touching on the Final, the summer trade market, the coaching environment, and more. Always a good read.
Should He Stay Or Should He Go? Scottie Upshall - The Cannon
Blue Jackets fans wonder just what to make of the former Preds draft pick.
Senators expected to name MacLean head coach on Tuesday - TSN
Detroit assistant coach Paul MacLean will take over behind the bench in Ottawa.
Gulutzan expected to be named coach of Stars later this week - The Dallas Morning News
The Stars are bringing up their AHL head coach to run the big club.
Report: MacTavish could be Wild's next coach - NHL.com
This could be a nice hire by Minnesota.
It's Looking Like They're Going To Knock Down Pittsburgh's Civic Arena - SBNation.com
That igloo won't just melt, you know.
Lowetide: SpOILer's 30
Some fodder for you draft mavens to chew on...
No Heritage Classic in ’11-12 keeps outdoor game idea special - Puck Daddy
Well, they've got the All-Star Game in Ottawa next season, so maybe that'll keep Canada content for a while.
Carlisle pushed all of the right buttons - TrueHoop Blog - ESPN
Part of what helped Dallas win the NBA title was their adoption of analytics into the strategic and tactical planning (and there's every reason to believe that such an approach can help in hockey, too).
Amateur Hockey Culture By State - Puck Worlds
A breakdown of how hockey communities have grown state-by-state over the last 20 years.