Ryan Kesler Vancouver Canucks Center
Ryan Kesler, the Vancouver Canucks 27-year-old center was the key reason for the Vancouver Canucks rise to the Stanley Cup Finals. The seventh year center scored 41 goals for the Canucks en route to his best season as an NHL player.
Kesler averaged under 25 goals a season before his breakout 2010-2011 season. The center is also known as one of the best two-way players in the NHL. A fact confirmed when he received the Frank Selke Award for being the best defensive forward in the NHL during the 2010-2011 season.
Finding a scoring threat who is willing to sacrifice themselves by getting back on defense quickly is a rarity in the NHL. Kesler is never afraid to get into the corner and dig out a puck and he is also one of the better fore checking offensive players in the game.
Kesler began his career in Vancouver in 2003, playing just 28 games as he fought for a roster spot and then in his sophomore season he suited up for all 82 games playing on the checking line for the Canucks.
Kesler didn't begin showing his scoring abilities until the 2007 season, when he broke the 20 goal mark for the first time in his NHL career. Kesler then had the second best season of his career in 2008, scoring 26 goals along with a plus 8. Kesler's best plus/minus stat came in the 2010-2011 season when he scored a career high +24 for the season to earn the Selke Award.
Visit your favorite online sportsbook for prop bets on Ryan Kesler and any number of NHL Award based wagering options.
NHL – Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins
Vancouver Canucks will be facing Boston Briuns in the Stanley Cup Finals Game 2 on June 4, 2011. Vancouver leads the seven game series by 1-0. The Canucks seems to be the favorite to win the Game 2. The best odds for Bruins are 17/10 while Canucks 8/15.
An extraordinary pass from Jannik Hansen to Raffi Torres was the decider in the Game 1, with 18.5 seconds to play. On Wednesday night, Vancouver astonished the Boston Bruins 1-0.
Meanwhile, for supposedly biting the finger of Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, Canucks forward Alex Burrows will not be suspended. This incident happened during a squabble between the two in the Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 Wednesday night, at the end of the first period.
During the Canucks' series-opening 1-0 victory in the Stanley Cup Final, Burrows was caught with the gloved index finger of Boston's Patrice Bergeron in his mouth. Bergeon had the bandage around his digit as evidence that his fellow Quebecer had bit him.
However, Mike Murphy, NHL senior vice-president found no irrefutable proof against Burrows that he deliberately bit his opponent's finger and therefore he acquitted Burrows of any further discipline.
Murphy's decision was not questioned by the Bruins, as they took the high road. The incident was fun for some players on both Boston and Vancouver sides.
In a prepared statement from the NHL, Murphy said that he could not find any conclusive evidence that Alex Burrows intentionally bit the finger of Patrice Bergeron, after he reviewed the incident, including clarifications with the on-ice officials.
San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks clash in Western Conference Final
After a long seven-game series, the San Jose Sharks finally dispatched the Detroit Red Wings to advance to the Western Conference Finals to take on the Vancouver Canucks, with Game 1 slated for Sunday (8 pm ET, VERSUS).
The Canucks are a -160 favorite and the over/under total is 5.5 in NHL Betting.
The second round took a little longer to complete than San Jose, and their fans, would have liked, as the series ended up going the full seven games after San Jose jumped out to a three games to none lead over Detroit. The Sharks will be making their second consecutive appearance in the Western Conference Finals, and the team hopes this year’s result is better than last year’s where the Sharks were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup winners, the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Vancouver Canucks have been patiently waiting to see who their next round opponent would be after beating the Nashville Predators in six games. This year marks the first time the Canucks have been to the Conference finals since the 1993-94 season, and the fans in Vancouver have high expectations for this year’s team.
Sporting the best offense and third best penalty kill in the regular season, the Canucks are certainly one of the most talented teams in the league, but will be tested by the fast, physical San Jose Sharks. If Vancouver can get better production out of its star players, the Canucks should win this series.
However, if the Sedin twins continue their postseason struggles, there could be more angst in Vancouver this offseason as fans and team management will feel they let a chance to win the Stanley Cup slip through their fingers.
In Chicago – This Friday – Vancouver Canucks Vs. Chicago Blackhawks
In Chicago this Friday, the Chicago Blackhawks will lock horn with the Vancouver Canucks. As of Tuesday morning both these teams have won back to back games and both looking like they are on the upswing. Even though the Blackhawks seems to be improving as the season goes on they will have a tough game earlier against the Blues.
On the season to this point the Canucks are 12-7-3 while the Blackhawks are 13-11-2.
For this game NHL betting Odds have not so far been posted.
This season in the NHL, the Canucks have been one of the very best teams. The one aspect that they do not have in their game is weakness. When the power play is concerned this is the best team all around. At 25.3 percent, they have the highest conversion rating of any team on the Power Play and also they have a penalty kill percentage of 86.9. On a nightly basis these things facilitate this team win games.
The Canucks have only allowed 2.6 goals per game on defense (8th in the NHL) and have averaged 3.1 goals per game on offense (6th in the NHL). As Chicago has a comparatively poor Penalty Kill percentage of 78.7 percent, their offense could be even better in opposition to the Blackhawks. If they want to keep up with Vancouver, Chicago will need to play smarter.
In order to step up and score early against the Canucks, the Blackhawks do have a solid offensive attack and they will need the offense. Even though the Chicago will need to play at a high level to take out Vancouver, this is a winnable game.
Game 6 – NHL Playoffs – Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks head back home to face the Chicago Blackhawks in a pivotal Game 6, after staving off defeat with the help of Kevin Bieksa in Game 5. On Sunday by scoring 2 goals, Bieksa, online betting favorite, lead the Canucks to a 4-1 victory. Bieksa, and the rest of the Canucks, will have to try to stay hot in order to stave off elimination on Tuesday night.
After winning at Chicago, Vancouver has to be overflowing with confidence, but they will need to turn that confidence into results on the ice if they want to continue the quest for their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. On Tuesday night, the Chicago Blackhawks have to hope that Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews show up ready to play, or they could be in trouble. It won't be easy for Chicago to pull out a win in Vancouver, but Chicago has never been better on the road than they were this season.
On Tuesday night at 9:30PM ET, hockey fans will be tuned in to Versus to see if Vancouver can continue their run to the Stanley Cup or if their dream gets derailed by Chicago. Either way, it will be a great game, and both teams should show up ready to play. In a way that nothing but an NHL playoff game can, it is a classic 2 seed (Chicago) vs. 3 seed (Vancouver) match up that will definitely deliver the fireworks.