EA SPORTS NHL 11 Predicts the Vancouver Canucks to end Stanley Cup Drought

http://www.easports.com/blogs/in ... stanley-cup-drought

06-October-2010

The game that predicted last spring’s Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory has called for the same team to be knocked out of the first round of the playoffs this year.  While at the same time the Vancouver Canucks look to dominate the season and leave all teams in their wake en route to their first Stanley Cup victory since they were named the Millionaires back in 1915.

Today EA SPORTS released the Official NHL 11 Simulation as the regular season kicks-off tomorrow and teams begin the 82-game journey down the long road to the Stanley Cup.  According to the sim, the defending champs will finish fifth and be knocked out in the first round by the ever improving LA Kings, led by eventual James Norris Memorial Trophy winner Drew Doughty in a series that would go seven games.  The Kings will advance to the Conference Finals after beating the Sharks who got past the Coyotes in the Quarters.

The Canucks, who will capture the President’s Trophy with 50+ wins on a 109-point season, will cruise through the first round with a 4-1 series win over the Flames before turning away the Blues for the second time in three years in a seven game set.  They will then advance to the Stanley Cup Finals after defeating the LA Kings 4-2 knocking them out of the playoffs for the second year in a row.

In the East the Sabres, behind Vezina Trophy winner Ryan Miller, will send the Devils packing with one of two sweeps in the simulation.  In the other sweep, the Capitals led by Maurice Richard Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin (57 G) will douse the Lightning in the opening round of the playoffs.  The Caps will continue their run to the Conference Finals by defeating Sabres in six.

Goaltending would continue to be a key element in the East with the William M Jennings Trophy winners Tuukka Rask and Tim Thomas combining for Boston victories in the first round to defeat the Flyers who, like the ‘hawks, will lose in a tight seven-game tilt against the Bruins.  After being on the wrong end of the greatest playoff comeback last year, the Bruins will improve on last year’s showing by advancing to the Conference finals with a series victory over the Penguins despite efforts from Art Ross and Hart Memorial Trophy winner, Sidney Crosby.  Eventually, it would take a seven game set against the Caps to knock off #1 seed and advance to the Stanley Cup Championship Finals for the first time since 1990 to go to battle against the Vancouver Canucks.

In the finals, it will take all seven games and a career performance from Conn Smythe Trophy winner Daniel Sedin for the Vancouver Canucks to defeat the Boston Bruins in front of an ecstatic crowd at Rogers Arena.