Key facts and figures from Game 1
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}There was only one goal scored in Game 1 of this year's Stanley Cup Final, but not for a lack of trying.
The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks combined for 70 shots – but only the last one, by Vancouver's Raffi Torres with 18.5 seconds remaining – found the net, giving the Canucks a 1-0 victory and the lead in this best-of-7 series. Game 2 is here Saturday night.
Here are some of the other key figures from a Game 1 for the ages:
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}0 – Goals scored on 29 shots in the first period. For comparison, Chicago and Philadelphia combined to score five goals on 26 shots in the opening period of Game 1.
1 – Stanley Cup Final games worked by Dan O'Rourke, who made his debut in Game 1. He is the only first-time member of this year's officiating team, which also includes Kelly Sutherland (2nd year) and Stephen Walkom and Dan O'Halloran (4th years). Only O'Rourke did not work last year's Final.
2 – Faceoffs taken (and won) by Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara in this year's playoffs, including a first-period offensive-zone draw in which he beat Ryan Kesler during an early power play.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}2 – Home wins by the Canucks in their three appearances in the Stanley Cup Final. They lost their first four home games, two to the Islanders and two to the Rangers, but beat the Rangers in Game 6 in 1994 before winning on Wednesday.
3 – Consecutive years a team that took part in the NHL Premiere series has made the Final. Boston began its season by splitting two games against Phoenix in Prague. The two previous teams – Pittsburgh in 2009 and Chicago in 2010 – both went on to win the Cup.
5 – Combined power plays in the first period for the Bruins (3) and Canucks (2), none of which produced a goal. In all, 9:02 of the opening period was played with one team enjoying an extra man – and no one scored.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}5 – Blocked shots by Vancouver's Alexander Edler, the most by anyone on either team. He had five of the Canucks' 12 blocks; Dennis Seidenberg led the Bruins with four.
6 – Unsuccessful power plays by each of the Canucks and Bruins. The Canucks failed to score when receiving five or more power plays for the first time this spring.
8 – Consecutive series-opening wins by the Canucks, including all four games this year. Boston has lost three of its series openers, losing to Montreal and Tampa Bay as well as the Canucks.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}8 – Shots on goal by Vancouver's Daniel Sedin, the most of any player. He also had three shots blocked and missed two others. Nathan Horton and David Krejci led the Bruins with 5.
10 – Minutes in the second period before the Canucks managed their first shot on goal. Sami Salo's shot was the first by Vancouver in 14:22 of playing time – the Canucks had gone without a shot after Mason Raymond was stopped by Tim Thomas at 15:38 of the opening period.
13 – NHL seasons without a Stanley Cup for Boston captain Zdeno Chara, the most by anyone on either team. Boston defenseman Tomas Kaberle and Vancouver blueliner Sami Salo are next with 12.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}17 – Faceoffs lost (in 25 tries) by Vancouver's Henrik Sedin – a big reason the Canucks were beaten 36-28 in the faceoff circle. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci both went 12-9 for the Bruins.
22 – Years since Vezina Trophy finalists met in the Stanley Cup Final. Before Boston's Tim Thomas and Vancouver's Roberto Luongo squared off this year, it hadn't happened since Mike Vernon (Calgary) and Patrick Roy (Montreal) met in 1989.
37 – Years since Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final ended 1-0. The last time it happened was 1984, when Edmonton got a goal by Kevin McClelland in the third period to beat the New York Islanders 1-0. That was also the last time that Game 1 was scoreless through 40 minutes. The last 1-0 game in the Stanley Cup Final came in 2007, when Anaheim beat Ottawa in Game 2.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}73 – Average height (in inches) of both the Bruins and Canucks. Both teams average 6-foot-1; the Canucks' average weight is 203 points, one pound more than the Bruins.
79 – Consecutive saves by Boston goaltender Tim Thomas before Torres' game-winning goal. He hadn't been beaten since allowing a goal to Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis in the third period of Game 6 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
183 – Stanley Cup Playoff games for Boston's Mark Recchi, by far the most of any player on either team – no one else has reached 100 playoff games. It was Recchi's first appearance in the Final since he was a member of Carolina's Cup-winning team in 2006.