The Vancouver Canucks are one win away from turning their quest for the Stanley Cup into reality after a 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Maxim Lapierre scored the winning goal in the third period and Roberto Luongo made 31 saves for the shutout as the Canucks took a 3-2 series lead.
Game 6 will be played Monday night in Boston.
Lapierre beat Tim Thomas just under five minutes into the third period for the first goal of the game. Lapierre's second goal of the playoffs broke Thomas' 110 minute and 42 second shutout streak dating back to Game 3.
After being shelled for 12 goals in the last two games Luongo was solid all night long for the Canucks making big stops every time he was called upon.
Luongo, who was pulled in the third period of Game 4, also had a bit of luck on his side early in the first period as Boston's Chris Kelly hit the crossbar.
The Canucks were on the penalty-kill for a good portion of a physical first period giving up three penalties in the first 20 minutes.
Their penalty kill led by Luongo held firm though.
Raffi Torres, Henrik Sedin and Andrew Alberts drew the Vancouver penalties in the first period.
The two teams started the second 4-on-4 after Boston's Milan Lucic and Vancouver's Alex Burrows were sent to the penalty box for jostling in the faceoff circle late in the first.
Boston then had their fourth power-play opportunity of the game early in the period as Ryan Kesler was sent to the box for goaltender interference. The Canucks were up to the task though killing off the disadvantage again.
The Bruins are now just 1-for-12 on the power play in Vancouver during the series.
Vancouver also had their first two chances on the power play in the second but were unable to capitalize. Adam Mcquaid and Patrice Bergeron were assessed the two Bruins penalties in the period.
The Canucks power-play which had been clicking at 28 per cent in the playoffs is now just 1-for-24 against the Bruins.
Tanner Glass had a glorious chance to score the game's first goal for the Canucks midway through the second period but fanned on a shot with Thomas out of position in the Boston net.
The Canucks boast a 9-3 record at home this postseason, while the Bruins are 5-5 as the road team.
The Canucks have never won a Stanley Cup title and are in the Finals for the first time in 17 years when they were ousted by the New York Rangers in seven games back in 1994.
The Bruins, meanwhile, have won five Stanley Cups, but none since 1972. They are 0-5 in the Finals since then, the last loss coming to Edmonton in 1990.
