After finally winning on the road, the Boston Bruins will be taking the Stanley Cup home with them for the first time since 1972.
Patrice Bergeron and rookie Brad Marchand scored twice and Tim Thomas turned aside all 37 shots he faced as the Bruins recorded the lone road win of the Stanley Cup Finals with a 4-0 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 on Wednesday.
Thomas was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason MVP. He became the 15th goaltender to win the award - and with good reason as he secured his fifth career postseason shutout and second of the Stanley Cup Finals.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman presented the Stanley Cup to captain Zdeno Chara, who skated around with the cherished trophy before handing it to veteran Mark Recchi. The 43-year-old Recchi, who is now a three-time Stanley Cup champion, was playing in his last NHL contest on Wednesday.
Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg notched a pair of assists for Boston, which claimed its sixth Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Boston's victory was just the fourth in 16 contests by the road team in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Presidents' Trophy-winning Canucks were bidding for their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
The Bruins opened the scoring with 5:23 remaining in the first period. Marchand skated along the right wing before backhanding a centering feed to Bergeron, who quickly wired a shot past Roberto Luongo.
Chara preserved the one-goal advantage midway through the contest. After his turnover resulted in Alex Burrows collecting the puck in the slot, Chara made a save with Thomas prone on the ice.
Marchand doubled the advantage with 7:47 remaining in the second period. Seidenberg's point shot was denied by Luongo, but Marchand settled the puck on the doorstep. The rookie alertly skated behind the net and beat Luongo on a wraparound.
Bergeron added a shorthanded marker just 5:22 later. Seidenberg's lead pass off the glass caught a streaking Bergeron, who fended off defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and beat Luongo for his second shorthanded goal of the playoffs.
Marchand capped the scoring with his 11th of the postseason - an empty-net goal with 2:44 remaining in the contest.
Luongo finished with 17 saves.