Raffi Torres scored the game-winning goal with just 19 seconds remaining in regulation to give the host Vancouver Canucks a 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins in the first game of the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup championship series.

The game had been a defensive standoff up until that point, with Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo and Boston goalie Tim Thomas making numerous saves that threatened to send the contest into overtime. But Torres scored on Thomas after receiving a dazzling pass from teammate Jannik Hansen to give Vancouver, the NHL's highest scoring team, a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Luongo finished with 36 saves, while Thomas made 33 saves.

Game two of the Stanley Cup finals is set for Saturday in Vancouver.