SURREY - With more than an hour to go before puck drop, crazed Canucks fans were streaming into Central City plaza to watch the Stanley Cup series opener against the Boston Bruins on a giant screen.

Pat Gokey, a life-long Canucks fan, came to watch the game with her 16-year-old granddaughter, Nina. Gokey, 63, arrived at the plaza about three hours early in order to claim a pair of coveted front row seats.

"I want to be close to the action," Gokey said of the enormous 170-square-foot screen set up by the city. Gokey predicted that the Canucks will take the Stanley Cup in six games.

"It's time to bring it home to Canada where it belongs," she said.

Samita Rosales brought her 11-year-old son Tyson and seven-year-old daughter Liyana to the game.

Rosales says she came to drink in the atmosphere and energy in the plaza.

Her prediction? "For the finals, originally I was going with five because my heart can't handle Game 7," she said laughing.

In a sea of Canucks jerseys, Rod McLean stood out with his blue mohawk.

"It's just like the Olympics," McLean said of the festive atmosphere.

As for the series, McLean predicts the Canucks will take it in five games, "that way we can actually have the party on home ice."

Game 2 of the Cup final goes Saturday.

mbabic@thenownewspaper.com