Shattenkirk said he hadn’t seen anyone come in nervous Saturday, no one gripping sticks too tightly or overwhelmed by the situation. It was a sentiment echoed around the room.
“I think calm, sort of cool confidence is what we’re trying to go for,” defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. “We know what’s in front of us. We know what lies right in front of us and what we need to do.”
The Bruins have plenty of players who have been here before, led by captain Brad Marchand, who is set to play his 12th career Game 7, tied for most among active players. Only four players have played more, 14 for former teammates Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara and 13 for defenseman Scott Stevens and goalie Patrick Roy. But 16 players on the Bruins, 15 skaters and Jeremy Swayman, have played a Game 7 before.
They changed up a few things ahead of Game 7, including holding their morning skate at TD Garden instead of their practice rink, Warrior Ice Arena. Montgomery said there were other changes, ones not as visible.
But mostly they just need to take advantage of the situation, knowing that they have faced adversity this season, that they have gotten through it and pulled each other out of it, something they didn’t really have last season, at least not until they were faced with a Game 7 against the Florida Panthers and, by then, it was too late, when they lost the deciding game 4-3 at home in overtime.
The same thing has happened to the Bruins as did last season, going from a 3-1 series advantage to a 3-3 series tie and a Game 7. But, now, they’ve been here before. They have the experience and the perspective.
“It’s an opportunity for us to go out there and just play our game,” Pat Maroon said. “Play it the right way, play it simple, play it hard.”
And enjoy the moment, embrace it. Take it to the Maple Leafs, right from the start.
“Anytime you get to play in a Game 7, it’s special,” Geekie said. Obviously no one ever wants to be in this situation, but I think this is where you see a lot of players rise to the occasion and I think we’ve got a lot of guys in this room that are excited and ready for the challenge. “
It’s something they’ve been dreaming of, their whole lives.
“You don’t ever dream of Games 1s and 2s in your backyard,” Geekie said. “We’re going to have a lot of fun tonight.”
