Bruins Embracing ‘Opportunity’ of Game 7 Despite Sky-High Stakes in Showdown Against Tampa Bay

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May 27, 2011

Bruins Embracing 'Opportunity' of Game 7 Despite Sky-High Stakes in Showdown Against Tampa Bay BOSTON — There might not be a more pressure-packed situation in sports than a seventh game in the NHL playoffs. Add in having a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line and tension will really be ratcheted up for Friday's Game 7 showdown at the Garden.

You just wouldn't know it from talking with the Bruins, who will host Tampa Bay in the deciding game of the Eastern Conference Final.

One play, one moment, one mistake can be the difference between seeing your season end and having a chance to play for the most hallowed trophy in sports. But words like "nervous" or "worried" or "tense" aren't coming out of the Bruins players' mouths as they prepare for the franchise's biggest game in nearly two decades. Instead, the talk is all about "fun" and "enjoyment" and "opportunity." 

"You dream about playing Game 7s," veteran forward Mark Recchi said. "This is an opportunity to go to the Stanley Cup Finals, and I think the guys are relishing it.

"There's not too many opportunities in your career when you'll get this chance," added Recchi, who won Cups with Pittsburgh in 1991 and Carolina in 2006. "You have to have fun with it. You can't let it grab you and bite you. You just have to go play and believe in what we've done all year. If you do that, you're going to be fine. If not, then you're going to be tense and not playing the way you're capable of playing."

The Bruins are determined to play their game and confident that if they stick to that approach, they will finally prevail over a Tampa club that's proven mighty tough to get past.

The Bruins have already survived one Game 7 test, beating archrival Montreal in overtime in the opening round. The stakes are much higher in the conference finals, but the Bruins are confident the same approach to this Game 7 will yield the same results.

"I think Game 7 is Game 7 whether it's the first or third round," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "There's an opportunity here to move on to the next round. That to me is what Game 7 represents, no matter where you are in the playoffs.

"Our guys just have to enjoy this whole process here," Julien added. "As I mentioned yesterday, there's 27 teams right now that would love to have the opportunity that we have in the playoffs right now. This is one of those days where I think if you don't enjoy the moment, you're wasting a pretty precious day. And you take advantage of it today. You get ready. You get excited about it.  You come out tonight and you leave it all out on the ice. Simple as that. Anything less than that, it's a waste of a day."

The Bruins are counting on their past experience to help them prevail on Friday. Not only have they won a Game 7 as a team this postseason against Montreal, but individually the Bruins have extensive experience in Game 7s. Every player on the roster except for rookie Tyler Seguin has played in at least one Game 7, with Recchi leading the way with nine.

Still, not all of the Bruins have completely eliminated their nerves before the game. But even those feelings have been put into a positive light.

"Obviously you're excited for these big games, but you don't want to be overexcited to where you lose sleep or something like that," forward Milan Lucic said. "Thinking about it, you get the butterflies in your stomach. It's a good nervous feeling. You don't want to be afraid of the challenge. You want to embrace it and enjoy it."

Lucic has a little extra incentive for this one. Not only is he playing for a shot at the Cup, but with the Canucks already having won the Western Conference Final, the Vancouver native is also playing for a chance to play for that Cup in his hometown.

"You never know what can happen in the future," Lucic, 22, said. "As young as I am, you never know if you'll get another chance like this. Especially for myself, you win a game here, you get to play for the Stanley Cup in your hometown."

Even with that prize in sight, Lucic hasn't strayed from the party line as he prepares for the game with a mixture of excitement and determination.

"You have to go out there and have fun," Lucic said. "No regrets, lay it all on the line."

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