Bruins Focused On 'Turning Page' To Game 4
BOSTON (CBS) – The Boston Bruins are coming off a very impressive Game 3 victory in the Eastern Conference Finals to take a 2-1 series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
But less than 24-hours after the win, it is already in the past.
"Right now, all we've talked about is how important a game tomorrow is for us," head coach Claude Julien said on Friday. "We don't want to live in the past. Yesterday was yesterday. Tomorrow is what we want to talk about."
"We've said it a lot of times this whole playoffs, we try to focus on turning the page, good or bad," said defenseman Andrew Ference. "(It's about) leaving the days in the past and moving on to the next challenge. We've had enough ups and downs and challenges to know that you can let your guard down."
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"We want to live in the present, and today is about getting some good rest and making sure that tomorrow we're well rested, we've got the energy and the focus to do a job," added Julien. "That's what we've been doing since the start and that's what's helped us get through it."
The Bruins held an option skate on Friday, giving players a chance to rest with just one day off between each game from here on out. Among those opting to rest were Zdeno Chara, Tim Thomas and Mark Recchi.
David Krejci also elected not to skate after taking a shot to the head late in the first period Thursday night. Krejci returned after the period break and said he was fine after the game. His head coach said the Bruins second leading scorer in the playoffs will be in there for Game 4.
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"There's no issues with David," said Julien. "He's playing tomorrow with no issues at all."
Although their wins are already in the past, the Bruins will try and make the best of the momentum they've picked up with two straight wins.
"Momentum is always huge in hockey; you have to make sure you carry that over," said Patrice Bergeron, who told reporters he is feeling 100-percent after returning from a concussion. "With that being said, it's a long series. What happened last game, it's over. We're going to make sure we look at Game 4 now. We know they're going to be ready, we need to make sure we're ready as well."
The Bruins played a much different game in their 2-0 Game 3 win than their 6-5 victory in Game 2. The Bruins played tight defense and made sure the Lightning did not get any neutral zone rushes like they did in Game 2.
"It just seemed like it opened up and it stayed that way," Milan Lucic said of Game 2. "You look at that game, a lot of goals were scored off the rush. I know both coaches were frustrated and losing their mind on the bench because it was getting so open."
"Looking at yesterday's game, I think it was more of what everyone expected and what the coaches expected," added Lucic. "Going into tomorrow's game I think you're going to see more of what Game 3 was like instead of Game 2."
The Bruins have a chance to bring a 3-1 series lead home to Boston with a win on Saturday but know Tampa will come out strong with their backs against the wall.
"This time of the playoffs, you're desperate in every game. Whether you're up or down, whether it's the first game or the seventh," said Ference. I think everyone understands how much hinges on every game."
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"It would be nice to go home 3-1," said forward Michael Ryder. "We know it's going to take our A game to do that. We're going to be ready. As long as we get off to a good start, we'll be fine."
"We expect nothing but their best, and we expect nothing but our best," added Ference.
Every game of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Bruins and Lightning can be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub with pregame coverage beginning 60 minutes before each game with the Dunkin Donuts Bruins Pregame show.
