Ready For Playoffs, Bruins Focusing On Game 1
BOSTON (CBS) – The Boston Bruins are focused and ready for the playoffs.
It all starts with Game 1 against the Washington Capitals Thursday night, and that is all the Bruins are concerned about right now.
"It's about taking it a game at a time. That was the motto last year and it's the same this year," center Patrice Bergeron said after the Bruins' morning skate on Thursday. "Live in the present; in the playoffs you can't look back or look forward."
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"There is going to be some highs and there is going to be some lows. The important thing is to stay even keel throughout the course of the playoffs," said veteran forward Chris Kelly. "There is going to be good times and there is going to be bad times. The thing you need to remember is as soon as that game is over, you need to park it and focus on the next one, no matter what the outcome."
Chris Kelly Pre Game 1:
The motto certainly worked last year for Boston, as they dropped the first game in three of the four series during their 2011 Stanley Cup run.
While they had success coming back, it's not something they would like to have to do again this time around.
"We can't say enough about having a good start. It's important to establish momentum early on in the series," said Bergeron. "We know the Capitals are coming in wanting to win as well; it's going to be a tough battle but we'll be ready."
"It's just right off the bat, going right after them" said Tyler Seguin, who led the Bruins with 67 points in the regular season. "Playing Bruins-type hockey; in their face, traffic in front of the net and all that stuff. Hopefully we can walk out of here with a win."
Read: Spotlight On Seguin
After having four days off, the Bruins are ready to get this postseason going. They are focused on Thursday night, and it all began with a good morning skate.
"It was a focused morning skate, rather than a quiet one. I thought our guys seemed prepared for the tilt," said head coach Claude Julien. "You hope our experience through the past years will serve us well and we'll be prepared when the puck drops."
"For us, we just need everyone going. Our team is about team and never has been about putting all the weight on one player," added Julien.
"This morning was more about getting the legs going and just feeling good about ourselves before tonight's game," said Bergeron. "[We're] very excited and looking forward to tonight. It's going to be a tough game, tough matchup."
Read: Bruins-Capitals Schedule
But one thing is certain, the TD Garden will be rocking as playoff hockey finally hits Boston again.
"We saw it last year, so we're excited for that," said Captain Zdeno Chara.
"We've had it all year, but it's definitely going to get a lot louder," said forward Daniel Paille. "It definitely helps along the way, the support we get from our fans."
98.5 The Sports Hub is the only local station to listen to every game of the Stanley Cup Finals. Coverage begins an hour before each game with the Bruins Pregame show hosted by Dave Goucher & Bob Beers.
