Bruins must rally around Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand in Game 7 vs. Panthers
Bruins must rally around Bergeron, Marchand in Game 7 vs. Panthers originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Make no mistake, all of the pressure is on the Boston Bruins entering Sunday's do-or-die Game 7 against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden.
The Bruins had the greatest regular season in NHL history and set league records for the most wins (65) and the most points (135). Given the team's salary cap situation, the roster could look a lot different next season. We also don't know about the futures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, both of whom are 37 years old. Boston also has 11 players on the playoff roster eligible for unrestricted or restricted free agency in the offseason.
The Bruins aren't going to be a bottom feeder any time soon -- they have too many good players signed long term -- but this season might be the last great opportunity for this veteran core to win a Stanley Cup.
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After the season they've had, a Game 7 loss to the Panthers would be a huge choke and, frankly, one of the most disappointing exits in Boston sports history.
In moments like this, you have to lean on your best players, and fortunately for the Bruins, they have a few veterans who are no strangers to Game 7s, most notably Bergeron and Brad Marchand.
These guys need to lead the way on and off the ice Sunday.
"You've got to welcome pressure," Bergeron told reporters Saturday. "That's why we play the game. It's for those moments. I don't think that should be an issue. You have to use that to your advantage and go out there and just play.
"Stay in the moment. Going back to our structure. We've talked about the process all year. All those things are things we need to focus on right now and really put emphasis on. To me, it's play with structure and layers, we're a tough team to play against."
Bergeron is about to play in his 14th Game 7, which will tie him with former Bruins teammate Zdeno Chara for the most by one player in league history. The veteran center has scored six goals with four assists in those do-or-die matchups, and several of the most memorable moments of his career have come in these games.
He scored twice in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final on the road against the Vancouver Canucks, including the opening goal in the first period. The Bruins won 4-0 to claim their first title in 39 years. Two years later, Bergeron led the greatest Game 7 comeback in league history by scoring the tying and winning goals against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round.
Marchand has played in 10 Game 7s. He has three goals and four assists in those matchups, including two goals and one assist in Game 7 of the 2011 Cup Final. He assisted Bergeron's opening goal that got the Bruins going versus the Canucks.
Marchand has been the Bruins' best player in this first-round series against the Panthers.
He has tallied 10 points (four goals, six assists) in six games, including a 4-assist effort in the Game 6 loss. He has at least one point in every game. After scoring only one goal in his final 18 regular season games, Marchand has taken his performance to a new level in Round 1. His recent play should give the Bruins confidence entering Sunday.
The Bruins shouldn't be in this position, and they have only themselves to blame. They have gifted the Panthers so many goals through six games with careless turnovers and other uncharacteristic mistakes. But they still have one more chance, and it's at home, where they went 34-4-3 during the regular season.
There's going to be enormous pressure on the Bruins to get off to a good start tonight. The team that has scored first has won every game of this series. When the B's score first they are 46-1-3 this season, including the playoffs.
Luckily for the Bruins, they have two of the most experienced and successful Game 7 performers in the league in Bergeron and Marchand. A quality performance from these two future Hall of Famers on Sunday would lead the Bruins into the second round.
