{"id":1311238,"date":"2019-06-10T23:16:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-11T05:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/bruins-consistency-faces-final-test-in-game-7-vs-blues\/"},"modified":"2019-06-10T23:16:00","modified_gmt":"2019-06-11T05:16:00","slug":"bruins-consistency-faces-final-test-in-game-7-vs-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/bruins-consistency-faces-final-test-in-game-7-vs-blues\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruins\u2019 consistency faces final test in Game 7 vs. Blues"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.8753424657534\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-980677-762\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR171020 AP | Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates with Marcus Johansson (90), of Sweden, and Karson Kuhlman (83) after the Bruins beat the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. The Bruins won 5-1 to even the series 3-3. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"15\">\n<p><strong>Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates with Marcus Johansson (90), of Sweden, and Karson Kuhlman (83) after the Bruins beat the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. The Bruins won 5-1 to even the series 3-3. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR171020 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b.jpg\" alt=\"Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates with Marcus Johansson (90), of Sweden, and Karson Kuhlman (83) after the Bruins beat the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. The Bruins won 5-1 to even the series 3-3. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88), of the Czech Republic, scores a goal against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. The Bruins won 5-1 to even the series 3-3. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"15\">\n<p><strong>Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88), of the Czech Republic, scores a goal against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. The Bruins won 5-1 to even the series 3-3. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-1.jpg\" alt=\"Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88), of the Czech Republic, scores a goal against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. The Bruins won 5-1 to even the series 3-3. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR171020 AP | Boston Bruins center Karson Kuhlman (83) is congratulated after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Boston Bruins center Karson Kuhlman (83) is congratulated after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR171020 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-2.jpg\" alt=\"Boston Bruins center Karson Kuhlman (83) is congratulated after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR171020 AP | A shot by Boston Bruins' Brandon Carlo gets past St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) for a goal during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>A shot by Boston Bruins&#8217; Brandon Carlo gets past St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) for a goal during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR171020 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-3.jpg\" alt=\"A shot by Boston Bruins' Brandon Carlo gets past St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) for a goal during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR171020 AP | St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington skates across the ice during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. The Bruins won 5-1 to even the series 3-3. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington skates across the ice during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. The Bruins won 5-1 to even the series 3-3. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR171020 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_35101-1a88b-4.jpg\" alt=\"St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington skates across the ice during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. The Bruins won 5-1 to even the series 3-3. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/bruins-consistency-faces-final-test-in-game-7-vs-blues\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/bruins-consistency-faces-final-test-in-game-7-vs-blues\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">ST. LOUIS \u2014 The strains of Jay-Z and Linkin Park\u2019s \u201cNumb\/Encore\u201d mashup emanated from a small speaker on the hallway floor outside the visiting locker room following the Boston Bruins\u2019 morning skate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re expecting of me \u2026 put under the pressure \u2026 of walking in your shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Despite all the pressure on Boston, team DJ Torey Krug wouldn\u2019t dare change anything in the face of elimination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cSame playlist I\u2019ve been playing for months now,\u201d Krug said. \u201cIt\u2019s been the same music for months on end.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">And the same Bruins, whose consistent approach on and off the ice will be tested one more time Wednesday in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues. This is an experienced Boston roster with five players left from the 2011 Cup championship team that vanquished the Canucks in Vancouver, also the most recent time the final went to a seventh and deciding game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThere\u2019s never been a (Cup Final) Game 7 in Boston, (so) I would say lean on past experience with that, but there is none,\u201d Krug said Monday. \u201cThere is experience from guys who played in Game 7 in Vancouver.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s tough. It\u2019s the most exciting game in all of our lives and I think whoever maintains their composure and discipline within their system, how they play and how they approach the game is probably going to prevail.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The smart money is on the Bruins recapturing the Stanley Cup on home ice, and sportsbooks give them the edge. Not only do they own an experience advantage in these situations, but carry with them some momentum from a 5-1 rainstorm on St. Louis\u2019 potential parade in Game 6.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Four of the previous five times in the 2019 playoffs that a team down 3-2 won Game 6, it also won Game 7. Just don\u2019t tell that stat to Boston coach Bruce Cassidy because he doesn\u2019t believe there\u2019s carry-over from a strong showing Sunday night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cNew slate,\u201d Cassidy said before the team flew home to Boston. \u201cThey had expectations, Stanley Cup is in the building. \u2026 I can\u2019t speak for them, but it can be tough, knowing we\u2019re playing good team defense to now have to come back (from a deficit) that far. But I don\u2019t think it will affect them all on Wednesday. It\u2019s one game, winner take all. Both teams will be in a good place mentally, ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Longest-tenured Bruins player Patrice Bergeron put his teammates in the perfect mental state the day of Game 6. Young defenseman Charlie McAvoy had trouble calming his nerves until Bergeron spoke up in the locker room and said exactly what players needed to hear.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Speaking in French, Bergeron said he told the team, \u201cWe are in a situation that is everyone\u2019s childhood\u2019s dream here and we must realize it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">That\u2019s also a pretty normal thing for Bergeron to boost up his teammates, which he considers to be part of his role. It\u2019ll be up to him, captain Zdeno Chara, winger Brad Marchand, center David Krejci and goaltender Tuukka Rask to impart some lessons from winning in 2011 and also losing to Chicago in the final in 2013 \u2014 the time Bergeron played through broken ribs and a punctured lung but didn\u2019t get to lift the Cup a second time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThey\u2019ve been here for us all year (and) before that, too,\u201d forward Sean Kuraly said. \u201cYou look to them and can feel comfort in that, follow in their footsteps and know you\u2019re walking in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Blues are marching in the wrong direction after failing to close out a series for the first time in the playoffs. They eliminated Winnipeg, Dallas and San Jose on the first chance each time and all on home ice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Now they go on the road where they\u2019re 9-3 this postseason with two of those victories coming in Boston.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cListen, if you told me four months ago we were going to be in the finals in Game 7, I think I\u2019d take it,\u201d St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been a good road team. We\u2019ve won twice up there in this series, so we\u2019re a confident group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Just like the Blues couldn\u2019t measure up to the Bruins in Game 6, it would be hard to make the argument that they\u2019re as confident after the deflating loss Sunday, Ryan O\u2019Reilly and the Blues have typically been able to bounce back well and stay as even-keeled as their coach.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe know if we play our best game, we can take these guys,\u201d O\u2019Reilly said. \u201cGo there and get it done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SWhyno\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/SWhyno<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">More AP NHL: <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/NHL\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/apnews.com\/NHL<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP%E2%80%94Sports\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP\u2014Sports<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/bruins-consistency-faces-final-test-in-game-7-vs-blues\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates with Marcus Johansson (90), of Sweden, and Karson Kuhlman (83) after the Bruins beat the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. The Bruins won 5-1 to even the series 3-3. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)AP | [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1311238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-09 16:45:42","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1311238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1311238"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1311238\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1311238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1311238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1311238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}