Boston Globe (Fluto Shinzawa):
April 21, 2008 12:37 PM
The Bruins, winners of their last two elimination games, aren’t planning to change their approach heading into tonight’s do-or-die match.
“This is going to be our third game with our backs against the wall,” Claude Julien said. “I don’t see why tonight should be different. The last two games, we’ve played to allow ourselves to live another day. And tonight’s the same thing. We play tonight in order to live another day. That shouldn’t change.”
* Julien said the Bruins will not think about the fact that it’s Game 7. “You don’t allow it to sink in,” Julien said of the moment’s gravity. “We’re coming out here in a building that’s going to be packed, and we’re going to play our game. The fans were really into it in Game 5 when they thought they could end the series. They were as pumped as I’ve seen them. And it didn’t bother our hockey club. We’ll make sure the same approach is there tonight.”
* Tonight will be Glen Murray’s sixth career Game 7, most of any Bruin. “It’s exciting. No question about it,” Murray said. “The series comes down to one game. Both teams are going to give it their all.”
* Murray hasn’t scored a single point in the series. “Hopefully one goes in off my head tonight,” said Murray. “I’ll take 10 stitches for anything like that. Just have to go to the net and keep shooting hard.”
* Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
The following lineup during the morning skate shouldn’t change tonight, with the exception of flipping Murray and Phil Kessel:
Forwards:
Sturm-Krejci-Murray
Lucic-Savard-Kessel
Axelsson-Metropolit-Nokelainen
Schaefer-Sobotka-Thornton
Defense:
Chara-Ward
Ference-Wideman
Stuart-Hnidy
Goaltender: Thomas