RALEIGH, N.C. — Patrice Bergeron has seen a series play out like this a couple of times before.
When you’ve been in the league for close to 20 years and tacked on as much milage as the B’s captain has, you’ve often run through the full gamut of emotions when the calendar flips to spring and playoff hockey returns.
There’s been plenty of highs — and quite a few lows — over Bergeron’s 18 years in a black-and-gold sweater.
And even though Boston’s current first-round duel with the Hurricanes has been marked with decisive victories for each team in their own barn, it’s nothing new for Bergeron and some of Boston’s old guard.
If one was to draw parallels, the Bruins could look to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final — in which the B’s defended home ice with blowout victories before finally delivering the dagger in enemy territory in Game 7 — for tangible evidence that they can finally solve the house of horrors that PNC Arena has been over the past two weeks.
But for Bergeron, falling back on nostalgia or past results in search of fortitude ahead of another decisive Game 7 — the 13th of his Hall-of-Fame career — is fruitless.
"I don't want to compare one series to the next,” Bergeron noted. “Every one is unique. We're in a battle right now and it's a battle in the trenches. But, obviously, you do want to use past experiences to help guide you. But that being said, we're worried about the present and something we said a lot all year is to stay in the moment and to be in the moment, too. That's when you're at your best.”
Of course, the Bruins have not been at their best down in Raleigh — with Carolina outscoring them, 15-4, in three decisive victories in Games 1, 2 and 5.
But after Bruce Cassidy’s gamble with cultivating depth scoring in Boston’s lineup yielded strong returns in Game 6, the B’s aren't dwelling on Carolina’s track record on home ice this series.
Frankly, the Bruins aren’t dwelling on all that much ahead of Game 7.
In a series that has primarily dictated by matchups (and the narratives surrounding them), Bergeron, Cassidy and Co. are frankly sick of discussing it.
We all know the best practices that the Bruins can adhere to in order to help their odds on Saturday afternoon.
The depth scoring needs to continue to get on the scoresheet. Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy need to lay the thump against Sebastian Aho and Carolina’s top line. Derek Forbort and Boston’s PK unit should get the ice bags at the ready as they prepare to absorb a volley of Carolina point shots.
Multiple trips to the sin bin likely spell doom. Jeremy Swayman will need to make a timely save or two … or more. And of course, scoring first and landing that initial punch against Antti Raanta is of the utmost importance. The first team to score is 138-46 (.750) in the 184 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (3-0 in 2021).
But just hours ahead of puck drop, there isn’t much more to cram when it comes to preparation for this Bruins team. When the puck is finally dropped, the Bruins know what awaits them against Rod Brind’Amour’s crew.
And some of it — in a Game 7 — might just hinge on some puck luck and internal drive. Any team — even one that draws so much energy from their home crowd — is mortal in Game 7. Home teams, overall, own just a 107-77 (.582) advantage in the 184 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bergeron and many of his teammates know that home ice doesn't offer a trump card when the stakes are at their highest.
At this point, the only thing left to do is play — and let the chips fall where they may.
“Countless,” Swayman, a rookie, said of how often he’s envisioned playing in a Game 7. “It’s a dream come true. Can’t wait.” ... It’s no bigger or smaller than any game I’ve played before. I want to make sure I’m coming in with that mentality, and we want to win, we’re going to do everything we can. Can’t wait to get on the ice.”
At this juncture of this first-round series, there isn’t a whole lot that these two teams don’t know about one another.
The Bruins know how Carolina will look to attack early and often inside of a raucous PNC Arena. Bergeron knows Jordan Staal and his line will be draped over him whenever he hops over the boards. And Cassidy is fully cognizant of the disparity in calls for (and against) his club when playing down in North Carolina.
But now, there isn’t much more one can do — except change those narratives with your play on the ice.
“It's more about keeping guys in a good place and I think everyone has to show good composure," Cassidy said. "There's gonna be ups and downs. We're gonna have bad shifts where things don't go well. We're gonna have good shifts where we got to sort of not let it get ahead of us. … Guys should be excited.
“Game 7 — Stanley Cup playoffs. Home or road — we'd rather be at home, not gonna lie to you. But we'll play them on Mars if we had to. I think right now, we just want to get after it.”
Bergeron has indeed seen it all over his career — standing as just one of 29 members of the coveted Triple Gold Club (Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold Medal, World Championship).
But with each new Game 7 comes new opportunity: To flip the script. To prove doubters wrong. And to keep building memories for however long this latest Cup run can last.
"I think it's what's at stake, right? That's the biggest thing,” Bergeron said of the appeal of Game 7. “Everything's on the line. And I think it brings back memories of why you play the game. Those are the moments. It's not one particular thing. I think it's more the fact that it's a do-or-die game scenario. And it's fun to be part of that."