Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Boston Bruins, 5-4, to force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals. The puck drops Friday, with only a trip to the Stanley Cup Final at stake. Veteran right-winger Martin St. Louis, who played on the Lightning's title-winning team in 2004, knows the challenges that lie ahead.
"Luckily, fortunately, all our team has been through a Game 7," St. Louis said. "Some of us have played more, but we all have that experience, so we know what to expect. The fourth win is always the toughest one to get."
St. Louis came up big for the Lightning in their Game 6 win, scoring two goals and tallying an assist. When asked why he seems to play better in high-pressure games, St. Louis said, "It's what you play for," later adding that Game Sevens "are what gets your fire going" because it's what players dream of during their childhood.
The winner of Game 7 between the Lightning and Bruins advances to the Stanley Cup Final to face the Vancouver Canucks. The NHL will release a schedule for that series upon the conclusion of this one. Stay tuned to this StoryStream for complete coverage of the Lightning's playoff run. In the meantime, here's video of the complete press conference featuring St. Louis and Steven Stamkos from after Game 6: