Claude Julien and his Boston Bruins have come a long way in the last month, grinding out a series win over the hated Montreal Canadiens in the conference quarterfinals before sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers in the semifinals.
After a seven-day layoff, Julien and the Bruins open up the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and they're a mere eight wins away from bringing Boston its first Stanley Cup since the 1971-72 season.
"I know I am excited and I was up early without being forced out of bed. And I think the players were the same way," Bruins head coach Claude Julien said.
"A rest is always a good thing, but at the same time I think we all enjoy the rhythm that we get into when we are in the playoffs and to be able to start that again tonight is great for everybody." (via BostonBruins.com)
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals begins at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday night.