TAMPA, Fla. — The mind, it can wander.
Especially before a game as big as this one.
The Tampa Bay Lightning know that deputy commissioner Bill Daly will be at Amalie Arena on Tuesday night with the Prince of Wales Trophy and a ticket to the Stanley Cup final. The New York Rangers, meanwhile, are well aware that game No. 100 of this season might very well be their last.
“Nothing new for us, but it doesn’t get old,” said Rangers defenceman Marc Staal. “We’ve got to make sure we’re at our best. Experience only goes so far. As soon as the puck drops its game on and you’ve got to find a way to win the hockey game.
“That’s what we’ll try to do.”
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The Rangers are an incredible 14-3 in elimination games over the past three seasons. In fact, the last three times they’ve trailed a series 3-2 — as they do know — they’ve managed to come back and win.
That’s going to be a difficult task against a young Lightning team with two very productive forward lines. Given that youth, there could be some nerves.
“I hope so,” said veteran Rangers defenceman Dan Boyle. “I don’t think about what they’re thinking about though. There’s definitely pressure on them at home to finish this series up.
“Sometimes maybe players don’t react to that kind of pressure.”
While the entire team didn’t go to a movie on Monday night — they got a sneak peak at “Entourage” before a big Game 4 here — a few Rangers players took in “Wolf of Wall Street” in their hotel lounge.
They arrived hungry to the morning skate the following morning.
“Every year you learn about yourself, about the game, and then you bring it with you,” said star goalie Henrik Lundqvist. “When you’re in different situations, you use your experience on how to approach the game and how to prepare. A lot of these games come down to preparation and being in the right place mentally.
“It comes down to having the right mindset and the belief that you can do it.”
The Lightning were also trying to channel that belief and avoid a potential Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman were both part of the Tampa team that fell one goal short of the Cup final in 2011, and don’t want to experience that pain again.
Stamkos, in particular, seemed at ease.
The captain has scored in four straight games and said he felt a little anxiety before going to bed on Monday.
By the time Tuesday morning arrived all he was worried about was his pre-game omelette.
“Little bacon, tomatoes, assortment of peppers and a little cheese,” said Stamkos. “All organic, of course.”
The Lightning played an excellent road game on Sunday to put themselves in this position, winning 2-0 in a tight-checking affair. On that night they may have lost Cedric Paquette, who blocked a shot with his right wrist or forearm, but coach Jon Cooper wouldn’t discuss the centre’s status.
Cooper was adamant about ensuring no feeling of complacency had settled in around his group.
“We can’t just sit here and say we played a pretty good game in Game 5, that’ll just carry us into a win tonight,” he said. “If we don’t play better than we did in Game 5, we won’t win tonight. That’s kind of my message.”
The affable coach has won five championships during his career, but has never experienced a game as big as this one.
“For me it’s excitement, nervousness, fear, anticipation,” said Cooper. “I can whip through a bunch of things. It’s really an exciting time.”
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For the Rangers this is nothing new.
Veteran winger Rick Nash rhymed off a number of things he would do on Tuesday to stick to his routine and remain calm. Told by a reporter that he made it sound easy, he replied: “It’s not.”