Savard had to find his legs
He was slowed by injury early on
Center Marc Savard, injured at the start of the third period of Game 6 Tuesday night in Raleigh, N.C., skated for a few minutes at yesterday's practice at the Garden and was proclaimed fit and able by coach Claude Julien.
The clever pivot was among the first skaters lined up for warm-ups, and then he slotted into his familiar spot between first-line wingers Milan Lucic and Phil Kessel.
"Yeah, same lineup tonight," was Julien's response when queried about Savard's availability for Game 7."
Savard did not participate in one of his favorite pregame rituals, kicking a soccer ball around outside the dressing room. He remained on the ice for the full warm-up, but he did not display his typical enthusiasm or limber moves and tricky passes.
Savard favored his right leg, looking stiff-legged and top-heavy during his shifts in the first period. On one shift, with the game scoreless, he muffed an easy forehand pass to the slot as he cruised unprotected down the right side.
When it came time to kill Carolina's only power play in the first period - P.J. Axelsson off for hooking - Savard teamed with David Krejci on the No. 2 PK unit - a sign Julien was confident in Savard's overall mobility.
"We have adjustments we may make to our lineup that we'll release at the appropriate time," said Maurice after the morning workout.
Sure enough, Maurice called veteran backliner Frantisek Kaberle into action, subbing out Anton Babchuk. It was only the fourth game this postseason that Kaberle suited up for the Hurricanes.
Overall, said Maurice, he figured each team would roll out game plans similar, if not identical, to the first six games.
"You won't see any style changes because it's Round 2, Game 7," he said.
The squads arrived at the decisive game in different modes, and with varying effectiveness, but both deserved to be here, said Maurice.
"Game 7 is not by default," he said. "We don't feel lucky to be here.
Byron Bitz potted the first goal, following up a Michael Ryder blast that went wide of the net. Krejci, working near the left post, helped flick the loose puck into the slot and the charging Bitz potted it into an open net, goalie Cam Ward slow to straighten up from the left post.
Score one for the unlikely hero. Bitz came aboard the varsity ostensibly as a checker, but his impressive board work and mucking in the corners has made him a valuable all-around contributor.
"I picked up a lot of that at Cornell," said Bitz, asked where he gained his prowess for holding on to the puck. "The way we were coached, if you didn't protect the puck, you didn't play."
Asked if he watched the game as a coach, deciphering each club's strategies, or as a fan, Julien said, "A little bit of both." He said he is rarely able to watch a game and simply enjoy it.
"No doubt," he said. "There's always a little bit of the coach in you when you are watching."
"I think we are comfortable with what we are doing out there together," said Stuart, referring to his work with the veteran Hnidy. "We played some together last year, and a lot this year, too. We know how to read off of each other. We're expected to play strong defense, be physical, and keep the puck out of the net. And jump in now and then on offense, chip in a little there, too."
