The Boston Bruins have veteran players up and down their roster. But with the Bruins headed to Game 7 on Tuesday night, one of these veterans will tie an all-time NHL record.
Zdeno Chara, the Bruins' 6-foot-9 giant of a defenseman, will tie for most all time NHL Game 7 appearances when the puck drops against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, according to NHL Public Relations.
Only Patrick Roy and Scott Stevens have as many appearances in a Game 7, per the NHL.
Chara started his NHL career in 1996 with the New York Islanders, joined the Ottawa Senators in 2001 and has been with the Bruins since 2006.
The Bruins will need veteran experience if they hope to get past the Leafs in what is sure to be an action-packed Game 7 on Tuesday night at the TD Garden.
The situation the Bruins find themselves in is far from unfamiliar.
Boston Bruins
The B's also hosted the Leafs in Game 7 of the first round a year ago, going on to win Game 7.
This year's Leafs team has been just as formidable, if not more so, than what the Bruins faced a year ago.
The series has been back and forth—literally, with each team winning every other game to get to 3-3 heading into Game 7.
With the Leafs hoping to avoid repeating the same fate, the Bruins can expect to get their best tonight, and as the NHL Public Relations brief points out, the B's veteran experience may well prove advantageous:
"Five current Bruins appeared in both the 2013 and 2018 contests: goaltender Tuukka Rask, defenseman Zdeno Chara and forwards Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Krejci. [Only] two Maple Leafs players have done so: defenseman Jake Gardiner and forward Nazem Kadri."
Kadri, however, will not be on the ice Tuesday. He was suspended after Game 2 for the remainder of the series following a questionable cross-check on Jake DeBrusk.
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.