Lightning's Boyle not fazed by Garden mystique

Thursday, 05.28.2015 / 10:52 PM | NHL.com Staff

Brian Boyle won two Game 7s with the New York Rangers, one at Madison Square Garden, last year.

They were part of New York's 6-0 Game 7 record since 2012, 4-0 at MSG.

He'll play another one there Friday, this time with the Tampa Bay Lightning to decide the Eastern Conference Final (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

Boyle said Thursday he wouldn't have made the trip north if he believed the Lightning bought into the idea they have no chance to conquer the Madison Square Garden mystique.

"Do you think I buy it? What am I doing here if I buy it?" Boyle said. "Why would I fly up from Florida if I bought it? They've obviously had success in Game 7. It's a new year. Obviously, we're expecting their best and they've been good. It's a fun place to play.

"They're going to have the crowd support. We're going to try to take it away from them as quick as we can, and hopefully it's going to be a really fun, memorable game."

Tampa Bay won Game 2 and Game 5 of this best-of-7 series at the Garden, where New York has never lost a Game 7 (7-0).

Boyle played in a Game 7 Garden win against the Philadelphia Flyers last year and against the Washington Capitals in 2012. He was with the Rangers for road wins against the Pittsburgh Penguins (2014) and Capitals (2013).

The Rangers won Game 7 against the Capitals at the Garden on May 13 to advance to this round. New York is 9-1 in its past 10 games facing elimination.

"I think they're a resilient team and they're a confident team, but we understand that," Boyle said. "We've played them six times now. We can beat them. We've beaten them. ...

"I don't think there are any rabbits that are going to be pulled out of any hats at this point in this stage. It's going to be our best against their best."

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