McQuaid: Bruins want to make Boston proud

Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid is already a veteran of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including winning a Stanley Cup title with the Bruins in 2011 and approaching 50 postseason games for his career before his 27th birthday.

This postseason, McQuaid, 26, has been a staple of Boston's third defensive pairing, providing a shut-down presence for Claude Julien. In the Eastern Conference Final, McQuaid scored the series-winning goal in a stunning four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

McQuaid has been gracious enough to agree to keep a player blog that will appear on NHL.com throughout the Stanley Cup Final.

In his latest installment, McQuaid talks about the city he has called home for the past three years, discussing the city's history, sports landscape and the indelible marks left on the city by the Boston Marathon bombing two months ago.

I've been in Boston for a few years now, and I love it. It was a bit of an adjustment coming to a bigger city from Prince Edward Island. But I think the great thing about Boston is it is a big city that has a small-town feel to it. For the most part, if I am getting out, I'm walking or taking the T or something. It's pretty easy getting around. I really do feel there couldn't be a better place to be.

It's a little harder to get around this time of year because of the attention that is on the team, and maybe people might recognize you a little bit more, so I don't get out and about as much anyway. It can be hit-or-miss, but I certainly don't get the attention level of other guys on the team.

When I do get out, I really like the North End. There are tons of great places to eat. I just like the feel of it.

This year, when the lockout was going on and I had my surgery and I wasn't able to do much of anything, I did some of the tourist things. I took the trolley tour. It's funny that you can live in a city -- I have lived here for three years -- and have no idea how much history there is. It's such a beautiful city, and to get out and learn about it and understand a little more about where you are living, it opens your eyes a little bit.

It's also cool to see some of the other sports teams in the city. I don't really know any of those guys personally. But, again, during the lockout I got to go to some Celtic games. It's always nice to support those other teams in the city. I've been to a few Red Sox games and there is no other experience like going to Fenway on a nice day and relax and watch the game. The Red Sox just recently had their 100th anniversary of the ballpark, and when you walk in you feel that history. Obviously, you hear so much about how unique the place is and how unique the Green Monster is, and it's cool to be able see it in person.

Obviously, the Boston Marathon bombing affected the city so much when it happened. It's always going to be with us, there is no doubt about that. It's something that hit the city pretty hard and hit our team pretty hard. But it is also something that brought everyone closer together. The term Boston Strong, now you know how strong the people are here and how they persevere, and I think we have just tried to emulate that.

It was something that I think everybody knew someone who was running in the marathon or knew someone that was down there watching. Everyone had some form of connection with the marathon, so I think it hit home for everybody. It's something that will be with us forever. I think the big thing was people tried their best to get back to doing their everyday thing and showing that it wasn't going to change the way people here in Boston live their lives.

We would love nothing more this year than do something special for everybody that lives here. We are focused on the task at hand and we need to be, but when it is all said and done, it would be nice to give the people in the city something to be happy about and cheer for.