The Pats' victory clinched a spot in their eighth Super Bowl of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era, an unprecedented run of success that has highlighted the golden age of Boston sports.
"You can't help but get caught up in it. I've been in New England 10 years…you can see how teams continually can't put the Patriots way…they're in people's heads," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, who visited Patriots training camp this past summer and met with owner Robert Kraft.
"It's an amazing quality that this team has, the culture that they've created, their identity. We'd love to be that, where we're coming at you, we're coming at you and it doesn't matter what happens right until the bitter end. We'll see where that goes.
"You've got to be champions to do that, there's guys in this locker room that were and would like to again. The younger guys that haven't hopefully that's one of the things that they embrace."
Grzelcyk, one of the Bruins' five rookies, believes the Patriots provide plenty of lessons he and his fellow youngsters can draw from.
"I think they're just really good at not overcomplicating things," said Grzelcyk. "The motto is do your job, just very simple, just go out there and do what's asked of you. I think that's something that's stuck with us. We're trying to take it one game at a time right now and apply that to our game."
One of the other special things about Boston sports is the camaraderie between all the teams in town. Last spring, Patriots safety Patrick Chung joined the B's for a skate at the end of practice and earlier this month Rob Gronkowski, Brandin Cooks, Rex Burkhead, Jordan Richards, Shea McClellin, and Geneo Grissom attended the B's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Cooks, who purchased a Patrice Bergeron jersey before the game, then joined his teammates for a visit with Boston's alternate captain following his four-goal outburst in the 7-1 win over the 'Canes.
In addition to Cassidy's visit to training camp, a group of Bruins, which included Rask, Krug, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, Nash, Brandon Carlo, and Tim Schaller, took in a Patriots practice earlier this fall.
"Year after year, they've been really good. Obviously Tom Brady has been around a long time and they have a good coach. It's fun to watch," said Krejci. "I picked good years to be playing for Boston and becoming a Patriots fan…once our games are done we try to support the other teams as well."
