The night before Thursday Swedish time, the final series between Colorado and Tampa Bay starts.
Colorado starts with two straight home games before visiting the champions from 2020 and 2021.
Gabriel Landeskog, team captain in Colorado, says that the demands on the team have been gradually increased during the season.
- In general, the expectations and demands we place on ourselves as a team and on our teammates have been raised.
That was also the case during the basic series, it's not okay with a mediocre performance.
We want to see good performances every day, whether it is training or morning recruitment.
It is important that everyone pulls in the same direction and there we have found a way to do it.
Now we have a tough test ahead of us but it's fun, says Gabriel Landeskog at a press conference.
Hedman: "Looking forward to this"
The 29-year-old Swede has played in Colorado for over ten years and was named captain in 2012. Never before has he reached beyond the quarterfinals and the last time Colorado won the Stanley Cup was 21 years ago.
- A fantastic opportunity.
Of course you know about the history you had and what you went through but I try to live in the present as much as I can and just try to focus on what I can influence right now and it's really just to prepare for match one, says Landeskog and continues :
- It is really only training days and when you try to sleep or rest that the thoughts can run away a bit.
But it's only human to dream and dream away, and I think it's important to let yourself do that.
Once you get to the match, it is routines that apply and full focus on what I am going to do.
Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has two straight titles and for Victor Hedman it will be the third straight final.
- They have been looking forward to this for a few days now, that tomorrow will come, Hedman says.