The underbelly of TD Garden is a massive labyrinth that even the most experienced beat writer can get lost in if they take the wrong turn. But at the Stanley Cup final media day on Sunday, that labyrinth turned into a sardine can filled with reporters looking to get a few last words in with the players, coaches and executives of the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues before the puck drops for Game 1 on Monday.
For the uninitiated, media days like this are a sensory overload of lights, cameras and reporters all asking different versions of the same questions. They hailed from Boston, St. Louis and all over the globe.
Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy knows this sort of intense scrutiny comes with the territory when you make it to the Stanley Cup final. But more importantly, several players who were on the Bruins teams that made it to the final when Boston advanced in 2011 and 2013 know this as well.
That experience is the biggest advantage Cassidy thinks the Bruins have over their foes from Missouri.
"I just believe that our guys that have been there, that have won a cup, have lost a cup, that should give us an edge," Cassidy said. "Some people disagree with that once you're here, but I believe it will give us an edge. I think it's helped us a lot this week in the preparation, with all the down time, and hopefully going forward, that is an advantage for us."
St. Louis defenseman and captain Alex Pietrangelo was surrounded by a throng of cameras and recorders as he took a seat for his media availability.
With both teams having so many similarities, including a physical style of play, Pietrangelo said depth may be the difference in the series.
"We've all played a lot of hockey. I mean, pushing, what, 100 games now?" he said. "We need to use everybody in every situation. So both teams have their depth. And the depth part of this series is going to be really important."
Some of the biggest starts of the day were the hometown heroes who have made it to the Bruins.
Charlie Coyle hails from Weymouth and was traded to the Bruins earlier in the season when he was with the Minnesota Wild.
Coyle remembers growing up and watching the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox win championships, like they did this past season.
And now, he wants to do his part to help Boston win another ring. On Monday, when all of the cameras and reporters are in the stands and he and his teammates are on the ice, he'll get that chance.
"Yeah, obviously we're searching for our turn now and to complete this thing," Coyle said. "And we've got a long ways to go here, but that's what we want to bring to the town. I don't think people around here are getting tired of championships."
