Following a first-round elimination last year with the Nashville Predators, Matt Cullen nearly called it quits.
"After the last game in Chicago, Game 6, I remember sitting, taking a minute," Cullen told ESPN's Scott Burnside. "It was kind of an emotional day. I kind of thought that was probably it. Mike Fisher came in, and we talked for a little bit. I thought there was a real good chance that was it."
Now a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Cullen enjoyed a renaissance regular season in which he scored 16 goals, and he's riding the same wave in the playoffs with three goals - and two game-winners - to his name.
Cullen, a member of the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, said this postseason run is different.
"I don't know if I've ever had more fun playing the game," Cullen said. "I'm appreciating the opportunity a lot more. And it's just all about making another run trying to win another Cup. You know when you're younger you're always worried about a million different things. For me it's brought me a lot more clarity at this point in my career."
The 39-year-old signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Penguins in the offseason to provide a stabilizing presence in the dressing room and ideally contribute some scoring.
He's done just that.
"When the stakes are high, he is about as even-keeled player as you can find," general manager Jim Rutherford said.
