Stamkos on Rangers' Game 7 prowess: They have never played the Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning have had the benefit of an extra day to flush out their in-house illness, but they've also had another 24 hours to hear more and more about the New York Rangers and their unflappable performances in Game 7.

The Rangers have never lost one staged at Madison Square Garden. They are 4-0 in elimination games this spring. And most of all, their goaltender – the greatest one left in this tournament – is perfect, allowing less than one goal, on average, in his seven do-or-die clashes.

So sure, they've had an extra day to stew, and let Henrik Lundqvist enter their collective subconsciousness, but they've been afforded ample opportunity to put it all in perspective, too.

"(Lundqvist has) never played the Tampa Bay Lightning before in a Game 7," captain Steven Stamkos told reporters after the morning skate.

"That's our approach."

One way or another, legend will grow Friday night.