James van Riemsdyk’s experience with Game 7s on Causeway Street have been a roller coaster of emotions.

As a rookie in 2010, he was part of the Philadelphia Flyers team that shocked the Bruins, erasing an 0-3 series deficit – then an 0-3 hole in the game – to beat the B’s on Garden ice.

But his experience went downhill from there. He was part of the 2013 Maple Leafs’ team that blew a 4-1 third period lead and lost in overtime. He lost another one with Toronto in 2018.

But van Riemsdyk, on his 35th birthday, was set to take the ice for Game 7 on Saturday as a member of the home team for the first time here.

“It’s going to be nice on the cheering side of this building. It’s going to be a lot of fun and a lot of excitement,” said van Riemsdyk after the morning skate. “I’ve played in quite a few Game 7s in this building and over the course of my career, whether it was in Philly or Toronto. These opportunities are super exciting. This is why you play.”

The Leafs have managed to stave off elimination in two straight game. Now, for the first time, the B’s are facing a do-or-die game.

“All the chips are on the table for both sides so, yeah, it’s one of those things where there’s extra excitement, extra juice gets brought into these Game 7 moments,” said van Riemsdyk. “I’ve been lucky enough to play in a few of them in my career. Again, they’re always great atmosphere and I’ve had a few of them in this building in the building’s always rocking for it, so I’m excited for it.”

Van Riemsdyk said the key to success is staying even-keeled.

“Just staying in the moment is really important. You don’t want to get too high or too low,” said van Riemsdyk. “There’s always going to be things that don’t go the perfectly planned way over the course of these games. It’s all about the next shift. That’s always the way it’s got to go to be successful in these Game 7s.”…

Danton Heinen, who has been dealing with some sort of injury that finally cost him Game 6, was on the ice for the morning skate. For public consumption, his availability was still up in the air when coach Jim Montgomery met with reporters.

“We’re not sure yet. We’re going to see how he feels. I haven’t talked to him post-skate,” said Montgomery.

Heinen looked to be in when he took his position on the second power-play unit during the skate. But they also looked at another configuration without Heinen and with Justin Brazeau moving into the net-front position and Pavel Zacha moving over to Heinen’s elbow spot.

Heinen had just one assist in this series, but it was a big one at the time, setting up Brad Marchand’s game-winner in Game 4….

Auston Matthews, who missed both Leafs’ wins in Games 5 and 6 with an undisclosed injury/illness, was on the ice for Toronto’s morning skate but Leafs’ coach Sheldon Keefe said his availability had yet to be determined….

With the B’s allowing a 3-1 series lead to slip away, much of the focus, and criticism, has landed on David Pastrnak’s shoulders. He had 2-2-4 totals in the first four games of the series but was shut out in Games 5 and 6. In Game 6, he looked clearly frustrated. He landed four shots on net, but had five blocked and he missed the net twice. After Game 6, Montgomery, always very careful with his criticism of players, said that the brilliant winger needed to step up and be the dominant force he can be.

“I don’t think anyone is more upset about this than Dave. He’s a proud man,” said Kevin Shattenkirk. “He’s been obviously our best player all season and he takes a lot of pride in that and being a force out there. I know he’’s going to bring great things tonight.”…

The B’s had jumped out to their 3-1 series lead largely on their goaltending and power play. They clicked on six of 13 opportunities in the first four games. But in Games 5 and Games 6, they had just one PP in each game. Yes, there were a couple of missed calls – Pontus Holmberg holding Brad Marchand in Game 5, Holmberg crosschecking Mason Lohrei into the boards in Game 6 – but the issue of not getting power plays is mostly self-inflicted.

“There’s always a couple of calls that could be made, but you know what it comes down to is we haven’t been going to hard enough areas consistently,” said Montgomery. “I look at the last penalty we drew. (John) Beecher takes it hard to the net, he gets tripped. Whether it was a trip or a hook it doesn’t matter. You’re forcing them to defend the hard area and that’s usually where you draw penalties.”…

Andrew Peeke, who left Game 2 after blocking a shot and hasn’t played since, joined his teammates for the morning skate. Montgomery said that, as of 11 a.m., the rugged defenseman had not been cleared yet…

In an attempt to change the mojo, Montgomery decided to hold the morning skate at the Garden instead of Warrior Ice Arena, where it’s usually held.

“We anted to change things up. This is one of the things we changed up,” said Montgomery.

Every little bit helps. At least that was the theory.