Low profile and high times: Coach Claude Julien has Bruins nearing another Stanley Cup

BOSTON — Claude Julien doesn't pay much attention to compliments or criticism.

Just give him a pair of skates, players to teach and a spot behind the bench and the coach of the Boston Bruins is thrilled.

"If I could come to work every day, do this stuff, then walk out of the rink and nobody knew who I was, I'd be the happiest guy in the world," he says. "That's just the way I am. It's my personality."

It's tough for him to be anonymous, however, when he's three wins from a second Stanley Cup championship in three years. Especially after he's taken his team to the playoffs in each of his six years as coach and has the second-most postseason victories of any NHL coach in that stretch.

He would get his 50th, one less than Mike Babcock of Detroit, with a win Monday night in Game 3 that would give the Bruins a 2-1 lead over the Chicago Blackhawks in the best-of-seven series.

Then there's the recognition Julien really doesn't want — the repeated rumblings that he might get fired if he doesn't win a particular postseason series.

Julien was honored as coach of the year for his regular-season performance in 2008-09. But the next season when the Bruins lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals after winning the first three games, there were calls for his exit.

The next year the Bruins captured their first Stanley Cup since 1972, winning three of their four series in seven games and taking the title with a 4-0 victory in Vancouver in Game 7.

But when Boston lost to Washington in the first round last season, the critics returned. And it didn't get better when the Bruins nearly blew a 3-1 series lead to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round this year.

"I've been here for six years. I think I've been fired five times," Julien said to laughter. "You know, those kinds of things really are not important to me. What's important is the results. As long as the people I work for appreciate what we do, that's what matters. At the end of the day, winning hockey games for our fans and for the city is what matters to me. That stuff is really no bother to me."

He said that after the Bruins swept the favored Pittsburgh Penguins in the conference finals.

His detractors have been silenced.

The speedy Paille has reason to admire his coach.

He scored the winning goal in Boston's 2-1 overtime win in Game 2 in Chicago after Julien put Tyler Seguin, maybe even faster than Paille, on his line after the team's listless opening period Saturday night. Seguin made a perfect pass from the boards and Paille fired the puck past goalie Corey Crawford.

Sometimes knocked for playing too defensively and being slow to change, Julien made the right move to generate offense.

"I think he makes great adjustments," Seguin said. "You've got to give him credit. He's a great coach. He's definitely got a lot of experience at this level and in these situations."

He could have had more.

In his last game, Julien beat the Bruins 3-1. It was the Devils' fourth win in five games, but Lamoriello said he felt they weren't ready for the playoffs. Julien reacted calmly.

"You're thinking you're going to be heading into the playoffs and you're getting mentally prepared for that," he said then. "You don't want to be let go with three games left in the season, but at the same time, everybody has a job to do, and that's a part of the game you have to understand."

The Bruins hired him before the next season after one year under Dave Lewis and two straight finishes out of the playoffs. Since then, they're 275-146-56 in the regular season and 49-31 in the playoffs.

Julien carried them through a tough stretch this season when they lost 14 of 22 games and were outscored in the last three of those 17-5.

But he talked with his players, tweaked their strategy and led them to nine wins in their last 12 games entering the playoffs.

And this time, the even-keel coach's team was definitely ready for the playoffs.