BRUINS NOTEBOOK: Backes puts aside St. Louis ties

David Backes, who was a crowd favorite when playing for St. Louis from 2006 until 2016 before he signed a free agent contract with the Bruins, received several emotional ovations from the St. Louis crowd upon his return to the Midwest over the previous three seasons. But those days are over.

ST. LOUIS - David Backes still has a soft spot in his heart for St. Louis, his hockey home of 10 years.

But the Boston winger has tossed aside all sentiment for the time being as the Bruins prepared for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.

"Things are different now," he says.

Backes, who was a crowd favorite when playing for St. Louis from 2006 until 2016 before he signed a free agent contract with the Bruins, received several emotional ovations from the St. Louis crowd upon his return to the Midwest over the previous three seasons.

But those days are over.

Now, he's simply an enemy in the gold and black.

And he fully understands the situation.

"I think I'm past the point of the soft and fuzzies," he said hours before Game 3 on Saturday night. "We had those moments in my returns (here) prior."

Backes is quick to point out that those regular-season ovations from his former supporters were nice.

But he expects no favors on this trip.

"It's all business," he said.

Backes considers St. Louis defenseman Alex Pietrangelo one of his best friends. He and his wife Kelly are close to Alex and Jayne. Backes was part of Pietrangelo's wedding party three years ago.

In fact, Pietrangelo texted Backes hours after the Blues beat San Jose in the Western Conference final.

Pietrangelo got no return response.

"That's just how it works, friendship are set aside until it's all over," Backes said.

The Minneapolis native still has some St. Louis running through his veins. He couldn't help but keep a watchful eye on the Cardinals and their game against the rival Chicago Cubs on Friday.

Plus, he remains a major supporter of the Five Acres Animal Shelter in nearby St. Charles, Missouri, a charitable organization and no-kill shelter for dogs and cats.

Backes got a chance to visit with some friends on Friday.

A day later, he was focused and business-like.

"Extra urgency," he said. "We need to respond and react and adjust just the way they did after losing Game 1.

The 35-year-old knows that most St. Louis fans respect his style of play - even if it's for the enemy.

"This place will always be special to me - no matter what happens," he says.

Friendly environs: The Bruins' locker room at Enterprise Center was adorned with pictures of Boston hockey legends of the past, making the current players feel right at home.

One photo has Zdeno Chara hoisting the Stanley Cup. Another features Brad Marchand with the trophy.

But the centerpiece, at least according to defenseman Connor Clifton, is a 1970 photo of Hall Of Fame defenseman Bobby Orr, sitting by the cup, striped down to his hockey underwear after the final game.

That photo was strategically positioned right next Clifton's dressing space.

"In the back of our minds, we want to look up and see what we're fighting for," Clifton said. "We are playing for the Stanley Cup. The pictures on the wall of the legends up there - we want to follow their lead."

The redecorating project was the brainchild of coach Bruce Cassidy.

Marchand loved the new look to the previously drab room.

"It's a good reminder of what it takes to get to this point," he said. "And the challenge that lies ahead.

 Moore is ready: Defenseman John Moore replaced the injured Matt Grzelcyk in the lineup for Game 3,

Grzelcyk is in concussion protocol after taking a hit from Oskar Sundqvist in Game 2. Sundqvist was suspended by the league for one game for the high hit.

Moore has played in five playoff games this season. His last appearance came on May 16 in the Eastern Conference clinching win at Carolina.

The 6-foot-2, 210 pound Moore is ready for the opportunity.

"As a team, we've had the next-man-up mentality the whole year," Moore said. "It's not John Moore against the St. Louis Blues. I'm just focused on coming in and doing my job."

Moore brings some Stanley Cup final experience. He played in four games for the New York Rangers in the 2014 final against the Los Angeles Kings.