Game 6 goat Bernier appreciates team’s support: “Everybody in this room has been so nice”

The most indelible moment from New Jersey’s Stanley Cup run might not be a goal, a save or even a win.

It might be a show of support.

The Devils met with the media on Wednesday and, to a man, defended forward Steve Bernier for his costly five-minute boarding major that led to three L.A. goals.

Lou Lamoriello: “I’m just so proud of the way [Bernier] handled it after the game and what he said.”

Ilya Kovalchuk: “That fourth line that included Bernie was great and a reason why we were in the Cup Final.”

Peter DeBoer: “Steve was trying to do what we asked him to do and what he was very effective at doing the entire playoffs. I have no negative feelings toward that play.”

This wasn’t the first time the Devs backed Bernier — he said his mates approached him after Game 6 and said the loss wasn’t his fault — but this public re-iteration of support clearly meant a lot to him.

“Everybody in this room has been so nice,” Bernier said. “I didn’t try to do a non-hockey hit or something you don’t usually do on the ice. I played the same way for the season, hitting every chance I got.

“It’s hard to take, but the last thing I need to do is stop hitting next year. I’ve got to play the same way if I want to make the team.”

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