LEWISTON — It’s difficult to reproduce the arena experience, but the people of Gridiron Restaurant sure gave it a try Wednesday.

By the time the first puck was dropped in Vancouver, they were already loud in Lewiston. Bruins fans, mostly, at every table and on every stool.

The hockey game was on a dozen televisions and the volume was up. The hits were so loud, you could almost feel them.

“This is the way it’s supposed to be,” said Bonnie Morin. “This is why we came out. It’s a lot more fun to go out than it is to watch at home.”

As far as sports thrills go, few things can match Game 7 of the Stanley Cup series.

At bars all over Lewiston and Auburn, fans in black and gold grabbed seats before television sets. At the Gridiron, it was particularly raucous. When the Bruins drew first blood late in the first period, the place went nuts.

“It’s definitely a matter of which team shows up,” said Melanie Sparks-Ide. “The Bruins really wore down Vancouver’s defense a couple nights ago.”

It had been a crazy series, all right. Three tight, low-scoring games in Vancouver, three shoot-outs in Boston. Now it was back to Vancouver and it was do or die.

You could feel the pressure at the Gridiron, in spite of specials on domestic beers and margaritas. A nail-biter would be nice, fans said, but so would a display of Bruins domination. It’s been since 1972 since the B’s have hoisted a cup, after all.

“I’d like to see a good game,” Morin said. “But a Bruins blowout would be all right, too.”

“A win is a win,” Sparks-Ide said. “That’s the way I see it.”

Every other person was wearing a Bruins jersey, a hat or a sweatshirt. When there was a hard hit or a puck rolling across the crease, the whole building seemed to shake.

“You’re killing me!” a tall fellow screamed, his hands clutched to his Boston Bruins cap as a puck slid across the front of the Canucks’ net. “Killing me!”

Yet, he was still alive at the end of the first period, as the Bruins skated away with a nice, but not comfortable, 1-0 lead.

Not everyone made it out to watch the game. For some, there was no place like home when it came to waiting to see if the Bruins could finally bring home a cup.

“I got the game cranking,” said 41-year-old John Frechette. “Just had burgers on the fire. Cold Rolling Rocks. Hot as hell but I’m still sweating in my Bruins jersey. I was 2 years old when they won it last. I want something to remember.”

When Patrice Bergeron scored in the first to put the Bruins on top, Frechette became incoherent with celebration.

Elsewhere in Lewiston, Keith Greaton was watching at home with his wife and kids, 6 and 9 years old.

“Been a fan since the day I was born,” Greaton said. “I’ll be wearing my autographed Ray Bourque hat tonight for good vibes.”

At the Gridiron, the crowds stuck around as the first period became the second. The Bruins scored and scored again. Suddenly, it was 3-0 and the second period became the third. It was a fast and furious game, nice and thrilling. Just the way hockey fans like it.

By late Wednesday night, it began to look as though it might really happen. The Bruins might carry off a Stanley Cup for the first time since 1972.

Of course, since it was a weeknight, sooner was preferable to later.

“I’ve got to go to work tomorrow,” Morin said. “So I can’t be up all night.”