“He’s been to many games, but this is a special little boy right here,’’ David said, patting his little boy on the head. “He’s had six major open heart surgeries and he has muscular dystrophy. He’s doing awesome with his heart now, but we just found out about the muscular dystrophy eight weeks ago.

“If there’s any kid in the world who’s going to beat it, it’s him.’’

David Yurik came to TD Garden Plaza to photograph his son in front of the Bobby Orr statue, hoping it would bring some luck, for little Cam, who has been to every home playoff game but one this season, and the Bruins.

“It didn’t bring us any luck Monday,’’ Yurik said, referring to the Bruins’ 4-0 loss in Game 5, the day the statue was unveiled.

Looking at his blond-haired boy, who wore a black Tim Thomas sweater and was eager to get going, Yurik added, “That’s why I brought my good-luck charm.’’

Anxiety filled many a Bruins fan who showed up to have their photo taken next to Orr’s statue. Two Garden security guards were on hand — just in case.

Chuck Smedley, 60, of Haddonfield, N.J., was accompanied by his wife Ellen, daughter Becky, and her friend, Megan Villa. Smedley posed in front of the statue wearing a black Flyers windshirt. No one, though, gave him grief. He was given tickets by his neighbor, Flyers goalie Brian Boucher, who injured his left knee in Game 5.

“I asked him what were his first thoughts when he was laying there,’’ Smedley said. “And he told me, ‘My career.’ ’’

Smedley came in the hopes of not only watching the Flyers advance but also in the hopes of getting Orr to autograph one of his cherished hockey heirlooms: an old matchbook from Ron and Bobby Orr clothing and sporting goods in Parry Sound, Ontario.

“They used to have the store, but they don’t have it anymore,’’ Smedley said. “I came to the Winter Classic and I got up into the boxes to see if I could get him to autograph it. I went to every box and they said he had left.’’

Last night, though, Bruins fans were hoping Orr’s statue would serve as a talisman for all that has ailed the Black and Gold recently.

“They need some luck,’’ said Ellen Belcastro, 54, of East Conway, N.H., who was with her son, Brett, 27, and his co-worker, Megan Armata.

Armata had her photo taken in front of the statue and said, “Maybe I should rub it.’’

With that, Ellen Belcastro broke for the statue and rubbed Orr’s skate. She wasn’t the first and won’t be the last.

“His presence here is going to help them step it up a notch,’’ she said. “It’s [the statue’s] first Game 7, so we got to do it.’’

Michael Vega can be reached at vega@globe.com.