It's a Playoff night innnnnnnn Pittsburgh!

All 82 games, mean nothing. They were simply the precursor to the set up of the final dance, everyone is at 0-0 and the first team to get to 16 is going to be the team that drinks from Stanley's Cup. Will it be the Presidents trophy winning Cannucks? Will it be the defending Blackhawks? Will it be the Nashville Preda... sorry I can't even finish the question the idea is hilarious, just ask Jeremy Roenick. The Capitals? The Sharks? The Pens? Better be the Pens!

In all seriousness though this playoff season is wide open and match ups could go anywhere. The important thing for now is getting ramped up for the playoffs. Getting your mind right for hating the Lightning. As infuriating as it's going to be get used to the idea that you're going to hear Martin St. Louis's name over the intercom for scoring a goal. Get used to the idea that every time the Pens are on the attack you're going to be inches from leaping out of your seat. Get used to the idea that every time the Lightning are on the attack you're going to be clenching up in fear it could go past Fleury or Johnson. Most of all be ready, be ready for the in your face intensity of the greatest postseason in sports.

These 16 teams have battled hard all year, some through hell and back, others barely made it through on the skin of their teeth like the Blackhawks and Rangers. Each one has it's eye on only one prize, a prize not many of them have been able to covet at all, much less recently. A prize that Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma hoisted in his first half of a year with the team, a prize he hopes to hoist again come June.

Every series is a great match up, but only one matters more than the others right now for Pittsburgh. Tampa Bay stands in our way to victory, and the Pens must stand strong and banded together to block their way to the cup. It all starts tonight in Pittsburgh, Consol Energy Centers first ever whiteout. The Big screen is going to be back in the parking lot for all the fans who couldn't get tickets, the intensity is going to be brewing in the arena, and the noise will be electric and send shivers down your spine.

Pittsburgh stars in it's 5th straight playoff appearance, and they're dancing with the team that got them here. Time to grind these bitches down, Bylsma style.