Game 7. The final countdown.

Should it of come to this? No, I really don't think so. Did it come down to this? Best believe your ass this is real, this is game 7. Stanley Cup playoffs round 1, game 7. Win, and move on, lose and cry over what could of been.When we started this journey it was wrought with a lot of questions. Can the Power Play do anything? The answer to that so far is a resounding unfortunate, no. Can the Penalty Kill stand up to the Power Play of the lighting? Again a resounding and unfortunate, no. Can the Penguins stop the offense of St.Louis, Lecavalier, and Stamkos? Well part of that equation but St.Louis has lit the lamp far too many times. Would Ryan Malone be a factor? In the first 5 games he was a joke, penalty after penalty putting his team in the wrong spots. Game six? He comes out and roofs Fleury for a goal that would put the Pens in crisis mode and send Game 7 back to Pittsburgh.

The past 82 regular season games and 6 Playoff games have been for one reason, getting to the Stanley Cup finals. Game 7, is no different. Everything is on the line in these final 60 minutes (barring OT) of round 1. Sid's possible return, reaching round 2 and getting a step closer to the finals, Kovalev's future in Pittsburgh, Marc Andre Fleury's confidence, Bylsma overcoming all the injury adversity and showing the league that superstars don't always have to carry the load... Much more than that and beyond for each of the 18 men who will be dressed to play tonight against Tampa.

This game, is it. The finality of it can be crushing to either side. You win here, you feel like you can do anything and ride that confidence into round 2. You lose? Well you go home and practice your golfing until training camp starts. Pittsburgh didn't battle all this way, through all this pain and through all this adversity, to lose against Tampa Bay. To lose against anyone. Until I see it happen, I won't believe it's possible. This is Consol Energy Centers biggest game of it's young lifetime and everyone in that arena tonight, outside, and in the city of Pittsburgh better be wearing white. Playoff beards are being grown for this by more than just players. Lives are on the line.

Pittsburgh's Power play isn't going to win them this game, it's at a dismal 4% or worse and won't improve drastically for this game. What needs to be done, is disciplined play, Tampa can take the penalties because they're killing all of them they take, Pittsburgh cannot afford this luxury and must keep themselves out of the box. No stupid hooks, or trips, no elbows, no damn interference calls, just play disciplined hockey. Keep the puck in the offensive zone and in the 70/30 ratio of control Bylsma likes. Out forecheck the opponent and get a handle on the dump and chase. Most of all pepper Roloson until he sneezes the rest of the game, he can get confused easily and make mistakes, capitalize off of it!

This one is for everything, every fan from infancy to elder adult hood has their hopes and dreams riding on this last game of the first round. Heart Attack city. Every shot by the Pens will bring you out of your seat, every shot by the Bolts will make you dread the outcome. Every hit, every play, should bring a roar from the crowd. They need to energize this team, they need to keep Tampa out of the game and most of all, Pittsburgh needs to bring this one to round 2, so they can face whomever it is gets reseeded against us. Buffalo lost to Philly and won't be advancing. Montreal and Boston are tied in their own game, so it's still up in the air who will be reseeded to face whom. Either way, one has to believe the Pens will play someone, whoever it is, they won't let them get in the way either.

Lets Go Pens, This what everything was for.

Bolts vs Pens Game 1, Round 1. Nothing worth winning... Ever came easy.

In a little under 2 hours the Penguins and the Lightning will face off on hockey's greatest stage, the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There had been many signs leading up to the culmination of the regular season that these two teams would be facing off in the first round, that outcome is now the reality. In this reality, the Penguins are without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, something you will hear much of through out the series. In this reality, Tyler Kennedy is the biggest offensive threat, Marc Andre Fleury is the pillar of hope, and the Defensive corps will look to continue to murder all the penalties it faces.

One team has all the offense, the other team has all the defense. Tampa's netminder is getting up there in age, Pittsburgh's on the other hand has been here now 5 straight seasons. Losing one in a fateful game 7 at home, then holding on to steal one in game 7 on the road with an amazing save in the final seconds. Here are the last 3 minutes of that game:



The moral of all this? The Penguins have veterans with cup experience,  young guns with cup experience, and only 3 players on the team debuting in their first playoff games. James Neal, Ben Lovejoy, and Deryk Engelland all have not played in an NHL playoff game in their careers. Lovejoy was a part of the team during the 2009 cup run and is technically a champion even though he did not participate. The two blueliners will look to make their presence known to the offense when out on the ice, and could make or break a game very easily. Neal, who if you didn't know is in some kind of slump, should use this experience as a time to become the hero. Difficult task however as he still will have all that first line spotlight on him without Crosby centering his line.



In case you hadn't heard, Crosby's not going to be playing and could miss the first round due to still not starting contact practice. So for anyone who thought the organization was bringing him back too soon, guess again as it hasn't happened yet. If you haven't seen the hits by Steckel or Hedman yet this year for whatever reason, be prepared to see it all playoffs long. Pittsburgh is also without the services of penalty killer and professional cookie, Matt Cooke for the first round due to suspension. His absence during the P.K has definitely been noticeable down the stretch of the final few games of the season and will certainly be mentioned any time the Pens give up a P.P goal.



Get your minds ready for playoff hockey because everything you saw in the regular season doesn't mean anything now that it's crunch time. Shootout wins? Who needs em, unlimited overtimes now. 16 teams are 0-0 and 16 teams have one goal, 16 wins and a Stanley Cup championship. Pittsburgh are you ready to answer the call? Hope you're wearing white because they're calling for white out conditions in the 'Burgh.

Do it Pens. LETS GO!