The Pittsburgh Penguins have the edge in playoffexperience. Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher sees it differently, saying that theLightning have played in more Game 7s this season.
Two, in factboth in this series.
Game 1:at PIT
TAM 0, PIT 3 - Final
Recap | Box Score
Game 2:at PIT
TAM 5, PIT 1 - Final
Recap | Box Score
Game 3:at TAM
PIT 3, TAM 2 - Final
Recap | Box Score
Game 4:at TAM
PIT 3, TAM 2 - Final 2OT
Recap | Box Score
Game 5:at PIT
TAM 8, PIT 2 - Final
Recap | Box Score
Game 6:at TAM
PIT 2, TAM 4 - Final
Recap | Box Score
Game 7:at PIT
TAM 1, PIT 0 - Final
Recap | Box Score
* - If necessary
Series Breakdown
For us, its been a Game 7, Boucher said Tuesday. Weve been playingGame 7 hockey for the past two games, and were not about to change ourattitude.
The Lightning won each of the last two games while facing elimination,coming back from a 3-1 series deficit to tie the best-of-seven first-roundseries at three games apiece.
Game 7 is Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, and this timefor the first timethis postseasonthe Penguins will know that a loss means the end of theirseason.
We would have taken it in five or six, but we knew we were playing a goodopponent, Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. We knew they would respond. Weknew they are a hardworking group. We know what theyre good at. We fully expectto be entrenched in a battle with Tampa Bay.
The Lightning havent even had to get into too much of a battle in winningthe past two games at Consol Energy Center. In winning Games 2 and 5 there,Tampa Bay outscored the Penguins 13-3.
During a playoff season in which the road teams have won more often thanthose at home, will the venue matter?
It hasnt over the history of the Penguins franchise. They are 2-5 in Game7s at hometheyve won all five theyve had on the roadincluding losing 5-2to Montreal in Game 7 of the second round last season, the final game everplayed at the Civic Arena.
Weve won in this building, and thats a good thing because we have thatconfidence coming in, Lightning sniper said.
Only a handful of Tampa Bay players have experience playing in a Game 7.Pittsburgh has been in three over the past two postseasons, including winningboth en route to taking the Stanley Cup in 2009.
None of us are even thinking about what happens if we lose right now,Penguins defenseman said. That shouldnt even enter your head. Weknow were in our own building here and we know whats made us successful thusfar and what weve done to win games. I think we need to focus on stayingpositive and doing the right things, and the outcome will take care of itself.
The Lightning are preaching a similar mantra.
Boucher was pleased with how his team did not allow what he considered to bea Pittsburgh scoring chance over the final 10 minutes of Game 6 on Monday.
Weve been facing elimination the last two games and we came out each gamewith the right frame of mind and the structure was really good, Lightningcaptain said. Weve just go to continue that.
Tampa Bay also figures to continue to approach killing penalties the sameway it has after the Penguins have scored only once in 30 power-playopportunities.
Pittsburghs power play ranked 25th in the NHL during the regular seasonand it got worse as the season went on. But the units quarterback, defensemanshrugged those numbers off.
I think over six games we have like 26-27 scoring chances on our powerplay, he said. Its just a question of bounce. Sometimes you just get alucky goal or a lucky bounce and it goes in, and we dont talk about the powerplay anymore.
The Penguins power play surely would be better if was on it.Crosby hasnt played since Jan. 5 due to a concussion, but that hasnt stoppedBoucher from saying he prepares for Pittsburgh as if Crosby will be in thelineup.
I always thought hed show up at some point Im always expecting themto throw him at us, Boucher said.
That is extremely unlikely, but maybe just the presence of their famouslysuperstitious erstwhile captain rubs off on the organization. Bylsma is wearinghis lucky suit, and the Penguins longtime anthem singer will be back for Game 7after the previous two losses when a fill-in sang.
When it comes to Game 7 in hockey, anything goes.
I feel the same way about routines as I do with the way our team is goingto play Game 7, Bylsma said. Im confident our team knows how to play(Wednesdays) game. Im confident that they know how we need to play to havesuccess.
Notes: Stamkos politely refused to address a report that Penguins D tried to poke his eye during a scrum in the third period of Game 6. Despite the availability of Consol Energy Center and an apparent option topractice in the morning at home before its flight to Pittsburgh, the Lightningpracticed Tuesday at the same suburban rink they did the day before their 8-2victory in Game 5. As expected, neither coach would directly addresspossible lineup changes.
