Must Win

In my opinion, tonight's Game 3 between the Pens and the Bolts, is a must win for the boys from Pittsburgh. Here's my reasoning, they looked like crap on Friday night, plain and simple, they were outplayed. If they go down in the series 2-1, with another game in Tampa on Wednesday, it could be all but over.

Tampa left the 'burgh with a split; I don't think they were expecting much else. Game 1 was a fairly evenly played game, minus an 18-second brain fart from the Floridians, the game was a dead-heat.

Friday's game was different, I was there and it just didn't feel like playoff game. First off Jeff Jimerson did not perform the anthem for the second game in a row. I understand they gave a soldier the chance to sing, he played up the crowd, yada, yada, yada, but Jimerson is the go-to guy. You think the Bulls want Joakim Noah taking the last shot, NO. Their go-to guy is Rose, and the Pen's anthem guy is Jimerson. Don't mess it up. Ok so maybe I am making too big a deal out of the anthem singer, but hockey is a superstitious sport. Don't screw around with something that has been working.

Also on Friday, it seemed like the refs were conflicted when it came to whistles. Maybe it had something to do with Tampa bitching about the officiating in Game 1, or maybe it didn't. But something was weird. There were 4 penalties in the first 4 minutes. When has that ever happened. Then the whistles went silent for an extended period of time. Didn't make sense. However, silent whistles are good for the Pens though. You and I have a better chance of scoring on the PP from our computers than that group of guys do with an extra man. Even though John Stamos, Marty St. Louis, and Vinny haven't got it revved up yet, it won't be long if they are given the chances.

This is just like the Montreal series last year. The Pens aren't worked up. The Bolts are not a rival. There really isn't any bad blood, its just another game. Doesn't have that playoff intensity. Hopefully they realize that they need to hate this team. Loathe this team. Smack Malone in the nose a few times. Chop Hedman down. Break old man Roloson's hip. Do something to ignite a fire. This is where Matt Cooke would have come in handy. Who else in the league relishes the chance to stir things up more than Cooke. Without Cooke, it has to be Asham, Talbot, or Rupp who gets the juices flowing. In Game 1, Orpik's hit on Stamkos set the tone for the entire game. There was nothing like that Friday night.





The Pens need to come out early, control the puck, throw their bodies around, and find that hatred for the Lightning. If they can score first that will be a victory in itself. If Tampa get off and running, it will be like a frozen Heinz bottle, too hard to catch up.