Pens try to learn from past mistakes

[Goffie]

The Pittsburgh Penguins found themselves in the drivers seat of their round 1 matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes up 3-1 after 4 games, only to drop the next two games and edge the Canes in a hard fought 7th game. The Pens found themselves in an even better situation heading into game 4 of their round 2 series against the Washington Capitals up 3-0. But the Caps have battled back winning the next 2 games making the series 3-2 heading back to Steel town for the all important game 6. The Pens will have to focus hard on ending the series in 6 or else it won't look good for them having to win a second consecutive game 7 on the road, this time surely without any momentum whatsoever.

Captain Koivu had this to say:

For whatever reason we have struggled finishing teams off this post season, we have to learn not to take our foot off the gas and develop a killer instinct if we wanna advance any farther.

Star forward Jason Spezza commented:

Our best players need to be our best players, it is not right for us to depend on secondary scoring to win us games. The bottom 6 are doing there job, but I don't feel like myself or my linemates are doing ours. I am going to do everything I can to help our team get as far as possible. I was one game away from being a champion last season in Minny and I feel I need to build off that and help our team get to the next round.

Coach Lindy Ruff was a little less diplomatic about the situation:

We are really ting the bed here, we had two chances to finish the Caps off and failed both times. This is not good enough, when you let good teams hang aound they tend to make you pay and we can't have that happen in this case. Game 6 is a must win for us!!

GM Goffie said that his health can't take another long series:

After going 7 games in round 1 my blood pressure went through the roof so our team doctor is recommending that I get away for a bit for health reasons. I will not be around during Game 6 or god forbid if there is a game 7 as I am travelling to Halifax on a gambling/alcohol therapy program ( as in gamble and drink as much as possible in a 2 day span). I will have sent in my lines for game 6 and will hopefully be sober enough to do it if the series lasts 7 games. I will be meeting with GM Drunk up there for a couple beers and to go over what not to do in a series against Grant if it by chance comes down to that in the end. I will have computer access but not sure if I will be sober enough to read the screen, and if all goes as planned and we can win game 6, I will probably be in trouble with Hotel Security cause is gonna be a 48hr victory party before round 3 starts.

Time will tell if the Pens can finish the Caps and avoid another game 7 on the road; the one guarentee is that game 6 is gonna be a dandy!!

[notoepik]

Have a talk with the Hawks team will ya. We can do a video conference and you can kick some work ethic into them.