Penguins: Nothing Better than a Game 7
By Rich Donahue
The Pittsburgh Penguins face the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Consol Energy Center.
Pittsburgh sports fans have a love/hate relationship with Game 7’s. Some of the greatest moments in this town’s sports history have occurred in a Game 7. On the flip side, some Game 7’s have left fans with nightmares, ripping their heart out. But you have to admit, there is nothing better in sports than a Game 7.
Tonight the Penguins hope to add to that greatest moments’ category as they face the Tampa Bay Lightning for the right to go to the Stanley Cup Finals. They have already survived one do or die game this series, defeating the Bolts 5-2 on the road in Game 6. But history is not on the Penguins’ side when the puck drops a little after 8 pm.
The Pens are 2-7 all-time in home Game 7’s, dropping the last 4 played in Pittsburgh. The last time the Penguins played in a Game 7 with a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals on the line they faced another team from the Sunshine state. Twenty years ago they fell to the Florida Panthers 3-1 at Mellon Arena, earning the Panthers their only trip to the cup finals in team history. It has been over 21 years since the team won a Game 7 at home. In 1995, the Pens shutout the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals 3-0 behind backup goalie Ken Wregget.
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From a historical standout, the Penguins would be better off playing this Game 7 on the road. They are 5-0 all-time in road Game 7’s. The Penguins won two Game 7 road games when they last won the Stanley Cup back in 2009, including beating the Red Wings in Detroit to hoist the cup.
Like Pens fans, Pirates fans have mixed feelings when it comes to Game 7’s. All five of the club’s World Series titles have been clinched in a deciding Game 7. However, some of the darker moments in franchise history have took place in a Game 7.
The 1991 and 1992 Pirates lost back-to-back National League Championships to the Atlanta Braves in the seventh game of the series. Game 7 of the 1992 series hurts the most, with slow footed former Pirate Sid Bream scoring the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth to send the Braves back to the World Series. The loss propelled the Pirates into a 20 year tailspin.
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Win or lose tonight, this group of Penguins has recaptured the heart of this city. Fans had begun to lose faith in this team after consecutive playoff failures. The faith is back with this collection of Pens, hopefully for good.