Sullivan gets Penguins pumped up for Game 7
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan’s message to his players Tuesday was that Wednesday’s Game 7 against the Washington Capitals is a game “that you live to play in.”
“It’s exciting hockey, two really good teams,” Sullivan said. “All things are equal here. Both teams have to win a hockey game.”
On one hand, the Capitals’ confidence has grown after winning the last two games of this series in convincing fashion. On the other hand, the Penguins are 5-0 in road Game 7 situations in franchise history.
One of those road wins was a 6-2 victory at Washington in 2009, when the Penguins were on their way to the franchise’s third Stanley Cup championship.
Last season, the Penguins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game of the Eastern Conference finals en route to another title.
“Experience helps, whether it’s Game 7 experience or playoff experience, just knowing what you need to do to prepare,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “We’ve played a lot of them together as a group.”
The Capitals also have considerable Game 7 experience, but much of it isn’t worth remembering. Washington is 4-10 in Game 7s in franchise history. But forward Justin Williams is 7-0 alltime in Game 7s.
The Penguins had a lively prac- tice Tuesday, with emphasis on moving the puck with speed. Players were flying about the ice, including Crosby, who seems to have no lasting effect from his Game 6 collision into the boards after suffering a concussion earlier in the series.
“We worked on one aspect of our game, just to try to clarify and heighten awareness,” Sullivan said. “It isn’t anything new, as far as a team concept or a tactical strategy is concerned.”
The Penguins’ mission in Game 7 is simple: generate more offensive zone time and create scoring chances. They have been outshot 200-133 in the series.
“We are trying to raise the awareness of our players, to try to give them options in certain areas of the rink, so we can establish more of an offensive attack,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said the Penguins hadn’t been putting the puck deep in the right places of the Washington zone.
“We are getting isolated pressure as opposed to cooperative pressure,” Sullivan said. “That’s the important message.”
While the Penguins have squandered a 3-1 lead in the series, they say they have not lost their confidence.
“Certainly our hockey team is excited about the opportunity we have in front of us,” Sullivan said. “We believe in this group. If we go out and execute and play the game the right way, we can compete with anybody. That’s what we believe. That’s what this team has shown for a long time. They have a knack of responding to the adversity.”