Stanley Cup Playoffs ECQF Game 1: Tampa Bay Lightning @ Pittsburgh Penguins - 7PM EST

GAME 1

Game Day after the jump.....

Where:

Network:

ROOT (HD), CBC(HD)

The big screen will make its appearance again.

So will the whiteout. Except this year they are not passing out white shirts, so bring your own white.

Pittsburgh Lines:

Neal----------Letestu--------Kovalev

Kunitz-------Staal-----------Kennedy

Dupuis------Talbot---------Connor

Rupp--------Adams--------Asham

Letang----------Orpik

Martin----------Michalek

Niskanen------Lovejoy

Fleury

Johnson

Tampa Bay Lines:

Gagne-----------Stamkos-----------Downie

Malone----------Lecavalier--------St. Louis

Bergenheim----Moore-------------Purcell

Tyrell------------Thompson-------Hall

Brewer------------Lundin

Hedman----------Kubina

Ohlund-----------Clark

Roloson

Smith

One thing is for certain after the 82 game regular season. Those 82 games now mean nothing. Welcome to the 2nd season Penguins fans, buckle up, its gonna be a wild ride. Its hard to describe playoff hockey. The pure emotion of it can not accurately be put into words. It must be experienced. At Mellon Arena we knew all the factors that came with playoff hockey. We've felt the F balcony shake beneath our feet. We've gotten goosebumps as Jeff Jimerson belted out the anthems. We recall the taunting chants of KOLLL-ZZIIIIG, OSSS-GOOOOD, and MAARR-TTYYY raining down like shame bullets on opposing goalies. We remember the blissful goal call which would echo in the arena, MARIOOOO LEMIEUUUUUUUUUX. It's playoff hockey and this is as good as it gets...

Tonight new memories will take place as Consol Energy Center will host its first playoff game, and with an old friend sitting across the street we owe it to Ol' Lady Mellon to blow the lid off the joint tomorrow. All year we've been excited to see what Consol could do. Tomorrow is our chance,. If you are going to the game be loud and stay loud all game. Be loud enough to give Sidney Crosby yourself a headache.

Game 1's are big for teams to set the tone for series. The Bolts have a relatively green team when it comes to playoff hockey. The Pens on the other hand have experience in their favor. The Pens need to come out flying in front of the Consol crowd and establish themselves physically from puck drop. Force Tampa into mistakes and capitalize on them. Rattling the nerves of this Tampa team especially early could give the Pens the win and a 1-0 lead in the series.

Great Moments in Penguins Playoff History:

Double J.

The Pens need to bring back the old "Boys of Winter" song

Like I said earlier the Pens need to come out the gate fast. One man exemplified this back in 07 and 08 scoring the opening goal in both playoff years. If the Pens play with the intensity of this guy tomorrow they will undoubtedly take a 1-0 series lead.

LETS GO PENS