Everyone hockey fan knows what tonight means. We have all been here before. Just 11 short months ago we watched our beloved Penguins go into Detroit and rip the Stanley Cup from their hands. Game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs is the best moment in sports. Two teams fighting to stay alive. At the end of tonight only one will move on. Two teams who have fought so hard will play one game to decide their fate. sixty minutes separates us from glory. All you need is one more goal than your opponent.

Last season we watched the Pens defeat both the Capitals and the Red Wings in Game 7’s. Both of those games came on the road. Tonight, the game is in our house. It is our job to protect our house. The Bell Center was loud, the Mellon needs to be louder. For sixty minutes tonight we need to be the better team. From the opening face-off we must dominate them and take away their hope and will to win.

The difference between the two teams rests in goal. For the Pens, Fleury doesn’t have to be spectacular, just good enough to keep them close. For the Canadiens, Halak has to stand on his head for all sixty minutes. One slip up by him could cost them their season. They must crack him tonight.

We aren’t the Capitals. We are more balanced and more prepared. Over the past two seasons the Pens have dealt with much adversity. They have overcame that. On our side we have two Art Ross Trophy winners, a Rocket Richard Trophy winner, a Conn Smythe Trophy winner, a Hart Trophy winner, two Olympic Goal Medalists, and we are the defending Stanley Cup Champions. If Montreal wants what we have they will have to come into our house, face our crowd, and pry it from our dead hands. Nothing will come easy tonight. Nothing ever does.

Game 7’s are where heros are born. Max Talbot, Mike Rupp, Ruslan Fedotenko all have scored game winning goals in a Game 7. All play for Pittsburgh. Montreal may have the history but history doesn’t count outside of your building.

Tonight we blow the roof off that old building. We must defend her one last time. We must keep what is rightfully ours. Last year we dismantled the Capitals in Game 7 on our ice. We aren’t the Capitals. You will fight for everything you earn and nothing will come easy. This is our house, our fans, our history, our Stanley Cup.

Try and stop us. Go Pens.