Penguins need to have a "heightened" sense of urgency to close out series Monday night

Post-Game Five Reactions

Admit it. When the Canadiens scored late Saturday night against the Penguins, you got nervous. Don’t worry. You should’ve been. This Montreal team always has life. And it draws on every breath big time, even when the pulse is faint.

That’s why it is so important for Pittsburgh to close out this best of seven Eastern Conference Semifinal Monday night in Game Six back in Montreal.

And the Penguins have a bad history when it comes winning initial close-out games in playoff series.

Game Five vs. Ottawa this year

Game Six vs. Washington last year

Game Five vs. Philadelphia last year

Game Four vs. the Rangers in 2008

Game Four vs. the Flyers in 2008

Yes, the Penguins usually do finish off their playoff opponents. But it usually takes a little bit longer than their fans would like. And in this series, against a team with a well deserved “never-say-die” attitude, the Penguins would be best served avoiding a chance where Montreal could gain further hope in the form of a Game seven.

“We have to come out with a heightened sense of urgency and desperation in a tough place in Game Six against a team that isn‘t going to quit,” said Penguin head coach Dan Bylsma. “This team deserves a lot of credit for the way they keep coming at us. We have to respect that and be ready to bring that urgency and desperation level.”

When the Penguins have closed out various series, they have often done so on the road. Each of the last five playoff series victories have been clinched away from Mellon Arena. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that the bunker mentality of playing in a hostile environment brings the best out of this Penguin team.

“We are going to go in their building. We know it is going to be hard. But we are just going to go in there and play the game which we always play on the road,“ says Penguin defenseman Kris Letang.