After a night of cathartic dancing, an entire carton of ice cream, and 24 hours to think it over, I only have one phrase to say—we are going to win the whole damn thing. It is what is going to happen. It is what needs to happen, just like the players only meeting needed to happen. This is in their heads as much as it’s in ours. But, we’ve got this. You need this, I know you need this, cause I need this, too. 

I know what you all are thinking, “Chris, how can you be so sure?” which is a valid question and I’m not sure it’s one I have an answer for other than, I know we’re going to win. I’m clearly crazy, we’ve established this, but I truly believe it. We have played great for stretches and terrible for others. Our great wall hasn’t been great, but that doesn’t mean this is over. It is far from it.

I give you this quote:

“Over? Did you say over? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! It ain’t over now. Cause when the goin’ gets tough… the tough get goin’! Who’s with me? Let’s go! What the f**k happened to the Delta I used to know? Where’s the spirit? Where’s the guts, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you’re gonna let it be the worst. “Ooh, we’re afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble.” Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I’m not gonna take this. Wormer, he’s a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer… Dead! Bluto’s right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.” -Animal House(1978)

Look, this wasn’t going to be easy, but this is the adversity that the team must overcome to get to that next level. The Pens are putting away every opportunity that they get and that’s the difference maker. They won two here so we will go win two there. The good news is, the guys are fired up—our quietest player Nick Backstrom is vocal, which bodes well because when he speaks they will listen.

This is it, do or die, crunch time, win now or forever be classified as a team that can’t get over the hump. They are going to get over that hump, you just wait and see.

We’ve got this.

By Chris McIntosh