2011 NHL Playoffs: Keys to a Pittsburgh Penguins Victory in Game 7

Less than a week ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins had a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

However, Pittsburgh has failed to close out the Bolts in two consecutive chances. They are now facing a win or go home matchup in tomorrow's Game 7 back at Consol Energy Center.

The Penguins certainly do not want to go down in NHL history for a negative reason, so they must find a way to come out on top. But of course, that is not going to be easy.

Here are some things the Penguins must do tomorrow to advance to the conference semifinals and avoid the golf course for a little bit longer.

1. Score First

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 23: Chris Conner #16 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his third period goal with Pascal Dupuis #9 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at

During the regular season, the Penguins won about 76 percent of games in which they scored the first goal.

In the playoffs, they have won 75 percent of their games after tallying the first goal. The one exception to this rule was last night's Game 6. Pascal Dupuis put the Penguins on the board in the first period, but they ended up falling 4-2.

The Penguins' losses in Games 2 and 5 happened when Tampa scored first and the Pens could not recover.

When the Penguins have trailed after the first in their current series, they have not come out with a win. During the season, they won only 49 percent of the time when this happened.

Since Pittsburgh's track record on coming back from behind is not a great one, finding the back of the net first will be critical.

2. Home Cooking

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 15: Members of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins take the ice prior to the start of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on April 15, 2011 i

Since this Game 7 is back in Pittsburgh, the Penguins will need to use home ice to their advantage.

However, that has been easier said than done in recent playoff history.

The last time the Penguins won a series at home was the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers, which they took in five games.

In the last three playoff runs, including this season's, the Penguins have lost three series clinching games at home. They went 3-4 in home games last postseason and are 1-2 at the Consol Energy Center so far this year.

The Penguins pride themselves on being a strong road team, which is no doubt a good asset for a team to have.

But that said, you have to win games regardless of where you play.

Penguins players have said in the past that the fans bring positive energy and make them feel confident in themselves. Tomorrow, they will have to feed on that energy and bring it on to the ice.

3. Power Play

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 20: Goaltender Dwayne Roloson #35 of the Tampa Bay Lightning defends the net against Tyler Kennedy #48 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the St. Pe

As any Penguins fan not living under a rock knows, the power play is just beyond words. That's how bad it is.

The Penguins' power play in the postseason is at 3.3 percent, the second lowest total among playoff teams. That's even worse than the regular season, when it was ranked 25th with a 15.8 percent success rate.

The 3.3 percent power play rate means the Penguins only have one power play goal on 30 chances. This includes an 0-for-20 tally at home.

In last night's game, Pittsburgh went 0-for-5. Although they managed eight shots, it is not good enough; after all, none of those shots went in the back of the net.

The power play will have to come to life for the team to win tomorrow, as it will be a critical part of any future playoff games they will play.

4. Penalty Kill

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 13: Pascal Dupuis #9 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battles in the corner against Mattias Ohlund #5 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energ

Unlike the power play, the penalty kill was excellent in the regular season. The Penguins had an 86.1 percent success rate for the top ranked penalty kill in the league.

However, that has taken a tumble in the playoffs as well.

They are now working at just a 68 percent success rate for 14th among playoff teams. They have given up eight power-play goals to Tampa, which is tied with the Nashville Predators for the highest total of the postseason.

In Games 2 and 5, the Lightning scored six power-play goals on the Penguins. Therefore, the Penguins averaged three power-play goals surrendered in those two games.

Tampa has a top five power play among playoff teams.

Can the Penguins re-discover the regular season magic of their penalty kill, or is it going down the tubes with their hopes for a long playoff run?

5. Stop Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 15: Vincent Lecavalier#4 (R) of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his first period goal with his teammates Martin St Louis #26 (L) and Simon Gagne #12 (C) during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Pitts

Lecavalier and St. Louis are two key players that remain from Tampa's 2004 Stanley Cup championship team. Despite the fact that they are aging for hockey players, they are big parts of this playoff run.

St. Louis leads players in the postseason with eight points and is also third with four assists.

Lecavalier is third on Tampa with six points and is first in the NHL with two game-winning goals during this series.

Pittsburgh will have to find a way to slow down these superstars if they want to make it to the next round. Whether they need to use physical play from Brooks Orpik or strong goaltending from Marc-Andre Fleury, they can't let this duo light up the scoreboard.

6. Killer Insinct

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 25: Maxime Talbot #25 of the Pittsburgh Penguins has a disagreement with Teddy Purcell #16 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the St. Pete Times Foru

The Penguins were once praised for their ability to come from behind in many games. They were not fazed by any form of adversity and always had something inside them that willed them to victory.

That doesn't seem to happen so much anymore, but the Penguins need to find their killer instinct if they want to come out on top tomorrow.

Going back to the first slide, part of this needs to come when the Penguins are behind. It's not acceptable to win none of your games after you fall behind.

Tyler Kennedy showed some heart in Game 3. Tampa had tied the game at two with Martin St. Louis' second power-play goal at 2:12 of the third, but just 31 seconds later, Kennedy scored the game winning goal.

Game 5 was a different story. The Bolts came out flying, determined to prevent elimination. They poured on the offense throughout the game, but Pittsburgh did not have an answer. By the time Mike Rupp scored (6:36 of the third), it was too late to even think about a comeback.

When Steve Downie scored 1:07 after Jordan Staal's third period goal last night, the Penguins could not come up with an answer, which ultimately cost them the game.

Tomorrow, the Penguins will have to respond to everything thrown at them. Whether Tampa gets a quick goal or Dwayne Roloson is coming up huge, the Pens have to keep persisting rather than think ahead to their summer vacation plans.