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Penguins stayed in a hotel at home to prep for Game 7

Chris Kunitz

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Chris Kunitz, left, celebrates a goal with Sidney Crosby (87) during the third period of a second-round NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoff series against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, May 7, 2014, in New York. The Penguins won 4-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

AP

The Pittsburgh Penguins are trying to win their first Game 7 since 2009. While you’d think having home ice advantage would give the Pens a reason to be comfortable, sometimes you have to do things different to change your focus.

As Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review shares, the Penguins spent the night in a Pittsburgh-area hotel to create a road-like atmosphere to prepare for tonight’s game.

In the series against the New York Rangers, the Penguins are 1-2 at CONSOL Energy Center and they have a 10-11 record all-time in the playoffs at their home arena. Even against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round the Penguins dropped a game at home before ending that series in six games.

Staying in a hotel at home isn’t an uncommon tactic. Many teams have done this in the past during the Stanley Cup Final in order to cut out the distractions of home to focus more on the game. There could be a lot more than playoff survival on the line in Game 7 for Pittsburgh. Finding the best way to prepare can’t hurt.