The Pittsburgh Penguins are speaking pretty confidently about their chances of keeping their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning alive.
(At least, they’re pretty sure of themselves aside from that pesky goaltending question.)
Maybe Evgeni Malkin didn’t quite go Joe Namath or Mark Messier with reporters on Monday, yet every now and then we need a little guarantee-type bulletin board material. Here’s his quote, via Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston.
“I believe in my team, I believe in myself,” Malkin said. “We’re coming back to Pittsburgh for sure.”
Johnston described it as “an unsolicited guarantee.”
Malkin isn’t the only Penguins player proclaiming that they’re likely to force a Game 7 in Pittsburgh.
Hornqvist: "It’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to come back here for a Game 7."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 23, 2016
It’s understandable that the Penguins feel sure of themselves. After all, Game 5’s defeat marked their first consecutive loss in ages. You don’t rattle off win after win (and bounce back from losses) that regularly without building up some bluster.
So now Hornqvist and Malkin have said their will be a Game 7. Neither were asked for a guarantee. They just said it.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) May 23, 2016
Of course, on the other hand, worrisome Penguins fans might be concerned that these comments will give the Lightning that extra push to put this series away on Tuesday night.