from Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

It’s not hopeless when you’re down, 3-1, in one of these NHL best-of-sevens, but the unfortunate thing for the Penguins is that they are not playing the Penguins, who have demonstrated a kind of ingrained readiness to give series away from that very vantage point.

The Penguins’ last best hope for the moment is, in fact, the venue tonight. At least they have a chance at beating the Rangers in Madison Square Garden, where they’ve won three of their past five playoff appointments.

“This game, going into New York, we win, the series changes completely,” Penguins coach Mike Johnston said Thursday. “And it heads in our favor, for sure.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

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