Pens headed to the Stanley Cup Finals again.

The Pens became the first team since the 1984 Edmonton Oilers to make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals after losing in the finals a year before, with their completion of the sweep against the Hurricanes.
Most fans knew the Pens could do it. However, when they thought that, it was either right after the final or the beginning of this season. The Pens faced a number of struggles to get to this point. The Pens looked like they would not make the Playoffs for a time this season, they fired their coach and brought in a new one and turned the season around and worked hard to earn their #4 seed in the Eastern Conference, coming up from the 10th spot. Then most people said the Pens were lucky to make the playoffs and would not make it far into the playoffs. Well, to be honest, I never really believed those people. I knew that the group of players on the Pens team were determined to change the outcome of last year's run. I knew that the Pens knew what it took to make it far into the playoffs and the hard work and sacrifice that is needed. Yes, I was nervous before each round, and I would be nervous during times in each round (Ok, not so much against the Hurricanes), but I never lost hope in my Pens and I did believe they could come out of each round and make it once again to the Finals. Sure, it's easy to say that now, once it's guaranteed with their sweep last night of the Canes, but I never would have said it earlier out loud because I am superstitious and I would not want to say one thing that can be a jinx.

The Pens overcame adversity this season: a coaching change, injuries, falling behind and a late push to make it to where they are today, and these challenges, among others, helped them achieve their current success. Yes, the Pens last season had gone through some adversity, but now this year's Pens can add some extra motivation to the list going into the Finals: The Pens never want to be in the situation they were in last season's Finals again. Just like the commercial shown earlier this season where Crosby said he never wanted to be in that picture again, a picture from last year's Finals against Detroit, the entire Pens team does not want to be in that situation. We will see if that motivation is enough to achieve their ultimate goal- raising Lord Stanley's Cup.