Just a bump in the road
‘Mr. Game 7’ helps put things in perspective for Capitals teammates
TORONTO — On the morning of Game 4, a that Washington players were calling “the biggest game of the year for us” —that is, until Game 5, of course — Justin Williams was talking about the joys of facing adversity and how some of the more memorable journeys tend to stray from the beaten path.
This isn’t supposed to be stressful, he said. It’s fun. At the end of the day, all it’s going to do is make the story more memorable.
“It’s very rare when you see a team waltz their way all the way to the Stanley Cup,” Williams said, smiling. “It doesn’t happen. And if it does, it’s very few and far between. You go through adversity on your way there. I’ve been on a couple of championship teams down 0-2, down 0-3, so you rally around it. There’s a lot of times during the playoffs where you need to man up and win a game and the pressure is on. This is one of them, obviously.’’
It was a pep talk that only Williams could deliver with any authenticity.
In a room full of players who have come up short or continually choked at this time of year — Brooks Orpik is the only other Capitals player to have won a Stanley Cup or even reached the final — Williams has a playoff resume and a nickname (Mr. Game 7) that commands respect.
He’s won three Stanley Cups, was named playoff MVP in 2014 and has scored seven goals in Game 7s. He’s been on teams that have trailed 2-0, 3-2 and even 3-0 and come out the other end to tell about it.
As Washington defenceman Nate Schmidt said of a Williams, “He’s a special guy. Especially at this time of year, he’s got that aura about him.”
That aura comes from not only being in situations like this before, but also being the one who often delivered the big moment. Williams scored the empty-net goal in Game 7 that sealed a 2006 Stanley Cup championship for the Carolina Hurricanes. With the Los Angeles Kings down 3-0 to the San Jose Sharks in 2014, it was Williams’ two goals in Game 4 that helped turn the series around. In that same post-season, Williams finished with nine goals and 25 points, including the overtime winner in the championshipclinching Game 5.
He’s been there and done that — over and over again. So this firstround hiccup against the Toronto Maple Leafs was just another bump in the road for a player who has played more games in the postseason games than some Leafs have played in the regular season.
“He helps in getting the story out,” added head coach Barry Trotz. “Anytime that he talks about his journeys and winning the Cups, those resonate with the other veterans. He’s a really good voice. He’s had some experiences that a lot of us want and a lot of us pursue.”
Williams’ message prior to Game 4: seize the moment. The Capitals, who won the Presidents’ Trophy, have been dubbed the favourites in these playoffs. But rather than run away from what could be a daunting label, Williams wanted the team to embrace it.
They should be favourites, he said. They should believe they are championship-worthy. “We know our aspirations. Our aspirations are as big as they get,” said Williams. “I think the whole ‘favourite’ thing and expectations are certainly put on by ourselves more than anyone else. Everyone will talk about them, but when you feel you have an opportunity, and I know this very well, you want to seize that opportunity, because you really don’t know how many more you’re going to get.”
The 35-year-old could have been talking about himself or the window that appears to be slowly closing in Washington, where Williams and four others (T.J. Oshie, Karl Alzner, Kevin Shattenkirk and Daniel Winnik) are on the final year of their contracts.
The days when Washington entered the season as Cup favourites might not last for long. Big money will have to be spent on restricted free agents such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, Andre Burakovsky, Brett Connolly and Nate Schmidt. Even core players, like Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, are not getting any younger in a playoff series where the Leafs’ speed appears to be too much for the Capitals.
The time is for Washington to take advantage of an opportunity that might not be there next season or the year after.
“I want to be part of a championship team,” said Williams, who scored twice in Game 1 to force an eventual overtime victory and who has assists in Games 2 and 3. “Certainly, that was the main reason why I came to Washington. Yeah, it’s fun. You should have a smile on your face between periods. People are yelling at you or cheering for you, either way it’s fun and it’s exciting.
“It’s why we all play the game.”