Capitals, Ducks set to face Game 7 demons
Game 7 may be the most exciting phrase in sports to a lot of people, but probably not for the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks.
The Capitals have lost six of nine Game 7s in the Alex Ovechkin era, and the Ducks have lost five in a row with stars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, including a heartbreaker in each of the last four years. Tonight is the chance for each team to confront its Game 7 demons as Washington hosts the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim hosts the Edmonton Oilers with spots in the conference finals at stake.
“I don’t know whether from coaching or playing whether you get into a mental block or not,” said Bruce Boudreau, who coached in Game 7 four times with the Capitals and four times with the Ducks. “I think Washington for sure is due to win. I’ve said it for four years in Anaheim we’re due to win, but in the end your best players have got to be your best players.”
For the Capitals, that means more production from Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov, and strong goaltending from Braden Holtby when the puck drops against the Penguins ( 6: 30 p. m. Central, NBCSN). In those nine Game 7s, Ovechkin has three goals and three assists, and at the moment he is earning praise from teammates and Coach Barry Trotz in this series for accepting a demotion to the third line.
Getzlaf and Perry have combined for only seven points in six chances in Game 7 going into another one at home against Edmonton ( 9 p. m. Central, NBCSN). Goaltender John Gibson was pulled from his only Game 7 start in 2014 after allowing four goals on 18 shots, and he’s coming off another hook after three goals on six shots in a 7- 1 drubbing in Game 6 on Sunday.
HOLY FLEURY
Marc- Andre Fleury has allowed nine goals on 58 shots the past two games after nine on 142 shots the first four games against the Capitals. Some of that is the play in front of him, especially with Pittsburgh defenseman Trevor Daley missing Game 6 with a lower- body injury.
If the Capitals have found a hole on the goaltender’s glove side they’re not saying.
“We’re just trying to shoot where there is open spot,” Kuznetsov said.
MR. GAME 7
Justin Williams has a chance to add to his legend as “Mr. Game 7” in his first chance with Washington. A three- time Cup winner, Williams is 7- 0 with 7 goals and 7 assists in 7 chances in Game 7.
UNFAMILIAR OILERS
This is the first NHL Game 7 for Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Cam Talbot and the majority of the Oilers, who as a franchise last played in one in 2006. That was a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7 of the Cup Final that as, you guessed it, Williams sealed it with an empty- netter.
7 DEGREES OF GAME 7
The Hurricanes’ coach in that Game 7 against Edmonton was none other than Peter Laviolette, who’s waiting for the Ducks or Oilers in the Western Conference final with the Nashville Predators. Laviolette’s Predators are looking to become the third eighth seed in the salary- cap era that began in 2005- 2006 to reach the Cup Final. The first two? The ‘ 06 Oilers he beat and the 2012 Los Angeles Kings, who got 15 points during their run from Williams.