Alex: It’s 7 on earth
Ovechkin needs game of a lifetime
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is closer than ever to playing for the Stanley Cup, and he’s determined to make the most of the opportunity.
“I’ve never been in this position before,” he said yesterday, looking ahead to the decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final against the host Tampa Bay Lightning.
The winner tonight earns a berth in the Stanley Cup finals opposite the Vegas Golden Knights, who will try for hockey’s biggest prize in their inaugural season.
Ovechkin and the Caps are hoping to shed a label as playoff underachievers, a franchise that dazzles during the regular season only to disappoint at the most important time of the year.
“I’m excited. We’re all excited. We all want to be in this position and move forward,” said Ovechkin, who is playing in the conference final for the first time during his prolific 13-year career.
“(Game 7) is probably biggest game in my life, this team, organization probably. We still haven’t reached our goal. Tomorrow is going to be a huge step forward.”
Not if the Lightning have their way.
Tampa Bay is playing Game 7 in the conference final for the third time in four years. It beat the New York Rangers on the road to advance to the 2015 Cup final, but fell short the following year against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“Experience is always a good thing, but it’s nothing I’m going to sit and lean on,” said Tampa Bay defenseman Anton Stralman, who is 7-1 in Game 7s during his career. “It’s about doing your job at the highest level you possibly can.”
Washington forced tonight’s winner-take-all matchup with a dominating 3-0 victory in Game 6.
In a series where home ice has not been a clear advantage, the Lightning are hoping it provides an edge in Game 7.
Washington won Games 1 and 2 in Tampa, then dropped the next two at home. The Capitals are 7-2 on the road this postseason.
“When you get this deep into a series, everyone knows each other by heart. Now it really comes down to a little bit of will. You have to will yourself for this moment,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.
“I do like the fact there will be 19,000 people helping us, to will us to victory. I want the guys to enjoy the game. It will be a phenomenal experience. You just have to remember, don’t let the game get bigger than it really is. Go out there, execute, leave everything out there and we’ll see what happens.”
This will be Washington’s 11th Game 7 since the start of the 2008 playoffs, most among all NHL teams in that span. None of them, however, have been for a trip to the Cup finals.
Elsewhere in the NHL — The San Jose Sharks are closing in on a seven-year contract with Evander Kane that will keep the high-scoring forward off the free-agent market, with a source reporting the contract is expected to be finalized today.
Kane, who turns 27 in August, was acquired from Buffalo at the trade deadline. Under the terms of that trade, the Sabres will now get a first-round pick in 2019 instead of a second-rounder because Kane signed with San Jose. The selection is lottery-protected, so it could be moved to 2020.
Kane finished last season with 29 goals and 25 assists, his second-most productive season, and has 186 goals and 168 assists in 574 career games since entering the NHL as the fourth overall pick by Atlanta in 2009 . ...
Lou Lamoriello was named president of hockey operations for the New York Islanders, giving the longtime NHL executive the keys to a franchise that has missed the playoffs eight times in the past 12 years with Garth Snow as general manager.
The 75-year-old Lamoriello, who led the New Jersey Devils to three Stanley Cup titles and helped Toronto become playoff contenders again, is tasked with trying to re-sign star center John Tavares and the futures of Snow and coach Doug Weight.
Lamoriello said he had no preconceived notions about the inner workings of the Islanders, and he also wasn’t willing to show his hand on what he might do with the team . ...
Goalie Antti Niemi, 34, was seeking stability more than money and agreed to a one-year, $950,000 contract with the Canadiens . . . .
The Nashville Predators have promoted Jeff Kealty and Brian Poile to assistant general manager positions following the departure of Paul Fenton, who was hired by the Minnesota Wild as general manager.