Defending champion Caps face ‘Mr. Game 7’ and the Hurricanes

ARLINGTON, VA. (AP) >> Justin Williams doesn’t lose in Game 7. Except that one time.

The player who earned the “Mr. Game 7” moniker for going 7-0 with seven goals and seven assists in winner-take-all situations lost in a Game 7 for the first time with the Washington Capitals in 2017. Now he’s back as captain of the Carolina Hurricanes, looking to hand his most recent team another crushing playoff loss in a catalog full of them.

“You learn a lot about people when it’s win or go home, when it’s us or them,” Williams said. “Anything can happen next game, and we’re happy to be playing it.”

The Capitals blew a chance to eliminate the Hurricanes on the road Monday and will now host Game 7 at home Wednesday night (7:30 p.m. EDT, NBCSN). After Washington exorcised its demons against Pittsburgh, won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final at Tampa Bay and lifted the Stanley

Cup last year, there isn’t the same doom and gloom hovering over a franchise that for years fell short of expectations.

“In those crucial moments, in those important moments, it seems they always find a way to get it done,” said former Capitals goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who’s now in the second round with Colorado. “I think they’ll probably get it done.”

Coach Todd Reirden, who was Barry Trotz’s top assistant the past four seasons, believes this is another chance for his team to make a statement that the “Oh, no” fears of the past are gone.