The two best words in hockey are Game 7, and the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes will play one Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.
The home team is 6-0 in this series, yet don’t be shocked if the Hurricanes play spoiler in the country’s capital.
“I feel like a lot of the pressure is probably on Washington to close things out,” Hurricanes radio host Alec Campbell said on “Ferrall on the Bench” on Wednesday. “They don’t want to lose in front of their home fans in Game 7 coming off a Stanley Cup championship last year against a team that they’re not supposed to lose to, and a team that they beat four times in the Hurricanes. But this hasn’t been a situation where the Hurricanes are hanging on by a thread here. They’re playing very competitive hockey, especially in the 5-on-5. If they can keep it in a 5-on-5 situation and avoid taking penalties more than anything, they got a real shot.”
Carolina lost the initial two games of the series yet has won three of the last four to force Game 7. The home-street splits, be that as it may, have been shaking. The Hurricanes have permitted only three goals at home however 14 out and road, incorporating six of every a humiliating 6-0 loss in Game 5 on Saturday.
Carolina will require a clutch performance from Justin Williams, who has 14 out of eight career Game 7s. Williams played two season for the Capitals from 2015-17.
“It’s hard to go against that,” Campbell said. “He’s only had one Game 7 in his career where he was held pointless. I think most professional athletes relish the big-game situations. I think that’s a lot of the reason it’s gotten them there, but not all of them are able to take advantage of it like Justin Williams has been.”
Williams has one goal and two aid the series.
“Look, he’s not played his best hockey over the course of this series so far,” Campbell said. “He did finally get on the scoresheet in Game 6 the other night with a big goal that put them up 4-2, but he seems to have a knack for productivity, getting on the scoresheet in the big games. Hopefully Game 6 can be a catalyst for him, and if he is able to score a couple of goals, they have a chance.”
Backing off Alex Ovechkin, obviously, will likewise be key. Ovechkin drove the NHL with 51 goals this season and has four goals and four assists in the series. He likewise was engaged with the vital play of Game 6: a potential game-tying goal that was called off due to goalie interference.
“I’m amazingly stressed over Ovechkin,” Campbell said. “He has eight points in the arrangement as of now. He’s a super-hazardous player. I’m constantly stressed over Alex Ovechkin.”
