Game 7 between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden will have a familiar feel to it.
These teams have met in a Game 7 twice in the last three postseasons, with New York winning both times, including a victory on home ice in 2012.
Washington once held a 3-1 series lead, and its inability to close out the Rangers could prove costly because the Original Six club has won its last five Game 7s.
Here’s a preview of Wednesday’s showdown.
Date, Time, TV Info: Wednesday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network
Leading Scorers: Joel Ward (Capitals, nine points), Derick Brassard (Rangers, eight points)
Key Player For Rangers: Chris Kreider has built an impressive playoff resume in his brief NHL career. The 24-year-old winger enters Game 7 with 27 points in 52 career postseason games and he’s scored three goals in the last two games to help New York avoid elimination. His power forward-style of hockey has been a real thorn in Washington’s side this series, and he needs to bring that same energy to Wednesday night for the Rangers to win puck battles and score goals.
Key Player For Capitals: Alexander Ovechkin, fairly or unfairly, is under immense pressure in this Game 7. Not only did he guarantee a victory, he’s never been to the conference finals in his career and hasn’t tallied a single point in the last four games. This is a career-defining game for the Capitals’ captain.
Goaltending Matchup: Henrik Lundqvist, as expected, has been excellent in this series for the Rangers. He’s posted a .941 save percentage with 11 goals against through six games. His six career Game 7 wins are the second-most by any goaltender in league history.
Capitals netminder Braden Holtby has been just as good with a .944 save percentage and 11 goals against in Round 2. That said, he’s given up six goals in the last two games. Washington needs one more stellar performance from him to reach the conference finals for the first time since 1998.
Prediction: The Rangers overcame a 3-1 series defeat in last season’s conference semifinals by winning a Game 7 on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They will complete another comeback Wednesday night, this time at MSG with a 3-1 win.
Thumbnail photo via Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports Images
