NHL fans will be treated to the first Game 7 of the 2014-15 Stanley Cup playoffs when the puck drops on the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals live from the Verizon Center in the nation's capital Monday night.
Faced with a do-or-die situation on home ice in Game 6, the Islanders dropped the Capitals 3-1 in a chippy and testy contest to send the series back to Washington, D.C. tied 3-3.
New York jumped out to a 1-0 series lead on the road with a 4-1 triumph in Game 1, but Washington bounced back with a 4-3 victory in Game 2.
When the series shifted to Long Island for the first time, the Islanders won Game 3 by a 2-1 margin in overtime. Ever resilient, the Capitals once again rebounded, taking Game 4 with a 2-1 win of their own in a contest that also went to an extra frame.
Washington then took its first series lead on home ice with a 5-1 drubbing of its adversary in Game 5, but New York wouldn't let the Nassau Coliseum go out with a whimper on Saturday as it tied the series at the Old Barn.
Now with tensions rising, the spotlight shines on one of the most exciting things in sports: Game 7.
Here are seven things to watch for when the lights come up tonight at the Verizon Center:
1) Looking Back: The last time these two clubs went to a Game 7 against each other was in a contest dubbed as the Easter Epic. It took four overtimes to find a winner that fateful Saturday, which spilled into Easter Sunday and in the end it was the Islanders celebrating after a goal by Pat LaFontaine 8:47 into the fourth extra stanza, closing out the longest Game 7 in NHL history. Game 7s haven't been kind to the Capitals as the team is 3-9 all-time in do-or-die games and has lost four Game 7s at home in the last seven years while owning a 1-4 mark in win-or-go-home matches in Washington, D.C. since 2008. The Islanders, meanwhile, are 3-4 in series' that have gone the distance and are looking for their first playoff series win since 1993. It will mark New York's first Game 7 since 2002.
2) Home Ice Advantage?: The Capitals and Islanders both had a shot to shore up home ice advantage on the final day of the regular season, but after Washington fell to the New York Rangers, the Islanders were unable to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets in the final regular season game at the Nassau Coliseum. Though Washington has a terrible history in Game 7s, it will surely be relieved to be back home, where it took two of the three games of this series. New York is hopeful to steal another game on the road after notching a win in D.C. in Game 1.
3) Not So Great 8: Alex Ovechkin is one of the best players in the game, but his track record in Game 7s doesn't follow the same pattern as the rest of his career. Ovechkin, who led the NHL with 53 goals this season, has played in seven Game 7s and has just two goals and two assists for four points. Ovechkin was pointless in two Game 7s against the Boston Bruins and Rangers in 2012 and again when the Capitals played the Rangers in 2013. Ovechkin's last Game 7 point came off of an assist against the Montreal Canadiens in 2010 and his last tally in a do-or-die contest occurred in 2009 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Will the eighth Game 7 be a change of pace for the Great 8? Ovechkin has two markers and two helpers for four points in this series and Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk has done a great job in keeping him in check.
4) Power(less) Play: A lot was made about the surging Capitals man advantage heading into this series, but the major storyline thus far through the first six games of this set revolves around the Islanders power play. New York is 0-for-13 when up a man this series and if the power play is ever going to pull through, Game 7 is the time for that to happen.
5) Leading the Way: Islanders captain John Tavares and Capitals alternate captain Nicklas Backstrom have paved the way for both of their respective teams with a series-high six points apiece through the first six games. Tavares has lit the lamp twice and added four assists while Backstrom has found the twine a series-best three times and added three helpers. Each team has 14 goals in the series.
6) Black and Blue Line: The Islanders defense has taken some huge hits in Round 1. Travis Hamonic (lower-body) hasn't been able to suit up for any of these games, Lubomir Visnovsky (suspected concussion) was controversially taken out in Game 4 by a Tom Wilson hit and youngster Calvin de Haan was injured in Game 5 after Troy Brouwer hit him. With so many losses on the blue line, the Islanders top parings and young guns need to step up with the season on the line.
7) Crease Battle: As always, one of the most important comparisons in Game 7 lies within the blue paint as Braden Holtby looks to backstop Washington to Round 2 for the first time since 2012 and Jaroslav Halak is hopeful to help carry New York to the second round for the first time in 22 years. Halak, who is 6-1 in elimination games, has allowed 14 goals on 189 shots and owns a 2.34 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in the series. Holtby, meanwhile, has yielded nine goals on 165 shots and has a 1.75 GAA and a .945 save percentage.
It's win or go home when the Islanders and Capitals take the ice live tonight from the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
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