Washington Capitals: Game 7 Preview vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Game 7. Two of the biggest words in all of sports. Tonight the hockey world is fixated on the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes.
They’ll square off at Capital One Arena. In a first round that featured three Game 7’s across the NHL, the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes is the final game of the entire first round.
The team that had the silly postgame celebrations during the season vs. the defending Stanley Cup champions. Whether you like these teams or are watching this series as a neutral party, you can’t deny the epicness.
Capitals vs. Hurricanes has produced four close games, one overtime game, and two blowout games on each’s home ice where the road team was shut out. Throw all of that out the window. None of it matters.
Capitals fans seem have a knack to get nervous in these kinds of scenarios. Speaking from experience on the matter, it just runs in the family. These games either have produced the sweet joy of victory or the agony of defeat. We’ve seen the best of things and the worst of things when it comes to that decisive seventh game.
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If that’s how the fans feel though, the players know better than that. They can’t worry about what happened in the past or what could happen in the future. They can only control right here, right now. Right now, it’s all on the line for both teams. You’re gonna get the A-game on both sides.
“We’ve been here before. We’ve done it before. I think that’s everyone’s mindset. I don’t think there’s going to be nerves or anything like that,” said Devante Smith-Pelly.
The Capitals’ fortunes changed last spring. They won their most recent Game 7, which was with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line. Does while this doesn’t guarantee anything tonight, Capitals head coach Todd Reirden believes there’s more confidence heading into a Game 7 than in years past.
“When you don’t have success for a number of continued years back-to-back-to-back of not having that success, then it can’t help but creep into your mind. I’m hoping the opposite will happen now,” said Reirden.
Next. Evgeny Kuznetsov needs to step up. dark
The Capitals need to ride the energy of the home crowd and like last game, fans need to bring positive vibes. Leave the Game 7 panicking to social media, just don’t show any sign of it in the arena. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.