Holding destiny in their hands with the opportunity to advance to the conference finals with one more win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Wednesday night in D.C. presents the Capitals with a huge opportunity to silence their haters.
Beating the Penguins would obviously be sweet enough. But, more importantly, what would be even tastier is the prospect of facing the Ottawa Senators in the next round.
All due respect to the Senators - who have had a storybook year - but the fact remains: they are a club that Washington matches up very well with on paper.
The Caps were 2-1 in three regular-season games this past campaign against Ottawa. That number certainly doesn't jump of the page, and, realistically, it doesn't mean jack unless Washington can step up in Game 7 and get the job done against Pittsburgh.
Seriously, though, how long have we been waiting for the Capitals to turn the page?
Each year since Alex Ovechkin entered the league in 2005, Washington - to some degree - has been pegged with lofty expectations. Expectations it has never fulfilled
Win, and move on to the conference finals for the first time since 1998. Lose, and who knows what happens next. Blow the team up? Trade Ovechkin? Fire Trotz?
All of those scenarios seem wild, if not foolish, but what other options does general manager Brian MacLellan realistically have after giving this core group more than enough talent to work with year in and year out.
MacLellan's unrestricted free-agent list is lengthy and star-studded, with names like Justin Williams, Oshie, and Shattenkirk set to potentially move elsewhere.
Just another wrinkle in this narrative - the pressure is clearly on Washington to win now.
Wednesday's Game 7 between these two clubs is primed to be the best game of the playoffs, so far. But it also offers hockey fans the best chance to see exactly what the Washington Capitals are made of.
NEW YORK - Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist to help the Ottawa Senators advance to the Eastern Conference finals with a 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 6 of their second-round series Tuesday night.
The Senators, headed to the conference finals for the first time since their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007, will face either Pittsburgh or Washington in the next round. Their series is headed to Game 7 on Wednesday night.
The Rangers trailed 3-1 after two periods, but Kreider got them within one just 53 seconds into the third. He skated up the middle, went to his left and put the puck past Anderson for his third goal of the postseason.
New York outshot Ottawa 15-5 in the third but couldn't get the equalizer. Kreider had a chance a little over 5 minutes in, but didn't get a clean shot on a pass from Zibanejad as his attempt from in front trickled off his stick and was stopped by Anderson.
Lundqvist made some stellar saves late in the third, including a stop on Derick Brassard from the right side with 5 minutes left.
Pageau capped the scoring with 6.2 seconds left for his sixth of the series and seventh of the postseason.
Playing with a 2-0 lead, Ottawa was more aggressive to start the second period, outshooting the Rangers 6-1 over the first 7 minutes.
Anderson stopped a shot by Kevin Hayes and then smothered a follow attempt by Michael Grabner in front near the midpoint of the middle period.
Zibanejad got the Rangers on the scoreboard with about 6 1/2 minutes left in the second. He took a pass from Mats Zuccarello, skated in and beat Anderson on the glove side into the top right corner.
Karlsson then beat Lundqvist on the blocker side with 4:07 remaining to restore the Senators' two-goal lead.
The Rangers outshot the Senators 13-10 in the first, but trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes. New York had three power plays and more scoring chances, but Ottawa was aggressive on defense while blocking nine shots in the opening period, and whatever got past the defense was stopped by Anderson.
Hoffman got the Senators on the scoreboard 4:27 into the game. He got the puck behind the net and sent a pass out to MacArthur. He then went in front of the net and deflected a shot from Karlsson past Lundqvist for his fourth of the playoffs.
It came on the Senators' second shot on goal of the game and marked the first time Ottawa scored first in the series.
Anderson had to make a flurry of saves over the next few minutes, including tip attempts by Kreider and Rick Nash about 30 seconds apart.
Lundqvist also had a nice glove stop on a slap shot by Karlsson as he was falling to his left and into the goalpost.
Stone scored with 5:16 left in the first when he got a pass from MacArthur on the left side as he crossed the blue line, skated up and fired a shot past Lundqvist for his fourth of postseason. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault challenged the play for offside, but the goal stood after a review.
NOTES: The NHL announced the Rangers will face the Buffalo Sabres in the Winter Classic at Citi Field, home of baseball's New York Mets. Commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement on television during the first intermission. ... The Senators were 0 for 2 on the power play, finishing the series 1 for 18 and falling to 6 for 41 in the postseason. ... The Rangers were 0 for 4 with the man advantage. They finished 2 for 24 in the series and 3 for 39 in the playoffs. ... The Rangers lost for just the second time in their last 10 in a Game 6 or 7.
The two New York clubs will participate in the 2018 Winter Classic to be held Jan. 1 at Citi Field, home of MLB's New York Mets, the NHL announced Tuesday.
"With New York City as its host, the renewal of our New Year's tradition will continue to inspire hockey memories for our clubs, our players, and our fans," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
The Sabres participated in the inaugural Winter Classic, held in Buffalo in 2008. The Rangers took part in the 2012 Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
You asked for it and the hockey gods have provided.
The Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins will go toe to toe Wednesday night in a Game 7 that's shaping up as one of the best contests on the NHL calendar in recent memory.
Here are three reasons why it'll also be 2017's best playoff game thus far.
Crosby vs. Ovechkin
Let's not beat around the bush: We all know why most people will tune in Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Since Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin entered the league in 2005, the NHL has not been the same, and for good reason.
(Photo credit: Action Images)
As was the case in '05, the success of these two clubs is closely tied to the success of their two superstars.
This postseason has been much of the same for Crosby, who - despite a Matt Niskanen cross-check to the face - continues to produce at an elite level. Heading into Game 7, Sid's tied for fourth in league playoff scoring with teammates Phil Kessel and Jake Guentzel at 13 points.
His Russian rival, on the other hand, has struggled at times, especially in this series - he's found the back of the net only twice, leaving his 2017 playoff point total at a disappointing eight.
The Ovechkin haters will state the obvious: Crosby performs when it matters most, two rings, blah blah blah. While he may lack finger jewelry, though, No. 8 is actually a clutch performer.
In 19 career games when facing elimination, Ovechkin 10 goals, 10 assists.
Of course, this game and rivalry has grown into something bigger than just Ovechkin versus Crosby. But watching two of the best players on the planet - potentially, two of the best of all time - face off in an elimination postseason game with these implications is what most of us get out of bed for.
Cream of the crop
Wednesday marks the 20th playoff meeting between the clubs in the Crosby-Ovechkin era.
Over that span, the Eastern Conference juggernauts have traded blows atop the regular-season standings as well as in the playoffs, and this year is no different.
Washington and Pittsburgh finished the campaign in first and second place in the NHL with 118 and 111 points, respectively.
The 2016-17 season series was split at two games apiece, with the Caps outscoring the Pens 21-14.
With all due respect to the Western Conference, these are the two best teams in the league, both on paper and on the ice. Sprinkle in the secret ingredient - Game 7 - and it's the perfect recipe for a game for the ages.
Battle in the crease
Sure, Marc-Andre Fleury and Braden Holtby have both looked shaky at times in this series, but each netminder plays a crucial role in its outcome.
Fleury has two rings, Holtby is the reigning Vezina holder, and both have the winning pedigree required to carry a team all the way.
This postseason, their numbers stack up fairly evenly, with the edge in goals against going Holtby's way, and Fleury holding the advantage in save percentage.
Goalie
'16-17 Playoff Wins
Playoff SV%
Playoff GAA
Holtby
7
.908
2.49
Fleury
7
.921
2.78
Before Wednesday night is out, one of the men in the blue paint will have left his mark on the contest.
Crosby-Ovechkin, Holtby-Fleury, or Barry Trotz-Mike Sullivan: take your pick of intriguing story lines. Or don't, and simply sit back and enjoy watching two of the best players, teams, and coaches compete with their seasons on the line.
Pearson's new deal is worth annual average of $3.75 million and comes on the heels of the winger's most productive season to date. His new deal is a hefty raise from the $1.4 million he made this past campaign.
The former first-round pick of the Kings from the 2012 entry draft turned heads during the 2016-17 season, notching 24 goals to go along with 20 helpers. Pearson's
Forty-four points at age 24 ain't too shabby, and if the Kitchener, Ontario native can continue to impress, his next raise will be even more signifigant
The Florida Panthers apparently like what they hear from Michel Therrien.
The former Montreal Canadiens bench boss is in the running to become the next head coach of the Panthers, and will soon sit for a second interview with the Sunrise club, reports George Richards of the Miami Herald.
Panthers general manager Dale Tallon says the team will interview about a dozen candidates, according to NHL.com. That reportedly includes University of Denver coach Jim Montgomery, who's already had his second interview, according to Richards.
Florida began last season with Gerard Gallant as coach. He was replaced in November by interim head coach Tom Rowe, the team's first-year general manager. The Panthers missed the playoffs by 14 points after winning the Atlantic Division a year earlier, and Rowe has since moved into an advisory role with the organization.
Therrien spent nearly five seasons as coach of the Canadiens in his most recent stint with the club. He had a 31-19-8 record this season before his February dismissal, and was replaced by Claude Julien.
Kovalchuk remains property of the Devils, but they simply can't trade his rights. Kovalchuk's agent is able to speak with other teams about a contract, but once an agreement is in place, he would have to sign with New Jersey who would then trade him to said team.
Since New Jersey is in rebuilding mode, they probably want nothing to do with Kovalchuk, but will happily trade him for assets to help speed up their rebuild.
Kovalchuk is 34 years old, but is coming off his best season in the KHL in which he recorded 32 goals and 78 points in 60 games. He hasn't played in the NHL since 2012-13, but there will certainly be a long list of teams interested in acquiring the Russian sniper.
Without further ado, here are the five most logical fits for Kovalchuk (projected cap space courtesy of Cap Friendly):
Edmonton Oilers
17-18 proj. cap space
Trade Bait?
Win now?
$22.5M
Yes
Yes
There's something to be said about two GMs who have a good rapport. Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli and Shero pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster trades in recent memory last spring, swapping Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson.
Kovalchuk will likely demand somewhere around $6 million per season, so a short-term deal in Edmonton, who is obviously in win-now mode, would make plenty of sense.
Though a one-for-one deal likely wouldn't work since Shero has very little trade leverage, it's possible the Oilers could send Jordan Eberle the other way in a deal. He has been brutal during Edmonton's playoff run, so it's possible management's patience could be wearing thin with the 26-year-old.
From Shero's point of view, it's possible reuniting Eberle with Hall could rejuvenate the slumping winger. If this were the case, Shero could then trade him once his value is higher, or keep him as part of New Jersey's core moving forward.
Dallas Stars
17-18 proj. cap space
Trade Bait?
Win now?
$20.8M
Yes
Yes
The Stars are just a year removed from a first-place finish in the Central Division in which they recorded 109 points. This past season was a debacle, but they are still likely looking to win right away while Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are in the prime of their careers.
If they wind up putting their third overall pick on the trade block for help in goal or on the blue line, then it would only provide further proof that they are looking to contend for a cup right away.
The addition of Kovalchuk would give the Stars arguably the most prolific offense in the entire league. It's unclear how this would sit with newly minted head coach Ken Hitchcock. However, the veteran bench boss could be on board considering lack of goal-scoring (and playoff failures) eventually led to his demise in St. Louis.
Montreal Canadiens
17-18 proj. cap space
Trade Bait?
Win now?
$22.5M
Not a lot
Yes
After a first-round playoff exit, saying Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin is on the hot seat would be an understatement.
Bergevin is running out of time to right the ship in Montreal, meaning he isn't afraid to move what few prospects his organization has in order to bring in a piece who could help them win now.
He made the bold move last offseason of signing former NHLer turned KHLer Alexander Radulov, and it turned out to work brilliantly. Whether or not the Habs bring Radulov back shouldn't alter their interest in Kovalchuk. They are desperate for offense.
Vegas Golden Knights
17-18 proj. cap space
Trade Bait?
Win now?
N/A
No
No
The Golden Knights obviously aren't in win-now mode. Their trade bait won't be known until the expansion draft on June 21, but they will certainly have plenty of cap space.
What they will want is something, or someone, that will ignite a fan base and bring people to the rink. If they can form a somewhat competitive team, it will go a long way in keeping fans interested.
The Golden Knights have already signed Vadim Shipachyov, and have shown interest in Evgeny Dadonov - both of whom played with Kovalchuk at SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL last season.
Heck, if they were able to bring in two Russian defensemen in addition to Dadonov and Kovalchuk, they could form the latest installment of "The Russian Five." Now there's something you can sell to your fans.
Carolina Hurricanes
17-18 proj. cap space
Trade Bait?
Win now?
$27.4M
Tons
Getting there
The Hurricanes might be the biggest wild card on this list. They are not exactly in win-now mode, but they're much closer to being a competitor than most think.
The acquisition of Scott Darling solidified their goaltending issue. They have a surplus of young defensemen that every team in the league covets, but they still need help up front.
New Jersey is one of many teams in the market for a young defenseman. They wouldn't be able to pry away one of Carolina's high-end blue-liners for Kovalchuk, such as Noah Hanifin, Jaccob Slavin, or Brett Pesce, but Ryan Murphy or Klas Dahlbeck, plus something else would make sense.
Furthermore, Carolina also has three second-round picks and two third-round picks that it could dangle in a potential trade. With the addition of Kovalchuk, Hurricanes could very well be a playoff team come 2017-18.
Sidney Crosby was evaluated by a doctor during the first intermission of Monday's Game 6 after a dangerous collision in the final minutes of the opening period. It was then decided he didn't need to go through concussion protocol, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain revealed after practice Tuesday, according to the Washington Post's Jesse Dougherty.
Crosby went headfirst into the boards with 2:15 left to play in the first, and considering both the fact he missed Game 4 due to concussion and his head-injury history, the hockey world lost its collective you know what after he wasn't immediately pulled by the league's concussion spotters.
The play remained the talk of the hockey world Tuesday, after NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the collision wasn't grounds for Crosby's mandatory removal because he hit the boards, and not the ice. In other words, concussion spotters didn't have the authority to call him off the ice, because the NHL's studies have shown that ice "has been found to be a predictor of concussions," while boards have not been.
Complicating matters further: Head coach Mike Sullivan wouldn't go into much detail about Crosby after his team's loss, stating only that he wasn't evaluated for a concussion. Sullivan could have put a lot of people at ease had he at least said his captain was looked at by a doctor.
Crosby called the collision "pretty standard," saying he simply had the wind knocked out of him.
