Habs vs Caps GAME 7 LIVE CHAT
Just a little reminder, we will be doing a multi-site mega-chat tonight for Game 7.
Don't forget to join us as we will kick off things at 6:30pm!
What the Caps Must Do to Win
Following my late-night ramblings where I suggested that the Capitals should revamp their lineup, it seems that the Caps have listened.
According to
Tarik El-Bashir from Caps Insider, here is what tonight’s Washington Capitals lineup will likely look like:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble
Laich-Morrison-Semin
Chimera-Belanger-Fehr
Walker-Gordon-Bradley
Schutlz-Green
Alzner-Carlson
Morrisonn-Corvo
Varlamov
What you will notice about tonight’s lineup is the glaring absences of Tom Poti(eye injury) and scratches of David Steckel and Tomas Fleischmann.
Ironically, this is not far off of my midnight suggestions.
The removal of Flash and inclusion of Walker dramatically shifts the dynamic of the Capitals offense. They are officially a much tougher team.
The decision to go with Boyd Gordon over David Steckel is an arbitrary one, but a valid one nonetheless. Gordon has experience over Steckel and has been a key performer in this series. It’s a tough break for the Caps 4th line center, but as he is an understanding member of this team, he understands and will do whatever it takes for the Caps to move on to the next round.
Although the alterations on offense are major in themselves, it is the inclusion of Karl Alzner to the blue line which I feel gives the Caps the better odds going into tonight’s game.
Alzner is a slab on the blue line who plays his defensive game to a tee. He is a quiet player, but reliable and definitely a handful to play against.
On top of Karl being inserted into the lineup, he will be paired with his partner from Hershey, John Carlson. These two formed the best defensive pairing in the AHL this season and their chemistry will only add to their ability to contribute tonight.
As a result of Bears superstar pairing now having graduated to the Capitals blue line, Shaone Morrisonn and Joe Corvo instantly become Washington’s 3rd pairing.
Although both have struggled at times in this series, the fact that Boudreau can now use them as a complimentary depth pairing to his top 4, makes his job a lot less stressful.
Keys to Victory
These are fairly simple considering how far away the Capitals have gotten from their regular game style.
- OV and Backstrom must snap out of their lull and drive to the slot with more heart. They have to demonstrate their killer instinct and not get up-ice. Instead of trying to play in ‘over-drive’, these two must rely on their instincts and the chemistry that made them 2 of the top 4 scorers in the NHL this season. As soon as they hit their comfort zone, it’s all systems go.
- Alex Semin must take a cue from his offensive couterpart, Brooks Laich. If Semin could get his nose a little dirtier around the Habs net, there is no doubt he will sniff out a rebound and put an end to his drought.
- Icing a tougher lineup will give this team a lot of confidence. The fact that Scott Walker and Matt Bradley will be patrolling the ice as the ‘Bash Brothers’ should manage to intimidate their opposition. And if that doesn’t work, I expect they will make their presence known and force their opponents to pay attention to them.
- The wild card trio will be Eric Belanger’s 3rd line. If this warrior can inspire his big, speedy wingers(Chimera & Fehr), then expect them to be a physical pain in the Canadiens side.
- The most important key on defense will be for Bruce Boudreau and Dean Evanson to give the duo of Karl Alzner and John Calrson a lot of ice. They are ready to play in the big game and they are extremely effective. By giving them just a little rope, they are sure to reward their coaches with strong, shutdown play. If Karl and John get their chance to shine, expect Mike Green to have the opportunity to jump out from underneath that rock he has been hiding under. No disrespect to Mike, who has played a solid 26+ minutes a game, but these Capitals need “Game-Over” on their side in order to win. Alzner and Carlson should provide the defensive reliability that will allow Green to finally get his chance.
- Finally, Semyon Varlamov must recapture his form from Game 4. He was 21 in Game 6, but is now 22 years old as we head into tonight’s Game 7. Although he is a year older today, the experience of losing Game 6 the day before his birthday can only serve as wisdom for tonight’s game. The kid has what it takes to hold back the Canadiens snipers, but he will need some serious help from his Hershey Bears counterparts. As I mentioned above, Karl Alzner and John Carlson are going to be major factors in tonight’s game.
Game Notes
Veterans’ Day – A year ago today the Capitals saw the impact a playoff veteran can have in a Game 7, as Sergei Fedorov scored a late goal to lead Washington to a 2-1 victory in Game 7 against the New York Rangers. Fedorov returned to Russia but a number of veterans are poised to fill his shoes. Among them are Mike Knuble, who led the NHL in goals by a player at least 34 years of age this year, and Scott Walker, who scored the overtime winner in a Game 7 last spring against Boston. Then again, the hero may not be one of those with the most experience – this is Washington’s fourth consecutive series to reach seven games, making almost everyone on the roster a playoff vet.
On the line – Washington is 6-2 when facing elimination in the playoffs under head coach Bruce Boudreau (7-2 if you add the final regular season game of 2007-08). Alex Ovechkin has 10 points in those nine games (6g-4a).
Rolling sevens – This is Washington’s fourth playoff series in a row to go to seven games (only Colorado, with five straight from 2001-03, has had more). They are 1-2 in those series, with the victory coming a year ago to the day on Sergei Fedorov’s game-winning goal against the New York Rangers. The home team has won 61.5% of Game 7s (80 of 130) since the NHL introduced the best-of-seven format in 1939.
All or nothing – The Capitals have scored 5.67 goals per game in their three wins in this series and just 1.33 goals per game in the three losses. Washington’s shooting percentage in its three wins is 15.3% (17 goals, 111 shots); in the three losses it is 2.9% (4 goals, 139 shots).
Shot to the heart – Washington has fired at least 36 shots on goal in each game of the series, including 54 in Game 6, which tied the club playoff record for shots in a regulation game. The 22 shots in the third period on Monday set a club playoff record for shots in a period.
The Capitals enter Game 7 23 shots shy of the club record for shots in a series (273), set in the 1987 Patrick Division Semifinals against the New York Islanders. That series included a four-overtime game in Game 7 that saw the Capitals put 75 shots on goal.
Fehr game – Eric Fehr – who led the Capitals with four goals against Montreal in the regular season – has scored three goals in this series, including the lone Capitals goal in Game 6.
Playoff performer – Alex Ovechkin has 16 goals and 26 points in his last 17 playoff games. He averages 1.50 points per playoff game in his career (39 in 26), the best among active players and the best all-time for the Capitals.
Most Playoff Points per Game, Active Players (min. 10 GP)
1. Alex Ovechkin, 1.44 (39 pts/27 GP)
2. Sidney Crosby, 1.40 (77 pts/55 GP)
3. Evgeni Malkin, 1.27 (70 pts/55 GP)
4. Nicklas Backstrom, 1.11 (30 pts/27 GP)
5. Martin St. Louis, 1.07 (48 pts/45 GP)
Most Playoff Points per Game, Capitals Players (min. 10 GP)
1. Alex Ovechkin, 1.44 (39 pts/27 GP)
2. Nicklas Backstrom, 1.15 (30 pts/26 GP)
3. Dino Ciccarelli, 1.09 (35 pts/32 GP)
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