Penguins fans are going to disagree of course, but it’s only fitting that their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Washington Capitals is going seven games.
Following the Capitals’ thrilling 5-4 overtime win in Game Six, this series can officially be called a classic – regardless of how it ends Wednesday in Washington.
It has lived up to its advance billing, giving the NHL everything it could possibly want. Lots of goals. Back and forth play. Momentum swings. Lead changes. Three overtimes and a brilliant head-to-head battle between Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.
Actually, we wish the series can keep going, but it will conclude Wednesday. Maybe we can look forward to a triple overtime affair and a 6- 5 final.
We picked the Penguins in seven games and we’re going to stick with that prediction,although that means the road win would have to win three straight games. Pittsburgh won on the road in Game Five and Washington returned the favor in Game Six.
Other than home ice, we’re not sure if the Capitals have that much of an advantage. This series has been that even.
Five of the six games have been decided by one goal and the other contest was a two-goal affair. On Monday, the Capitals twice erased one-goal deficits.
Here’s a big question heading into Game Seven: Can rookie Capitals goaltender Simeon Varlamov, who has shown signs of vulnerability in his last two starts, win a second Game Seven (he beat the Rangers in a seventh game in the first round)?
Off hand, we can think of only one rookie goaltender who has won two Game Sevens in one play year. That would be Montreal’s Ken Dryden in 1971, who beat the Bruins in the first round and the Blackhawks in the Finals. Varlamov is trying to accomplish the feat in consecutive series.
