(Caps Outsider)
*Sigh*
We have to deal with another Game 7.
These are the absolute worst. We sit in front of our tv’s, peering through our hands as we cover our eyes, constantly reminding ourselves that we actually have to breathe.
It’s a good thing the Caps are a little more calm than we are. Despite a pretty deflating 4-3 loss, the Caps still remained somewhat optimistic on the game, and the series as a whole.
“We almost tie the game and the character of this group, it shows a lot,” Alex Ovechkin said. “We’re going to come back and win the series.”
Character was a recurring theme amongst the Capitals. They believe in themselves, and know they have every intangible characteristics to get the win.
“I thought we showed a lot of reliance to fight back,” Barry Trotz said. “I know this team has a lot of character and it showed all year. I am not going to tell you anything different than I told them. Probably not the path when you are 3-1 you want to take, but at the same time, it is a great opportunity in Game 7 to find out.”
Every player in the locker room seemed rather calm. Ovechkin was clearly disappointed in the effort. Braden Holtby seemed a bit ticked off. Tom Wilson was clearly disappointed in the outcome, but was pretty optimistic when addressing the media. He again talked about the one thing that makes the Caps tick….their character.
“It says a lot about the character in the room,” Wilson said about the mini-come back that fell just short. “Never say die. We just can’t put ourselves in that hole. It’s the playoffs and the team that gets a 4-1 lead, they shouldn’t let us back in it. We can’t start from there. We have to tighten up a couple of things, obviously. It’s anyone’s game now. It’s game 7. It’s going to be another great game, but hopefully we can take it.”
So despite the 3-1 series lead, the Caps head to Madison Square Garden for another Game 7. The Caps season literally hangs on that one single game, and they are fully prepared to face the task at hand.
“We have to focus on what has made us successful,” Holtby said. “I saw how we could control the play in the offensive zone with our wall play, our strength, our size. In the third period especially we used that. A 60 minute effort, if we do that, percentages are in our favor for a win. If we just stick to our brand of hockey, not think about the pressures or anything, just focus on the game, focus on what we have to do, we’ll be in a good spot.”
