Caps-Rangers: Capitals Unleash Game Seven Fury

Seriously, I am at best a second-rate Caps fan. Only by default of course, as the Sabres missed out this postseason.

That said, there are few things better than a Game Seven after a 3-1 comeback. This is the point of rankings; this is the point of wins, losses, and the point system; to get to this point where your home-ice advantage is reality.

It was a shaky start for the Caps, who didn’t have a quality shot until near the end of the first period. After that, the D buckled down and only allowed 15 shots for the entire game. The Caps had 24 shots in about two-and-one-third periods. Not a bombardment in the least, but enough to get two by.

The biggest stat of the game for the Caps is the 46 hits they laid down on the Rangers to their 30. With Brashear out for six games, one of the worries was the uncertainty of who would fill that enforcer roll. It turns out everyone did, and 90 percent of the 46 hits were quality checks.

There were a few good hits on the Rangers’ circus clown Sean Avery too, who—not shockingly—came up with loser's limp in the last minute.

After watching this game, I’ve come to one conclusion: As an NHL team, you are much better off the more Russians you have. The Caps are stacked! Simeon Varlomov is the real deal folks.

At least for this series he was.