For NHL Fan's Sake: Carolina, Please Win Game Seven

There are two massive Game Sevens tonight in the NHL Playoffs. Carolina is in New Jersey to battle it out in a high-drama, high-intensity type series.

Meanwhile in Washington, the Capitals will battle it out against the New York Rangers in what has been one of the most talked about series in a long time.

There really is nothing like a Game Seven.

But I would like to suggest that NHL fans who do not have a direct tie to any of these teams (or even if you do) that you cheer for two specific teams tonight, for reasons I will explain momentarily.

For the sake of guaranteed playoff intensity, and the type of series you will not be able to turn your eyes away from, please, oh please, cheer on the Hurricanes and the Capitals tonight.

Here's why.

Think Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin.

That's right hockey fans, those two, not to mention Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Semin, Nik Backstrom, and a plethora of other young, talented players on the ice all at once.

Washington would play Pittsburgh in the second round if Carolina and the Capitals win tonight.

Yes, please!

In a rivalry that started early this season, arguably the two best players on this planet would be in the same series, hopefully a long series, and you know they would die before letting the other beat them out of the playoffs.

Crosby and Ovechkin publicly stated their dislike for each other after various games they played one another, calling out each other's styles.

In a playoffs that has seemed to be all about "sending a message", we can only imagine the two messages these guys would send.

Yes, they might battle it out physically after every whistle, throw a few cheap shots as they skate by to entice the other to take a penalty.

Or, they will simply try and take over the game, with the dazzling skill we all know they can unleash on the ice.

And they know it too.

So, for the sake of hockey fans, heck, for the sake of non-hockey fans who would become one if they saw this series, please cheer on the Hurricanes and the Capitals tonight.

And if all goes well, that social life of yours that has been slipping away during the first round so far, well, you can consider it gone during the Penguins and Capitals series.

But something tells me you're okay with that.

Bring it on.