Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals Odds and Preview - NHL Stanley Cup

Alex Ovechkin knows all about playing in a Game 7. Every NHL playoff series of the two-time MVP's career has gone the distance.

His Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals probably weren't even considering the possibility of dealing with another Game 7 when they took a 3-1 series lead over the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens in the first round this year.

And yet here they are, due in large part to spectacular goaltending by Montreal's Jaroslav Halak: The Capitals host the Canadiens on Wednesday night, with the stakes quite clear.

The Capitals went 1-2 in Game 7s over the previous two seasons - all at home. This time, they're facing a Canadiens club that won the series' last two games as Halak stopped 90 of 92 shots.



Asked whether Varlamov's play in a Game 7, second-round loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins a year ago - the Russian let in four goals on 18 shots and left in the second period - would factor into his decision, Boudreau said, ``No, but his play in Game 7 against the Rangers might.''

Varlamov allowed only one goal in that series-deciding victory in last season's first round.

Whoever is in goal for the Capitals, Ovechkin and Co. know they'll need to fare better at the other end of the ice against Halak than they have the past two games.