The first Game 7 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs has a bit more on the line than your typical win-or-go-home battle.
Islanders vs. Capitals, 2015 NHL playoffs: Start time, TV schedule and live stream
Has Nassau Coliseum hosted its final NHL game?
Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Should the Washington Capitals emerge victorious tonight over the New York Islanders, Game 6 of their first-round series, played last Saturday, will go down as the final NHL contest at Nassau Coliseum. It also would mark the 21st consecutive year in which New York failed to advance to the second round of the postseason.
But the Isles don't figure to go down easy. Not after the way they performed in Game 6: Two third-period goals — one from Nikolay Kulemin, one from Cal Clutterbuck (an empty netter) — led New York to a 3-1 victory, keeping their season alive for another day.
The winner of this series will take on the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“They’re the games you want to play in,” Capitals defenseman Mike Green said of Monday’s matchup. “Just go after it. You can’t be scared of the challenge, and we just have to have the right mind frame, and I think it starts with that.
“If you can’t get up for Game 7 you’re not human or an athlete.”
Game 7 coverage
7:30 p.m. ET | Game 7, Eastern Conference Round 1
Verizon Center | Washington, D.C.
Local: MSG+, CSN-DC | Nat'l: NBC, SN
Live stream at NBC Live Extra
More coverage: Caps blog | Isles blog
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