For the second time in as many playoff series, the Washington Capitals face a do-or-die Game 7 on enemy ice with their season on the line.
In the first round of the 2012 NHL Playoffs, the Capitals knocked off the defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins 2-1 in overtime of a Game 7, and now Dale Hunter's club will need to do the same to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night in order to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Rangers are no stranger to Game 7 drama this postseason either, having squeaked out a 2-1 win over the No. 8 seed Ottawa Senators in a round one Game 7. New York is just 4-3 at home this postseason.
Through six games of this Eastern Conference semifinal matchup, Washington and New York have alternated wins and losses, with the club who scores first winning every game. Games two through six of the series have been decided by one goal, with two of those games going to overtime.
New father Braden Holtby will once again be a key to Washington's success. The Capitals goaltender brings a postseason goals against average of 1.95 and save percentage of .935 into Game 7.
Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates throughout the Capitals and Rangers Eastern Conference semifinal series. For more news and analysis on the Caps, visit Japers' Rink. For news and info from a Rangers perspective during the series, visit Blueshirt Banter. And for all your news on the NHL Playoffs, check out SB Nation's NHL hub.