Caps Pre-game Game 7

There was panic in the streets of DC Monday night. You would've thought the Caps had lost Game 7. Was it older fans knowing that the Caps had taken a 3-1 series lead 9 times and lost all 9 of those series? Was it just general DC sports letdown?

Montreal wasn't a team the Caps wanted to see in the first round. The Canadiens had played the Caps well in the regular season and presented problems. Going into this series it was known that the Caps were going to have a tough time with the Canadiens defense and power play. Halak was an unknown factor, as was the Habs penalty kill.

Washington hasn't had anything to play for since the Olympic break. Winning 14 straight games gave them a huge points advantage. Winning the South East division was never in doubt.

Tom Poti took a puck to the eye and is out in Game 7. So the Caps recalled Karl Alzner from Hershey. My thinking is Alzner will start in Poti's place tonight. I wonder why Boudreau is going with Alzner over Erskine. John Erskine would give the Caps a bigger, tougher presence on defense.

I'm also curious as to why Scott Walker hasn't been able to get into the starting line-up. He was brought over from Carolina for his veteran playoff experience. While he hasn't been very productive since his first game as a Cap, the playoffs seems like the perfect time to bring him up.

Tonight is critical is Alex Semin and Mike Green. If the Caps lose tonight and Semin and Green don't do anything, there will be a lot of fingers pointed in their direction. Mike Green is already being label as a choker in the playoffs and he hasn't played well against Montreal.

The goalie situation is more defined. It'll be unfair that if he gives up the first goal tonight Semyon Varlamov will probably get the hook. Varly hasn't lost any games and I don't know if Theo could've played better but Boudreau is going to have to do something to spark his team and the crowd if the Caps go down early.