Well, here we are hockey fans. It's the final day of Round 1 and for the first time since 2002, three series will wrap up all in one night with a winner take all Game 7.
Statistics indicate the winner of Game 5 wins the series 79% of the time. This includes: the New York Rangers, L.A. Kings, and Colorado Avalanche. The Kings are the only ones coming off a win in Game 6. The Kings are also going into San Jose looking to be only the fourth team in NHL history to win a series after being down 3-0. Both the Avalanche and the Rangers are coming off three-goal losses that created a bit of panic in their fan bases. Fortunately for both of these franchises, they will be at home for their series finales. It should be noted that Avalanche rookie, Nathan MacKinnon, the leading scorer in the playoffs thus far, has only scored during the three games at home at the Pepsi Center (2 goals, 8 assists). The Avalanche will need their high powered first line of Stastny-MacKinnon-Landeskog to step up if they want to advance to the second round where the defending Stanley Cup champs await. As for Rangers' goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, he is 3-1 all time and 2-0 at Madison Square Garden in Game 7s. After a lackluster Game 6, he will must bring his best to keep the Flyers at bay.
The magnitude of Game 7 speaks for itself. The previous six games are thrown out and the combatants come together one last time to leave it all on the ice. Game 7s are where heroes are born and memories are made. We only need to go back to last spring where the Bruins shocked the Leafs with two late goals in the third period and added a final dagger in overtime during their first round Game 7 matchup. These moments are what hockey fans live for. The highest stakes on the biggest stage where one shot carries a lot more than just a tally on the scoreboard. So on the eve of this Game 7 triple header, even if your team isn't playing tonight, relish in the moment. Take it all in. Be aware of how you feel. As a hockey fan, these are some of the moments that make you feel most alive. Enjoy it for what it is and let the emotions rage within you. Tonight is a chance to fully experience what it truly means to say, "Hockey is Life."
Statistics indicate the winner of Game 5 wins the series 79% of the time. This includes: the New York Rangers, L.A. Kings, and Colorado Avalanche. The Kings are the only ones coming off a win in Game 6. The Kings are also going into San Jose looking to be only the fourth team in NHL history to win a series after being down 3-0. Both the Avalanche and the Rangers are coming off three-goal losses that created a bit of panic in their fan bases. Fortunately for both of these franchises, they will be at home for their series finales. It should be noted that Avalanche rookie, Nathan MacKinnon, the leading scorer in the playoffs thus far, has only scored during the three games at home at the Pepsi Center (2 goals, 8 assists). The Avalanche will need their high powered first line of Stastny-MacKinnon-Landeskog to step up if they want to advance to the second round where the defending Stanley Cup champs await. As for Rangers' goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, he is 3-1 all time and 2-0 at Madison Square Garden in Game 7s. After a lackluster Game 6, he will must bring his best to keep the Flyers at bay.
The magnitude of Game 7 speaks for itself. The previous six games are thrown out and the combatants come together one last time to leave it all on the ice. Game 7s are where heroes are born and memories are made. We only need to go back to last spring where the Bruins shocked the Leafs with two late goals in the third period and added a final dagger in overtime during their first round Game 7 matchup. These moments are what hockey fans live for. The highest stakes on the biggest stage where one shot carries a lot more than just a tally on the scoreboard. So on the eve of this Game 7 triple header, even if your team isn't playing tonight, relish in the moment. Take it all in. Be aware of how you feel. As a hockey fan, these are some of the moments that make you feel most alive. Enjoy it for what it is and let the emotions rage within you. Tonight is a chance to fully experience what it truly means to say, "Hockey is Life."