The New York Rangers and Washington Capitals are deadlocked with three games apiece heading into Monday night's do-or-die Game 7.
This series has been a back-and-forth struggle in which both sides have experienced highs and lows. Washington jumped out to an early lead, winning the first two games of the series at home. Then New York won two in a row to tie up the series with two home wins of its own.
In fact, all six games of this series have been won by the home team, which doesn't bode well for the Rangers, who will have to defeat not only their opponent on Monday night but a hostile crowd at the Verizon Center in Washington.
Tempers will be running hot, as these two teams were far from friendly after Game 6.
With one more game left to play, mistakes will be costly and scoring will be at a premium. With that in mind, let's take a look at the biggest key to victory for both teams.
Washington Capitals: Stop Derick Brassard
Nobody in this series on both sides has been hotter than Brassard since he and the Rangers came alive in Game 3.
Since that time, Brassard has scored seven points in the past four games, and he scored the game-winning goal in Game 6—the only score from both teams in that contest.
Brassard has been setting up his teammates with excellent, timely passes of late, too, and teammate Derek Dorsett recently took the time to talk to the NHL Network about his recent success:
If the Capitals can't find a way to keep Brassard in check in Game 7, then the Rangers will have an excellent chance to pull off a tough road win and send Washington packing.
Judging by Brassard's strong, inspired play of late, however, it is a task easier said than done.
New York Rangers: One More Masterpiece From Henrik Lundqvist
Lundqvist was brilliant for the Rangers in Game 6, blanking the Capitals' high-powered offense to keep his team in the series.
According to the Rangers on the team's official Twitter page, it was Lundqvist's seventh career playoff shutout:
Lundqvist will need to have another big game on Monday night, given the fact that Washington has scored an average of two goals per game at home this series and New York has scored an average of 0.667 goals on the road this series.
If Washington scores two goals or more, there's a good chance the Rangers are doomed.
Conversely, if Lundqvist can conjure up the same magic he used to shut down this team on Saturday, New York will win the series.
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