Caps Survive... Bring On Game 7!

I have to admit. I had no faith. As a lifelong Caps fan, I have seen it so many times before. The bitter disappointment after Saturday night was an oh-so-familiar feeling. Any Caps fan can tell you that. It was almost a sure thing that the Caps would not be able to survive and win Game 6. After all, these are the Capitals. But maybe they are not. Maybe these are not the old Caps. Maybe it's the start of a new era. No matter what happens in Game 7, this is a different team. This is a different franchise. I expect Game 7 to be just like the previous 6. Back and forth, great goals, great saves, frustrating giveaways by both teams and equally frustrating officiating (for both sides). These are two great teams. As much as I dislike the Penguins, they are a great team. Right now they may be the slightly better team. But the Caps are also great. The resiliency from the Caps is something that we have not seen before in the team's history. The way they all played on Monday night was so special. Viktor Kozlov showed up and Alex Semin looked like the Semin we were used to seeing all season. What can you say about Dave Steckel. What a big time player this guy is. Sure, it would have been nice if he could have scored in Game 5, but he is what the Caps are all about. He never gives up. And how about the visual of Bruce Boudreau jumping up and down like a kid. Just great stuff. Now it's hard for me to visualize this series from an unbiased view, but it has got to be one of the greatest series' in the past 10 years. 5 one goal games, 3 overtime games, the superstars, the double hat trick, the amazing saves, the back and forth. It's unreal. Wednesday night should be no different and we will see what happens. Obviously I will be disappointed should the Caps lose, but what was proven to me in the first round against the Rangers and now in the second round, this Capitals team does not quit. They may not always win, but they are learing to be winners. This Caps team does not choke. This Caps team has an amazingly bright future and this Caps team is not the Caps of old. I may be bummed if they fall in Game 7, but I will never lose faith again. I owe it to those guys, because they never do.