Caps-Habs Game Seven Live

To say the tension inside Verizon Center is palpable would be the understatement of the century. Either way, the Caps and Montreal Canadiens are getting ready to face-off and the sell-out crowd is getting to rock the red.

Tomas Fleischmann has been scratched along with the previously-speculated group of Tom Poti, John Erskine, David Steckel, Quintin Laing and Tyler Sloan.

First Period
The Caps came out strong and started peppering Jaroslav Halak with shots from the outset. Although they haven't scored, you get the sense that the desperation is present. Semyon Varlamov also made some key saves. So far, it's pretty much as planned.

The game settled down a bit and the Habs got some more changes, with Varly making some good saves. The Caps are getting good chances but not quite the volume of shots that got in game six, which probably is a better sign.

Just before the TV timeout with 7:45 left, Brendan Morrison, Brooks Laich and Alex Semin had a georgeous three-on-two and, of course, Sasha hit the upper-right corner of the net (where the crossbar meets the post), continuing his streak of either "bad" luck or just being oblivious.

The Caps kept up the pressure, but the feeling seemed to be more upbeat, turning up the pressure. But the Caps couldn't lift the puck and, therefore, couldn't beat Halak. The red, white and blue (American version) definitely is more active tonight and certainly have played with desperation.

The question is whether they'll be able to wear out Halak or if the Canadiens will feed off Halak and take the lead. So far, it's certainly more up-and-down than game six. There was a four-on-four for the last two minutes of the period -- until Mike Green was called for cross-checking with 41 seconds left, which was beyond blatant.

And Green's stupidity cost the Caps as Marc-Andre Bergeron unleashed a slapper that easily beat Varly low during a four-on-three. Scoring the first goal has usually led to success, so this isn't a very good sign for the Caps -- and certainly is their first indication of adversity tonight.

After one: Canadiens 1, Caps 0.

Second Period
It only took the Caps 1:05 to go back to the penalty box after Jeff Schultz was called for tripping. Fortunately, the Caps PKers killed off the extra-man advance, with Varly coming up huge a few times. It's certainly the kind of momentum-getter that could propel the Caps, if they can mount some pressure.

The Caps started to build some pressure, but didn't quite have any quality chances. They'll really need to get way down low as the Habs are going to a quasi-neutral zone trap (and practically putting the entire team) in front of Halak.

The Caps will have to do something more than they're doing right now to beat Halak. They're making it too easy on the Habs' netminder, who clearly is guarding the lower part of the net. They need to selectively shoot high (and not miss the net) and try to keep getting down low. Staying on the perimeter isn't working.

The Caps haven't been able to maintain any presence in the offensive zone. If they get a shot through to Halak, it's a one-and-done. They're not playing the system and it looks like they've actually dropped off a bit from their effort and play in the first period.

Semin's play has been the epitome of the Caps' somewhat-uninspired play this period. They're not getting to the net and all of their shots either are blocked or easy saves for Halak. The Caps need to put pressure on the Habs and start to take control of this game. This isn't a regular-season contest, it's the seventh game of the playoffs. If the Caps don't shape up, tonight will be the last game of the season.

The Habs have 19 blocks with 8:45 left in the second period. The Caps need to find a way to get to the net. And the best way to start that process is a power play, which the Caps get after Green joined the rush and drew a cross-checking call on Tomas Plekanec.

This is the time that Caps need to tie the game. They couldn't really get into the zone for the first minute of the advantage and then had a few quality opportunities on Halak. Unfortunately, the added pressure didn't lead to a goal, so the Habs remain on top by one.

But the Caps went back on the man-advantage after Josh Gorges was called for a blatant hold with the net-crashers starting to mount pressure. The power play started again with Joe Corvo and Green on the points, but the Caps again couldn't get anything sustained for the first minute of the man advantage.

The Caps are standing around too much and seem content to just fire from the perimeter. They continue to not drive to the net and really aren't getting to the net. Laich tried to drive, but it wasn't really an open shot. John Carlson has been getting some good opportunities, but again, without success.

Green just took another stupid penalty, holding Travis Moen to put the Habs back on the power play. This is another opportunity the Caps need to kill off and somehow try to find a way to beat Halak.

Varly came up huge on Plekanec on a two-on-one down low to keep the margin at one. Varly's certainly in a groove now, and that's about the only way the Caps will get an opportunity to win this game. The Caps killed off the power play and now head to what could be the last 20 minutes of their season.

After two: Canadiens 1, Caps 0.

Third Period
It's do-or-die time for the Caps, so there's no excuses for any efforts that are less than 110 percent. It's time to win this game, no matter what. The Caps have outscored the Habs, 10-6, in the third period this series, so now would be a good time to pad that stat.

And just 24 seconds into the period, Ovie scored on a wicked wrister -- but the goal was immediately washed out because the refs ruled that Knuble interfered with Halak. No penalty was called on the play. The Caps need to "crack the spell" of Halak, as Joe B. just pointed out. It certainly was a questionable call, which of course prompted "ref, you suck" from the capacity (and ever-restless) capacity crowd.

The Caps kept up the pressure, and Ovie got another shot on goal but Halak saved it rather easily, even though there was a bit of a deflection by one of the Canadiens' defensemen. Montreal then started to mount some pressure, but Varly came up big again.

This period is more back-and-forth than the second period, but the Caps aren't quite mounting as much pressure -- for now. They need to find a way to elude the Habs' shot blockers or challenge Halak in some way, shape or form.

The Habs started to control the pressure and really took it to the Caps, but fortunately for the home team, Montreal had a goal wiped out after the puck (and Varly) were pushed into the net. The play went to review, which is a bit puzzling considering the Caps' near-goal didn't -- and the Caps certainly remember what happened against the Flyers two seasons ago. No goal or penalty was called on the play, so the score remained the same.

The Caps need to do more with their heavy shots-on-goal advantage. They're just not able to get the puck up on Halak and actually get it on net. But the time to score is dwindling, with just 9:25 between the Caps and the end of the season.

The Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble line, despite getting about every-third shift, still hasn't been able to solve Halak. Fortunately, Varly has been making his own 10-bell saves, which is what has kept the Caps in this game so far.

The Caps keep charge the net, but that hasn't led to better shots on Halak. If the Caps want to make it difficult for themselves, they're certainly doing a great job of it. And Montreal nearly iced the series as Mike Cammalleri hit the post with about six minutes left.

The Caps continue to turn up the pressure, but they'll need to do more than what they're already doing. This is more than just a game -- this is a way to prove all the doubters wrong and show they deserved the President's Trophy. But this isn't the regular season, and this isn't just another game. There's 5:54 left and it's not looking any better.

And Dominic Moore most likely just ended the Caps' season after getting a breakaway tally with . The Cardiac Caps seemed to have pushed the envelope a bit too far.

Two goals in three minutes is asking a bit too much. Predictably, Coach Bruce Boudreau has basically went to a power play line-up and Varly probably is going to be pulled. But before that happened, Laich scored with 2:16 left to give the Caps some hope on some massive amounts of pressure on Halak. Ovechkin and Backstrom was there to help.

Jason Chimera nearly had the equalizer with two minutes left, but the puck just bounced off his stick. And, just moments later, the Caps went on the power play after Ryan O'Byrne went to the box. So now it's really do-or-die and certainly redemption time for the Caps' power play. Varly went to the bench to make it a two-man advantage.

But the Caps couldn't convert and thus begins one of the longest summers in recent memory for the Caps.

Final: Canadiens 2, Caps 1.