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CAPS pull ahead 5-3

I hope the Caps beat the Pens in Pittsburgh. That franchise needs this series. I don’t know what they do if the Pens take the next two games. Move the franchise to Seattle?

I feel like I just watched my Caps get outplayed all night and end up winning 6-3.

Holtby is a hero!

I agree. Caps deserve this one

Boston out. .

well the Pens are gone. Congrats Caps!

Winnipeg/Nashville game 7 is going to be amazing tonight

I feel like this final four (regardless of who wins tonight) has 4 teams with a pretty equal chance at taking the cup.

Between Winnipeg and Nashville, both teams play great defense, and can pressure the hell out of you in the offensive zone.

Vegas is on this ridiculous run that started from their very first (literally) game.

Washington seems to have gotten over the Penguins hump which has haunted them for the better part of a decade.

And if you ask me, Tampa is the best team left in this thing.

Go Jets!

SHOULD be a real brawl tonight. Gotta love game 7s!

Two VERY sloppy goals by Rinne to start. Then gets pulled. Didn’t see that coming.

Well that has to be one of the most anti-climactic game 7s in sports history... to be crushed on your home ice like that is embarrassing.

yeah, that was not ideal

I thought it was a good game to watch, as someone rooting for the Jets.

I know this makes me a heartless bastard... but I guess I am what I am.

I love that Nashville got embarrassed. To me, Nashville fans are like the Golden State fans of the NHL. You have all these "super-fans" coming out of the woodwork the last 2-3 years. Somebody put a lot of effort and creative thought into coming up with all of their "traditions" in such a short amount of time.

And yes, I know I'm inviting criticism of my Penguins. They lost to the Caps, after all.

Like what?

I know what you're trying to mean, but what do you expect from Nashville or any other fan base? For the Preds, they were essentially a 16 seed last year and made it to the Cup. It was their first deep run in the playoffs. That would bring a lot more eyes to the franchise. And when those eyes are watching, they start to "get" hockey. Isn't that how previous cities grew their rabid fan base too?

As for the catfish, here's the supposed explanation:
LINK - Back when the Predators launched in 1998, a large portion of the fanbase was made up of Red Wings-loving transplants who worked at the local auto plants. These carpetbaggers were an important part of the initial rooting section, bringing their passion for the game to the arena, as well as their own strange habit -- The Legend of the Octopus. The practice dates back to 1952, when some Detroit rooters decided to throw an octopus onto the ice for good luck, reasoning that the eight arms of the cephalopod represented the eight wins necessary for the team to win a championship. The Red Wings took home the Cup and, with hockey fans generally being superstitious types, the octopi have been raining down from the stands ever since.

I actually live in the Nashville area and you couldn't be further from the truth. I'm not a hockey fan so I have no horse in the race. But their fans are a loyal bunch.

The only pro team to compete with this fan base is the Titans. Let that sink in for a minute.

I have found the Octopus toss to be most disturbing when some fellow behind you throws one short.

It didn't hurt that the Preds unlikely race to the finals got a lot of big name country music stars interested in the team... I can't quantify how that helped get the casual fans more interested, but I bet it was a lot.

Jets/Lighting would be interesting, but ratings might not be good

I dunno if we're really getting good ratings for any of these teams. I think Vegas is an unbelievably compelling story that would have ridiculous ratings if it were any other major sport, but for whatever reason, casual sports fans want to see an original six team. I read some years back about what visuals that sports sell. The NBA sells superstars, which is why when they promote big games, it's always "Lebron James and the Cavaliers take on Steph Curry and the Warriors". Baseball sells faces, and history. You can always see the faces of the players. Football sells the logo on the side of the helmet. People like to see the big G on the side of the Packers helmet... The NHL sells those jerseys. They're easily the best in sports. It's also why they screw it up every year during the winter classic, the one time outside of the playoffs where casual fans may tune in, and they have some ridiculous made up jersey specifically made for that game. It's stupid, go with the old standby when you have games like these. The Hawks and Bruins are playing at Notre Dame in January. They would be stupid not to wear anything but their normal jerseys.

I think the cup final this year is going to be outstanding no matter how you look at it. The only team that has ever won it is Tampa, and that was more than a decade ago, and their team is easily the most fun to watch.

Plenty of really good players too.

As far as Nashville goes, the town has really taken to that team, and it hasn't been just the last few years. We were out there 5 years ago when they were still a team that was only good enough to make the playoffs, and the people out there flat out told us they enjoyed the Preds more than the Titans.

The NHL should be proud of what they built. Nobody thought it would work there, and it did. It's a tremendous city or events as well, so that is even better for the league. They've already had an all star game, and the draft is probably on the horizon.

Tough way to go out, but Winnipeg was just a slightly better team. Rinne has some big game issues, but overall is still a fantastic goaltender.

Not to toot my own horn, but if you look at the goalies remaining in the playoffs... damn. Outstanding.

Fleury getting new life in Vegas is probably my favorite NHL story of the year. Well known around the league as one of the most likable people, and he's been a perfect fit for a brand new team.

I think Washington finally getting the Pittsburgh monkey off their back might take them to the Cup. That happens in sports, when a team that has underachieved in the playoffs gets over that hump and then rolls from there.

Last I checked they were leading tonight, but I've saying it since they knocked off the Penguins: caps are dangerous now.

That's exactly what happened to the Red Wings in the late 90's. I'd love to see Ovechkin hoist the cup.

The Caps are making me sweat it here at the end.

4-2 Final, Caps.

Caps look like a team on a mission.

It's not over in this series, because we've already seen one team lose the first two at home then take the series in round one, but Washington looks good.

I would be so geeked to see a Caps and Jets Cup Final.

I'm rooting for the Caps/Jets final as well ... halfway there!

That Detroit team is a good example. Oilers and Islanders in the 80s went through the same thing.

Fleury - you are amazing! Wish you were still with the Pens. Congrats to the Golden Knights! Hope you win the whole thing.

vegas punches their ticket

Unreal, what a story!

Game 7. 'nuff said.

I think it's a great story for the players but I don't feel anything for Vegas. They get a team, no suffering, no heartbreak and get to go to the Cup Finals right away. I think of the Leafs, Sabres and Jets.....they have to be pissed off watching this. Heck, all of Canada has to be gripping it hard.

It is what it is and their franchise will only be stronger going forward, but I'm just a bit salty that they get an immediate payoff.

Also, with how Vegas has embraced the Knights and the latest Supreme Court ruling, the other leagues have to be super jealous the NHL beat them to the punch. The NFL will want a Super Bowl there every other year.

3-0 Caps after 2!

Caps going to Vegas!

I dunno, not having a team to root for (other than piggybacking some other town’s team)seems a lot crappier than having our heart broken by not winning.

Maybe it’s not that extreme but it’s awesome to see the city behind it.. I dunno it kinda gives them a little bit of an identity other than gambling and Elvis...

Yeah, I mean as browns fans we should all be a little mad. They’re in the championship one year in, meanwhile we’ve wasted two decades of fall Sundays getting tortured. I just don’t have any hate for it. Maybe it’s the way it was built. They didn’t Boston/NY their way into it. It’s a bunch of grinders and role guys getting it done.

I love the way they play too. They don’t wait around. Some teams fee you out and wait for a mistake. They are on the aggressive and don’t stop. I can respect that.

Vegas could follow the pattern of the Carolina Panthers.. the NFL set up the expansion draft for the Panthers and Jags way better than any before or after.. (**cough** Browns **cough**)

Then Vegas used a bunch of their salary cap space to obtain a number of aging veterans because the teams left them unprotected because they were expensive...

And in some twist of fate (maybe it's coaching) but they have a number of veterans who are having a career season this year..

So the Panthers used their advantage to get to the NFC championship game in year 2, then didn't make the playoffs again for 7 more years... It's possible the same thing could happen here.

Either way, what a story for those players in Vegas. Castoffs, afterthoughts, guys who were rejected by their former teams. Fleury says hi to Pittsburgh lol

Glad the Caps won tonight, it'd be nice to see them win the Cup, too.

Caps vs Vegas .. I can dig it

Fleury's playing out of his frickin' mind.