Hurricanes keep low profile, save energy for Game 7

WASHINGTON

When the Carolina Hurricanes take the ice Wednesday night for Game 7 of their first-round series against the Washington Capitals, they won’t have been together on the ice as a team since they raised their sticks to salute the crowd at the end of Game 6 in Raleigh on Monday.

At this time of year, rest is a higher priority than repetition, and in this very specific case, the Hurricanes are looking to tweak anything they can having not won at Capital One Arena this series – or indeed, this season.

“Our routine, we’ve been all over the map all year,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “That’s been one of the things we’ve tried not to do, say we have to do it this way or do it that way. We skated here last game and that didn’t work. The most important thing is the rest factor. You’re not going to get much done in the morning skate at this point.”

That did leave a long morning and afternoon to fill, waiting for the biggest game of the season – and for some players, their careers.

“I’m going to turn my phone off and do a crossword and watch some video and wait for 7:30,” Hurricanes captain Justin Williams said.

WAITING GAME Andrei Svechnikov did skate at the arena Wednesday, hoping to emerge from the NHL concussion protocol and be cleared to play that night. He’ll be a game-time decision for Game 7.

“Everything’s based on how he’s going today,” Brind’Amour said.

Jordan Martinook is expected to play again while Micheal Ferland remains out.

SECOND LOOK After the cross-checking penalty in the San Jose-Vegas game Tuesday night that was incorrectly called a major and led to three third-period San Jose power-play goals in a game the Sharks won in overtime, there are new calls in the NHL for some kind of video review of major penalties.

That’s an argument Brind’Amour has often made, and never more after the match penalty assessed to Ferland in Game 2 for a hit to the head that was later rescinded by the NHL, but not until after the Hurricanes lost that game. His voice was already in that chorus.

“We’ve been saying that forever,” Brind’Amour said. “I think the game’s too fast. It’s hard on refs. I don’t know how they do it. … They’re heading toward it. The NHL’s got to figure it out. That’s a tough one last night.”

SEVENTH HEAVEN A win Wednesday night would be Williams’ eighth in a Game 7 (7-1), tying the NHL record. Washington’s Carl Hagelin (8-1) is tied with Ray Bourque, Brad Richards and Glenn Anderson with eight wins; a Capitals win would give him sole possession. Only Williams, though, is known as “Mr. Game 7.”

“Certain players, they cherish these moments a little more,” Brind’Amour said. “He’s been around. Obviously he knows how to play. These moments don’t really affect him. They don’t change how he plays.”

Williams goes into the game the NHL’s all-time leader in Game 7 points with 14, which as much as his record in those games – his only loss was with the Capitals in 2017 – earned him the nickname .

“That’s a label I didn’t install myself. You guys gave it to me,” Williams said. “The pressure to perform and be an impact player is the same for every single guy on our team. Everybody wants to be the guy, everybody wants to have an impact, positively, on the game. We’re going to do our best to make sure it is.”

Brind’Amour and Washington’s Todd Reirden became the seventh set of rookie coaches to meet in a Game 7, but the first since 1990, also involving the Hurricanes franchise, when the Hartford Whalers’ Rick Ley met the Boston Bruins’ Mike Milbury.