Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is closer than ever to playing for the Stanley Cup Max Pacioretty Jersey , and he¡¯s determined to make the most of the opportunity.

¡±I¡¯ve never been in this position before,¡± he said Tuesday, looking ahead to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The winner Wednesday night earns a berth in the Stanley Cup Final opposite the Vegas Golden Knights, who will try for hockey¡¯s biggest prize in their inaugural season.

Ovechkin and the Caps are hoping to shed a label as playoff underachievers, a franchise that dazzles during the regular season only to disappoint at the most important time of the year.

¡±I¡¯m excited. We¡¯re all excited. ¡­ We all want to be in this position and move forward,¡± said Ovechkin, who is playing in the conference final for the first time during his prolific 13-year career.

¡±(Wednesday night) is probably biggest game in my life, this team, organization probably. ¡­ We still haven¡¯t reached our goal. Tomorrow is going to be a huge step forward.¡±

Not if the Lightning have their way.

Tampa Bay is playing Game 7 in the conference final for the third time in four years. It beat the New York Rangers on the road to advance to the 2015 Cup Final Kyle Turris Jersey , but fell short the following year against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

¡±Experience is always a good thing, but it¡¯s nothing I¡¯m going to sit and lean on,¡± said Tampa Bay defenseman Anton Stralman, who is 7-1 in Game 7s during his career. ¡±It¡¯s about doing your job at the highest level you possibly can.¡±

Washington forced Wednesday¡¯s winner-take-all matchup with a dominating 3-0 victory in Game 6.

In a series where home ice has not been a clear advantage, the Lightning are hoping it provides an edge in Game 7.

Washington won Games 1 and 2 in Tampa, then dropped the next two at home. The Capitals are 7-2 on the road this postseason.

¡±When you get this deep into a series, everyone knows each other by heart. Now it really comes down to a little bit of will. You have to will yourself for this moment,¡± Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.

¡±I do like the fact there will be 19,000 people helping us  http://www.officialcoyotes.com/authentic-adidas-clayton-kell er-jersey , to will us to victory. I want the guys to enjoy the game. It will be a phenomenal experience. ¡­ You just have to remember, don¡¯t let the game get bigger than it really is. Go out there, execute, leave everything out there and we¡¯ll see what happens.¡±

This will be Washington¡¯s 11th Game 7 since the start of the 2008 playoffs, most among all NHL teams in that span. None of them, however, have been for a trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

Capitals coach Barry Trotz said after Monday night¡¯s win in Washington that there¡¯s no other team he has coached that he would rather lead into a seventh game.

¡±We just keep taking whatever challenge is thrown at us and build off it. This group doesn¡¯t waver. It has a spirit about it, a strong spirit,¡± he said.

¡±This team has done a lot of special things this year Vladimir Sobotka Jersey , it¡¯s grown, it continues to do that,¡± Trotz added. ¡±What an opportunity going into Tampa. ¡­ We¡¯ll see if we can earn the right to keep playing.¡±

And while that undoubtedly would be a major breakthrough for Ovechkin, Trotz reiterated the Capitals all have a lot invested.

¡±The opportunity is not only for Alex, but for everybody,¡± he said. ¡±Everybody that gets a chance to be in a Game 7, which will allow you to go to the finals. It¡¯s exciting, it¡¯s fun.¡±

¡ª

The Minnesota Vikings have signed half of their draft class, securing rookie contracts with kicker Daniel Carlson Brandon Saad Jersey , guard Colby Gossett, defensive end Ade Aruna and linebacker Devante Downs.

The four deals were signed on Thursday, the day before the team's rookie minicamp. Carlson was a fifth-round pick from Auburn. Gossett and Aruna were sixth-round selections from Appalachian State and Tulane, respectively. Downs was a seventh-round choice from California.

The four picks yet to sign contracts are first-round cornerback Mike Hughes (Central Florida), second-round offensive tackle Brian O'Neill (Pittsburgh), fourth-round defensive end Jalyn Holmes (Ohio State) and fifth-round tight end Tyler Conklin (Central Michigan).

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