Inner City Pressure

Tonight, two New York city area teams battle for survival in game 7 of their opening round series. In what the sauce would like to call, Inner City Pressure.

New York Rangers @ Washington Capitals 7:00 PM EST
Carolina Hurricanes @ New Jersey 7:30 PM EST

Both the Rangers and Devils failed to seal the deal on an opening round victory in game 6 and will look to rebound in do-or-die fashion.

Here's the big difference for both teams, plain and simple.

The Devils' franchise goaltender Marty Brodeur hasn't been brilliant, but has been consistent and will need a better effort in front of him if the Devils want to advance.

The Rangers' franchise goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been brilliant in the beginning of the series, but was recently pulled in the last two consecutive contests.

Which Henrik shows up tonight? The King or the Jester?

In all seriousness, this will go one of two ways (duh)...

- Lundqvist is too good to fall apart for three games in a row. He knows what's on the line and he has the opportunity to play his most legendary game as the Rangers' goalie. The Rangers will pull out a low-scoring victory... perhaps an OT thriller.

- Lundqvist has been exposed, the Rangers have been outplayed throughout the series, and the Capitals will finish them off Mortal Kombat style on home ice in emphatic fashion.

I truly believe in the former, but my money will be on the latter. I think Alexander Ovechkin will carry this Caps team beyond the opening round (as the the Sauce predicted... Capitals in 7).