Yesterday the Tampa Bay Lightning secured their spot in the Stanley Cup Final by earning a 2-0 victory over the New York Rangers. By the end of the night we’ll know who their adversary is. Between the Blackhawks and Ducks, Chicago has a clear edge in playoff experience and that might prove to be the difference tonight, but Anaheim has shown during the Western Conference Final that it’s more than capable of competing at this level.
If Chicago’s edge is experience though, then Anaheim’s advantage is the contest’s location. Historically the home team has a 94-66 record in Game 7s and has gone 3-1 this year, per the NHL’s Communications Department. The first goal is important too as 73.8% of Game 7s are won by the team that takes a 1-0 lead.
Tonight’s contest will air on NBC, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. If you want to stream the game, you can do so via NBC Sports Live Extra by clicking on the link below:
There will also be pregame coverage on NBCSN beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET and you can go back there after the contest for the postgame. You can watch the Live Extra stream of that by using the link below (you will automatically be taken to the game stream once it starts):
In the meantime, here’s some pregame reading material:
Ducks juggle lines ahead of Game 7
The ‘freak’ Duncan Keith is having ‘a heck of a playoff’
The Ducks got Kesler for a game like Saturday’s
Chicago’s Sharp on Game 7 confidence (and Mario Kart)
Boudreau: Ducks were ‘nervous Nellies’ in last year’s Game 7 versus Kings