Photo by Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Capitals enter Wednesday night's Game 7 against a depleted Pittsburgh team with two straight wins and seemingly everything going right. The team has another not-so-secret weapon in its arsenal, too, in the form of maybe the most clutch Game 7 performer of all time.Justin Williams has simply been a beast whenever a series is on the line, posting an NHL record 14 points in career Game 7s. The three-time Stanley Cup champion has earned his clutch reputation with an astonishing 2.0 points-per-game average, recording seven goals (including two game-winners) and seven assists in seven career contests with a series tied 3-3. His team has never lost, either, going a perfect 7-0 during those games.
Since 2013 alone, Williams has put up four goals and three assists in four Game 7s, with five of those points coming against the Sharks, Ducks, and Blackhawks during the Kings' improbable march to a Stanley Cup championship in 2014, where Williams was also awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP. Twice in his 16-year career has Williams scored the series-winning goal in Game 7. In 2003, Williams notched two assists and the game-winner as the Flyers eliminated Toronto, while a decade later he scored the series-clincher in the seventh game in San Jose.In 139 career playoff games with Philadelphia, Carolina, Los Angeles, and Washington, Williams has recorded 36 goals, including seven game-winners, and 58 assists for 94 points in 139 postseason games.The veteran hasn't been much of an offensive force in the Capitals' second-round series so far, though, recording no goals, three assists, a minus-1 rating, with ten shots on net through the first six games.In fairness, though, the series never really begins for Williams until the puck is dropped in Game 7.
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Since 2013 alone, Williams has put up four goals and three assists in four Game 7s, with five of those points coming against the Sharks, Ducks, and Blackhawks during the Kings' improbable march to a Stanley Cup championship in 2014, where Williams was also awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP. Twice in his 16-year career has Williams scored the series-winning goal in Game 7. In 2003, Williams notched two assists and the game-winner as the Flyers eliminated Toronto, while a decade later he scored the series-clincher in the seventh game in San Jose.In 139 career playoff games with Philadelphia, Carolina, Los Angeles, and Washington, Williams has recorded 36 goals, including seven game-winners, and 58 assists for 94 points in 139 postseason games.The veteran hasn't been much of an offensive force in the Capitals' second-round series so far, though, recording no goals, three assists, a minus-1 rating, with ten shots on net through the first six games.In fairness, though, the series never really begins for Williams until the puck is dropped in Game 7.