Game 7 ... it's where reputations are made.

Tonight, the two greatest words in sports will be center stage at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC ... GAME 7.  It's where all that matters in sports comes to a head.  It's what separates the great from the good and the champs from the chumps.

For Alexander Ovechkin, the pressure is paramount.  Fair or unfair, his career continues to be defined by his lack of postseason success and the opposing success of his counterpart, Sydney Crosby.  While Ovechkin has held his own, scoring 20 goals and grabbing 19 assists in 27 career playoff games, he's 1-2 in his career in playoff game 7's. 

What does tonight mean for him? It means he either takes a step forward to being the guy that makes his team better, or he falls further behind Crosby.  I liken Ovechkin and Crosby to Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.  For years, A-Rod was the guy who was clearly the best player in the league, but couldn't win and couldn't perform in the postseason.  Sydney Crosby is Derek Jeter.  Good stats, not great ones; occasional MVP talk; but a clear postseason performer who continually comes up big in the biggest spots.  Now, I don't expect Ovie and Crosby to be on the same team anytime soon, the way A-Rod and Jeter are, but the logic applies.

For Alex the Great it's simple, be great tonight or your greatness will be defined for you.

Zinno