Kevin Johnson Jersey from linchao's blog

TAMPA Kevin Johnson Jersey , Fla. — The up-and-down, roller-coaster ride of the Eastern Conference finals comes to its final crescendo on Wednesday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Washington Capitals at Amalie Arena in Game 7 with the winner advancing to face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final, which starts on Monday.

A Lightning victory sees the Cup Final start in Tampa while a Washington win means Vegas will host the first game.

But the way in which the series between Tampa Bay and the Capitals has played out to date, determining the outcome of Game 7 might prove to be a futile effort.

“Lots of people say we’re going to lose to Columbus,” Washington captain Alex Ovechkin said. “Lots of people say we’re going to lose to Pittsburgh. Lots of people said we’re going to lose to Tampa. Tomorrow is the biggest probably game in my life.”

It’s been that sort of a playoff season for the Capitals, who fell behind 0-2 to Columbus in the opening round, finally defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round and jumped on top of Tampa Bay 2-0 to start the conference finals. But the Lightning won the next three games before Washington won Game 6 on home ice to force the decisive game.

“I don’t think anybody thought we’re going to be fighting against (the) Tampa Bay Lightning for the Stanley Cup final in Game 7,” Ovechkin said. “I don’t think you guys (reporters) felt like you were going to be here. Probably thought you’re going to be on vacation somewhere.”

Whichever team does fall short on Wednesday will be starting their vacation one stop short of playing for the ultimate prize.

For Tampa Bay, this is familiar territory.

For the third time in the past four years, the Lightning will play Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, and the script has pretty much played out the same way.

In 2015, Tampa Bay had a 3-2 series lead against the New York Rangers but fell in Game 6. In 2016 Menelik Watson Jersey , the Lightning were up 3-2 in the series to Pittsburgh but failed to close out the series in six games.

Against the Rangers, the Lightning won Game 7. Against the Penguins, Tampa Bay lost the decisive game.

But both of those Game 7s took place on the road. This time around, home-ice advantage belongs to the Lightning as they seek a third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.

“I do like the fact that there will be 19,000 people helping us, willing us to victory,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “I want our guys to enjoy the game. It’s a phenomenal experience. This will be my third one in four years. You just have to remember, don’t let the game become really much bigger than it is. Go out, execute, leave everything out there, see what happens.”

That’s where some experience can come in to play.

For many of the Lightning players, they have been in this situation before as the core of Tampa Bay has been pretty much intact for the past four years. Many have been through the experience Justin Simmons Jersey , this deep in to the playoffs, together.

“I think Game 7 is something that everybody looks forward to, at least I do. I take pleasure in playing a Game 7. I think it’s one of the most exciting moments in sports,” said Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman, who has a 7-1 career record playing in Game 7. “I think you just have to embrace it, really just have fun with it. I think what it’s all about. Usually if you have an open mindset, follow the game plan you set up, you are going to enjoy it. You will most of the time also have a good result.”

Brian Anderson and Cameron Maybin each drove in two runs to help spoil Miller’s return to the mound after missing over a year for Tommy John surgery as the Miami Marlins beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-5 on Monday night.

”It was so good to be back,” Miller said. ”I felt really good most of the game. I think my command could have been a little bit better, but overall I think the results don’t play out as good as I pitched.”

Miller (0-1) made his first start since April 23, 2017 and gave up six hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings.

”It’s unfortunate it didn’t go the way he wanted as far as winning the game and going deep in the game Lorenzo Alexander Jersey , things he’s conditioned for, but just getting back on the mound and doing what he did today was really nice for all of us to see,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.

He struck out five and walked two while throwing 85 pitches.

”It’s about getting out of there healthy, it’s about getting back on the bump after being off for 14 months, that alone is a goal reach in itself,” Miller said. ”I’m just excited to be back and I’m excited to be a part of the team again.”

Dan Straily (3-3) pitched effectively while appealing a five-game suspension for intentionally throwing a pitch at the San Francisco Giants’ Buster Posey on June 19. Straily allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings for the Marlins.

”Frustrating start to the game,” Straily said. ”I was trying to get back where I was as a pitcher, where I needed to be.”

Justin Bour hit his 13th home run for Miami, which won its third straight.

”As an offense we know we’re not a club that’s going to be a quick strike, throw five or six (runs),” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. ”We’re kind of one here, two there type of offense and that’s the approach we’ve been taking.”

Jake Lamb began the scoring with a home run in the first inning for the Diamondbacks Phillip Gaines Jersey , who saw their four-game winning streak end.

Bour responded with a solo shot in the bottom half.

Jeff Mathis’s base hit and Miller’s sacrifice fly gave Arizona a 3-1 lead.

The Marlins cut the deficit to 3-2 on a single by Starlin Castro.

Miami scored three runs in the pivotal fourth to take a 5-3 lead on a base hit by Derek Dietrich and a two-run double by Anderson.

The Marlins broke the game open in the eighth with four runs sparked by Maybin’s two-run single.

Chris Owings’s RBI double and Mathis’s sacrifice fly in the ninth cut the final deficit to 9-5.

GOLDSCHMIDT EXTENDS ROAD STREAK

Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt singled in the third inning to extend his road hitting streak to 13 games, which includes seven home runs and 17 RBIs during that span.

MARLINS ARE COMING BACK

Miami has won four of its last five home games with all four being comeback wins.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP Clay Buchholz (left oblique) was placed on the 10-day disabled list. ”He said he could take the ball and would take the ball, that gives me the feeling that he’s feeling good enough, but not perfect,” Lovullo said. . LHP Robbie Ray (oblique) will make his return to the rotation for Wednesday’s game. . OF A.J. Pollock (thumb) has been cleared with baseball activities. . OF Steven Souza (pectoral) threw in the outfield and has been cleared to be a designated hitter in rehab assignments. . RHP Randall Delgado (shoulder) will have another rehab assignment on Wednesday, but still has ”several” more appearances before returning to the big leagues.

Marlins: C J.T. Realmuto (right wrist) did not play after taking a foul ball off his wrist in Sunday’s game. ”That last at-bat, he took a swing, and you could tell something was bothering him,” Mattingly said. ”We think he’s just a day. Give him a day and see how he feels. He was pretty sore today.” . LHP Caleb Smith (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day disabled list and MRI results revealed he has a Grade 3 lat strain. . RHP Jose Urena (shoulder) starting a throwing program and Mattingly believes he will be able to return soon after he is eligible on July 1.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Godley (8-5, 4.64 ERA) will start the second game of the series on Tuesday. Godley is 3-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts.

Marlins: RHP Elieser Hernandez (0-4, 5.12) will make his second start against the Diamondbacks after giving up five runs in three innings on June 1.