Caps, Rangers are ready for Game 7 of intense series

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Unencumbered by talk of possible bites or potential suspensions, Alex Ovechkin strolled into the locker room at the Capitals’ training facility Monday wearing an Italian soccer club’s jersey and his usual “What, me worry?” gap-toothed grin.

A day before the Capitals and New York Rangers meet in Game 7, the league’s reigning MVP rested, taking advantage of coach Bruce Boudreau’s decision to make practice optional.

“Well, you know, last game was biggest game of the year — at that time,” Ovechkin said. “So right now, this game is the biggest game of the year for us.”

Ovechkin left it to teammates and opponents to dissect the latest points of contention heading into tonight’s conclusion of what has been a first-round series filled with intrigue:

UDid Capitals defenseman Shaone Morrisonn chomp on the right arm of Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky during a scrum in Game 6?

Dubinsky was given an injection and took antibiotics as a precaution; at practice Monday, he unwrapped a bandage to reveal a red wrist to reporters.

“Last time I saw it happen was Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield,” Dubinsky said, adding that he is “100 percent sure” Morrisonn’s to blame.

Morrisonn’s take? “I don’t know what to say. That’s not what happened,” he said. “I didn’t do that.”

Boudreau chimed in, too: “I get so ticked off when I hear that. Shaone doesn’t know what the heck they’re talking about, and I don’t either. I looked at it from every different angle and I didn’t see a thing.”

U Morrisonn was not suspended by the NHL, but the league did hand down the second punishment of the series: Capitals enforcer Donald Brashear was barred from a total of six games by the NHL for two transgressions, one before and one during Sunday’s 5-3 Capitals victory.

The bulk of his punishment, five games, came for leveling Blair Betts, New York’s top penalty-killing forward, in the first period. Both players will miss Game 7; Betts has a broken orbital bone.

This comes after the league made Rangers coach John Tortorella sit out Game 6 for his bottle-tossing display in Game 5 at Washington. In response to his faceoff with fans, the Capitals are putting additional security personnel in the area around the visiting bench and looking at what, if anything, can be done to address the Rangers’ concerns about gaps in the glass separating spectators from the bench.

It was Tortorella who acknowledged Monday that his team has been “a little uptight at certain times.”

Which raises the question: Who is under more pressure?

Second-seeded Washington, because it has returned to the favorite’s role now that the series is tied and the deciding game is in the nation’s capital?

Or seventh-seeded New York, because it led the series 2-0 and 3-1 before being routed in Games 5 and 6?