1. Solid first 10 Fehr the last two games and it changes everything about the contest. As Capitals right wing They don't necessarily have to take a lead, but how about not giving up two goals in the first 10 minutes for a change? The Canadiens have scored within the first 9:09 in each ofthe last two games and it changes everything about the contest. As Capitals right wing Eric Fehr said, when Montreal has the lead it can sit back and play what is, in effect, a neutral-zone trap. When the Habs are trailing, they can't sit back because they have to score and that usually opens space for the Capitals to work their magic. Washington has to get out of the first 10 minutes without giving up a goal, and scoring first Wednesday night is just as imperative. 1. Another Roy-like game from Halak Halak would be something, that's for sure. Halak has stopped 90 of 92 shots over the last two games to lift his team back into this series. The Capitals say he's not in their heads and they're not thinking about him, but every player in Washington's locker room Monday night was crediting Halak -- and only Halak -- for Montreal's win. If he's not in their heads, than how come the Capitals are saying Halak was the only reason Montreal won? Montreal might need another stunning performance from its Slovak goalie to beat the Capitals, and by now he's certainly proven he can do it. But can he do it one more time? Itwould be something, that's for sure. Halak has stopped 90 of 92 shots over the last two games to lift his team back into this series. The Capitals say he's not in their heads and they're not thinking about him, but every player in Washington's locker room Monday night was crediting Halak -- and only Halak -- for Montreal's win. If he's not in their heads, than how come the Capitals are saying Halak was the only reason Montreal won?

2. Perseverance

It took their 51st shot to finally score on Halak in Game 6. Hopefully for the Caps it doesn't take that long in Game 7, but no matter what they have to keep firing away at Green the Habs' net and hope the dam breaks at some point. The key, as Mike Green pointed out Tuesday, is getting traffic in front of Halak. They scored in Game 6 when Green's shot was re-directed by Fehr right at the doorstep. If no one is in front of Halak, he's proven he's going to stop the puck. 2. More sublime penalty killing

Coach Bruce Boudreau and captain Alex Ovechkin get asked about the Caps' broken power play every day now, and they keep saying it's because they're not doing enough Markov to score goals, they're trying to be too cute and they aren't gritty enough. What we haven't heard is either Boudreau or Ovechkin complement the Canadiens on what has been a marvelous penalty kill. Washington is 1-for-30 on the power play, but that means the Canadiens are 29-for-30 on the penalty kill. They were downright spectacular during a three-on-five for 75 seconds in the first period Monday, and that probably was the turning point in the game. The Habs are giving themselves a chance to win with their penalty kill.

3. A power play goal

Imagine, if you will, that the Capitals got a power-play goal in Game 7. Now, imagine if it came early in the game -- say, the first Ovechkin period. It might be hard to do right about now considering the Capitals are 1-for-30 on the power play in this series, but what a huge lift it would give the team to get one in the most important game of the series. This was the League's best power play in the regular season and it's seriously broken right now. There's no better time to fix it than the present. If not, they might not get another chance to score a power-play goal until October. 3. Better puck possession

As good as Halak has been, 54 shots on goal are way too many to give up in one game, and the Canadiens know it. Asked late Monday Cammalleri night how the Habs are keeping the Capitals down, Michael Cammalleri answered honestly by saying that they're not. He's right. Washington is getting too many quality chances and eventually they're going to start going in the net. It wouldn't be wrong to predict for that to happen Wednesday because you have to wonder how long players like Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin, Mike Knuble and Mike Green can be held down. The Habs have to limit the chances the Capitals get because it could be the end of them if they don't.

4. A goal from Semin and/or Fleischmann

Similar to the power play, a goal from Semin or Fleischmann in Game 7 may not be an absolute must-have for the Caps to win, but boy would that ignite them. Semin scored 40 Semin goals in the regular season, but now has gone 13 straight playoff games without scoring. Fleischmann had 23 goals in the regular season, but has just 3 goals in 22 career playoff games. Semin leads all players in the playoffs with 36 shots on goal, but he is tied for last in goals with a big fat zero. Fleischmann has eight shots in the series, but his last two have been splendid chances that he just missed on. An interesting stat about Semin is this year he went six straight games without a goal twice, but he broke out of both slumps with 2 goals in the seventh game. Well, he's gone six straight games without a goal now, so does he have a pair on his stick Wednesday night? 4. Protection for the goalie

If the Capitals, as everyone expects, crash the net hard Wednesday, the Canadiens better have some bodies there to protect Halak. One way to rattle a hot goalie is to get into his Gill kitchen and frustrate him, force him to retaliate and perhaps even take an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty. That'll get him out of his zone in a heartbeat. Players like Knuble, Brooks Laich and Jason Chimera will run over Halak if given the chance. It might even be worth taking a goalie-interference penalty if it happens early in the game. You always want to protect your best asset, and Montreal has none better right now than Halak.