John Tortorella isn't even entertaining the possibility that Monday's Game 6 against the Washington Capitals will be the final game of the season for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
"I won't have to say a damn word to them," the Blue Jackets head coach told reporters, including The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, after a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 5 on Saturday in Washington that gave the Capitals a 3-2 series lead.
"No," he continued. "We'll be back here for Game 7."
Tortorella's de facto guarantee is the second such declaration of the series, following Alex Ovechkin's prediction that the Capitals would tie the series at 2-2, which ultimately came true.
The Blue Jackets won the first two games of the series before the Capitals stormed back to win the next three.
If a Game 7 becomes necessary, it would be played Wednesday night.
