The set-up: The Washington Capitals own a troubled playoff history and the 2018 postseason opened on a similar path. The Caps lost Games 1 and 2 at home vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets but they were able to rebound by winning four in a row (three in Columbus). However, Washington immediately coughed-up its home ice advantage to the Penguins in Game 1 of the teams' Eastern Conference semifinal with a 3-2 loss, after taking a 2-0 lead. That meant that in seven postseason games, including three of their four at home , the Caps had frittered away a two-goal lead four times. Washington allowed three third-period goals during a span of 4:49 in Game 1 and had to regroup quickly for Game 2. The Capitals were able to do just that, evening the series with Sunday's 4-1 triumph by ending Pittsburgh's streak of road playoff victories at six. Washington: After blowing four two-goal leads through the first seven games of the playoffs, Washington at least temporarily solved that problem. Ovechkin beat Matt Murray 1:26 into Game 2, Jakub Vrana scored on the power play later in the first period and, unlike Game 1, the Capitals made it 3-0 when Brett Connolly scored on a breakaway early in the second. Braden Holtby stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced to frustrate the Penguins, robbing captain Sidney Crosby and linemate Jake Guentzel with sliding pad saves to continue his strong play in the postseason. The Caps have now won all three road games this postseason and seven of nine dating to last year, including two of three at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh during last year's postseason. Evgeni Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie are expected to play on Tuesday despite both sustaining minor hand injuries during the tail end of the third period in Game 2. Pittsburgh: The Penguins were without star center Evgeni Malkin for the third consecutive game because of an apparent leg injury. Headc coach Mike Sullivan said Malkin could return for Game 3 (it will be a game-time decision). The former Hart Trophy recipient centered the second line between wings Dominik Simon and Bryan Rust during Monday's practice while fellow forward Phil Kessel shuffled to the third line alongside Derick Brassard and Conor Sheary. Carl Hagelin (upper body) and Dumoulin (upper body) also are questionable to play in Game 3, with the former changing his non-contact jersey to a traditional yellow one midway into Monday's practice while the latter wore a non-contact sweater throughout. The pick: Ovechkin tied Crosby and Guentzel for the playoff lead in goals (all three have seven) with his Game 2 tally. Holtby looks good in net plus the Capitals have thwarted all five short-handed situations versus the Penguins this series, improving to a perfect 22-for-22 since Game 2 of their first-round set versus the Blue Jackets. Pittsburgh's Matt Murray has yielded seven goals on 67 shots (just an .896 SP) en route to dropping two of three home decisions in the playoffs. However, it's difficult to trust the Caps in a crucial (although not critical) Game 3. History says the Pens are the play in this one. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play.