The set-up: The Washington Capitals own a pathetic history in the postseason overall and in particular, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Caps immediately coughed up their home ice advantage in this year's semifinal series against the Pens by losing Game 1, 3-2. However, the Caps won Game 2 at home and then regained the home ice edge by taking Game 3 in Pittsburgh. Then again, nothing comes easy for the Caps this time of year and Pittsburgh was able to even the best-of-seven series with a 3-1 win in Game 4. The series is now down to a best-of-three and Game 5 will be played back in D.C. at the Verizon Center.

Pittsburgh: The Capitals were held to 21 shots (just three in the third period) by a rejuvenated Pittsburgh defense in the Game 4 win. "I thought we defended hard," Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters. "We made pretty good decisions with the puck. We stayed above the attack. The opportunities that we did get were off of our defense. I think it was a solid third period." Forward Jake Guentzel continued a remarkable run for Pittsburgh with two goals in Game 4, giving him NHL bests of 10 goals and 21 points in the postseason (he has four goals and four assists in the series). Guentzel is the first player since Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier in 1988 to reach 20 points in 10 or fewer playoff games during one season. Captain Sidney Crosby is again a solid force this postseason with19 points in the playoffs. Goalie Matt Murray, who had two shutouts in the first four games of the postseason, allowed just one goal Thursday, after permitting 17 in the previous five contests.

Washington: Captain Alex Ovechkin had scored in four consecutive playoff games before being held without a shot in Thursday 3-1 loss. He owns eight goals in 10 playoff contests, including five in a four-game span before Thursday. Devante Smith-Pelley moved onto the first line with Tom Wilson serving the first of a three-game suspension but did not have a shot while playing with Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Right wing T.J. Oshie snapped a four-game drought with his fourth goal of the playoffs in Game 4 on the power play, but has been held to five total shots over his last five contests. John Carlson has 10 points and Brooks Orpik boasts a plus-6 rating to lead the defense in the playoffs for Washington while goaltender Braden Holtby continues to shine with a 2.07 GAA and .924 SP after starting the postseason on the bench.

The pick: "We've believed in ourselves all year," Washington goalie Braden Holtby told reporters after the setback. "One game at a time. Now this game isn't going to shake us at all. Our biggest asset has been bouncing back, either after a win or a loss. Just focus on playing our game, and that's what we're going to do." Washington's Jakub Vrana is playing in just his first playoff series against the Penguins but told reporters, "Everybody knows it's a big rivalry. We kind of hate each other. We go at it and we're really pumped for the next game." Washington head coach Barry Trotz decided to bench Holtby at the start of the playoffs and it almost cost him, as the Caps lost the first two games at home vs. Columbus, a team which had never won a playoff series. However, Holtby has stabilized the defense and now it's time for Ovechkin and Co. to "put up or shut up!" My vote (bet) is that the Caps "put up" in Game 5. Make Washington a 10* play.