The set-up: The Washington Capitals won four straight over Columbus in the first round, after losing the first two games of that series at home. The Caps then lost Game 1 at home to the Pens, before winning four of the next five in that series, beating Pittsburgh for just the second time in 11 all-time postseason series against their rivals. Washington then posted two straight road victories to open the Eastern Conference finals at Tampa Bay and finally, most felt as if the team's past demons had been exorcised. However, we are talking about the Washington Capitals, right? One week after taking a 2-0 series lead over the Lightning, the Caps are fighting for survival as they get set to host the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 6 on Monday night. The Capitals have dropped three straight, including Saturday's 3-2 setback in Tampa Bay,with the Lightning moving within a victory of their third-ever trip to the Stanley Cup finals, as as well as a second in four years. The Capitals did battle back in Game 5 after falling behind 3-0, out-shooting Tampa Bay 26-9 in the final 40 minutes, but they fell one goal shy.

Tampa Bay: The Lightning have won five of six on the road in the playoffs and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has been outstanding in the team's three straight wins over teh Caps, turning aside 100 of the 106 shots he has faced ((.943 SP) to improve to 11-4 in the postseason. "We have a lot of unfinished business. This isn't even close to being over," Tampa Bay right wing Ryan Callahan told reporters. "This last game is definitely the hardest. … To go in their building and try to close them out, it's going to be tough." Callahan, along with "fourth line" mates Cedric Paquette and Chris Kunitz, have played a big part defensively against the Alex Ovechkin unit the last three games and contributed two goals and two assists in Game 5. Right wing Nikita Kucherov notched an assist in Game 5 to take over the team lead with 17 points, one better than captain Steven Stamkos and fellow center Brayden Point, while left wing Ondrej Palat has at least a point in three straight contests and 12 overall.

Washington: A lot of people counted us out when we were down 0-2 (to Columbus) in the first round. Things got hard in the last series (against Pittsburgh) and we could have melted, and we just kept playing," Washington defenseman Matt Niskanen told reporters. "So that's what we've got to do again. Bring our best effort for Game 6 at home, win a game, and then we'll go from there." Washington gave up a goal in the first minute in each of the first two periods Saturday, after trailing through the opening 20 minutes in both Game 3 and 4 at home, forcing it to chase the Lightning most of all three contests. " Center Evgeny Kuznetsov has scored in four consecutive games and owns at least a point in eight straight to break the franchise record for points in a single postseason (22). "It's OK," Washington captain Alex Ovechkin said. "We're going to play better in Game 6 and we have (to) bounce back and come here and play a Game 7 and that's it."

The pick: In the conference era, which dates back to 1974-75, only two teams in 41 occasions have won the first two games of a conference final or league semifinal and failed to win the series; the Montreal Canadiens in 1984 and Boston Bruins in 1991. I expect the Caps do join that list (one which no teams wants to be a member), so why wait to blow a Game 7? Why not lose right here in the front of the team's hometown fans? Make Tampa Bay a 10* play.