Penguins at Capitals
The Washington Capitals have frittered away a two-goal lead four times in seven postseason games, including three of their four at home this postseason. After yielding three third-period goals during a span of 4:49 in the opener, the host Capitals aim to rebound and even their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Pittsburgh Penguins at one victory apiece when the rivals play Game 2 on Sunday afternoon.
"It was a little bit of a kick in the stomach," Washington coach Barry Trotz said. "We had a couple kicks in the stomach in the first round with Columbus and you saw the response that we had. I know our group, I know the strength of our group, I know the resiliency. This group will battle back." The Capitals need a stronger response at home considering they are 1-3 at Capital One Arena while the Penguins are a perfect 4-0 on the road. Evgeni Malkin shed the non-contact jersey for a more traditional yellow one in practice on Saturday and will be a game-time decision for Game 2 after sitting out two contests with a lower-body injury following a collision with Philadelphia's Jori Lehtera. "I feel so much better and we'll see what I feel tonight overnight," said the former Hart Trophy winner, who had five points (three goals, two assists) in five games in the first round and six (two goals, four assists) in four regular-season contests versus Washington.
TV: 3 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, TVAS
ABOUT THE PENGUINS: While superstar captain Sidney Crosby, Malkin, Phil Kessel and Matt Murray tend to dominate the headlines, Jake Guentzel routinely sees his name in big bold letters when the postseason comes along. The 23-year-old capped the late goal surge by linemates Crosby and Patric Hornqvist to extend his point streak to five games (four goals, eight assists) and boost his league-leading total in scoring with 16 (seven goals, nine assists). "I just think we're complementing each other well when we get in on the forecheck and we're all around each other," Guentzel said. "When you play with Sid, he makes it pretty easy for you, and he opens up a lot of space for us. We're just trying to take advantage of it."
ABOUT THE CAPITALS: Although Alex Ovechkin scored and set up a goal in the series opener, the superstar captain and his linemates -- Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson -- were on the ice for all three of Pittsburgh's tallies in the third period. "For the most part, if you look at it analytically, it was not bad," Trotz said of matching the teams' top lines against one another. "But at the same time, the only thing that matters is what's one the board -- the big scoreboard." Wilson notched a pair of assists to boost his point total to five (two goals, three assists) in seven games.
OVERTIME
1. Pittsburgh LW Carl Hagelin did not participate in practice and is expected to miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury.
2. Washington has thwarted 18 consecutive short-handed situations in the playoffs.
3. Murray has surrendered eight goals on the road in the playoffs, with five coming in the series clincher versus the Flyers.