The Washington Capitals avoided elimination in Sidney Crosby's return to the ice on Saturday, and they will have to give it their all once again on Monday if they want to send the Eastern Conference's premier series to Game 7.
As the Caps look to take one step closer to beating the Pens in the postseason for the first time since 1994 and the defending champions seek an ousting of Washington for the second straight year, here are three keys to a crucial Game 6:
1. The Capitals' dependence on blue-line help
For the second consecutive game, Washington figures to roll out of the gate with seven defensemen. Barry Trotz has been unafraid to tinker with his unit in desperate times this postseason -- the shift of Alex Ovechkin to the third line was chief among the adjustments. And associate coach Todd Reirden, the man fronting the defense, will be tasked with giving the Caps the edge they had in a 4-2 Game 5 win.
2. Pittsburgh's 'HBK' line and a Trevor Daley-less defense
The big talking point leading up to Game 6 is now the potential return of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel as a Pittsburgh line -- the same one that helped the Pens eliminate Washington in 2015-16's Game 6. But just as important as "HBK" reforming for the first time since Game 2 will be Pittsburgh, already without Kris Letang, calling upon either Chad Ruhwedel or Mark Streit to fill in for a banged-up Trevor Daley. The defensive depth should be tested against a desperate Caps attack.
3. Alex Ovechkin and big-name Caps vs. Marc-Andre Fleury
This one's obvious, but with Ovechkin's move to the third line for Game 5 and Washington's added emphasis on blue-line help, the pressure will be on the Capitals' top dogs to prove their worth against Fleury, who wasn't even supposed to start this series but has been dominant at home and a rock-solid piece of the Pens' bid for a repeat title. Ovi has to step up, and so do his offensive counterparts.
