The Capitals still are looking for some production from their second line as Evgeny Kuznetsov and Justin Williams have no even-strength points in the playoffs. Capitals coach Barry Trotz tried replacing Andre Burakovsky with Marcus Johansson at left wing on the line to try to get Kuznetsov and Williams going but it has yet to pay off.
"We're going to break through here and we're going to break through because of our perseverance, our hard work and because of our second effort, not because we're waiting for it to happen," Williams said Monday. "We're going to have to go make it happen."
3. Nothing special:The Capitals have had the edge in special teams play, killing off all seven Penguins power plays, including five in Game 2, and going 1-for-6 on the power play. After going 8-for-21 with the man-advantage in defeating the New York Rangers in five games in the first round, the Penguins have been having trouble getting shots through to goaltender Braden Holtby and dealing with the pressure of the Capitals penalty kill (30-for-31 in the playoffs).
Making quicker decisions with the puck might help them get more open looks.
"They're a good [penalty kill]," Kessel said. "You watch them and they block a lot of shots, they get in the [shooting] lane, they don't let you get a ton of pucks to the net and they've got a good goalie. So we've got try to try get more pucks there and create more secondary chances."