The Capitals can advance to a second-round date with the New York Islanders with another win in Game 6 at Carolina on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS, FS-CR, NBCSWA). They have some work to do, however, before they can start thinking about that series, and facing their former coach, Barry Trotz.
Having lost Games 3 and 4 at Carolina by a combined 7-1, the Capitals know the Hurricanes will be a tough out. But now they've rediscovered their winning formula, one they hope will push them past the Hurricanes and on to another long postseason run.
"That should be a pretty clear blueprint of how our game needs to look," coach Todd Reirden said. "And if we want to have continued success, that's the standard of how it has to be."
This was a much-needed response for Washington after its 2-1 loss in Game 4 on Thursday that also cost it forward T.J. Oshie, who sustained an upper-body injury on a boarding hit by Carolina's Warren Foegele. With Oshie, a heart-and soul leader on and off the ice, out indefinitely, the Capitals pulled together and used his absence as inspiration.
The result was their most complete effort of this postseason.
"First of all, it [stinks] that he's out," Backstrom said. "But at the same time, I think when you come together like that as a team, it's a good feeling. Obviously, this one was for him."
The Capitals received an emotional and physical boost from the return of forward Devante Smith-Pelly, a fan and locker room favorite who had seven goals during last season's Cup run. Recalled from Hershey of the American Hockey League after Oshie was injured, Smith-Pelly helped set the early physical tone with a big hit on Hurricanes forward Nino Niederreiter that brought a standing ovation from the crowd.
But Ovechkin was the biggest contributor in the Capitals' recommitment to physicality with a game-high 11 hits. Washington outhit Carolina 48-32.
"We just want to set the tone right away," Ovechkin said. "Put the puck deep, hit their D and leave the mark."