After suffering early exits from the playoffs over the past few years, Washington switched gears and started playing defense. It seems to have bitten the club against Tampa, though, as the Capitals have managed just four goals through two games. To make matters worse, both losses came on home ice, and now the Capitals must travel to Tampa for back-to-back games.

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The power play has been a major factor why the Capitals have struggled. Despite having a wealth of offensive talent like Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Mike Green, the Caps ranked just 16^th during the regular season on the power play at 17.5 percent. They improved towards the end of the year and did a nice job against the Rangers, but special-teams problems are rearing their ugly head against Tampa Bay. Washington has gone 0-for-10 with the man advantage in two games against the Lightning.

Chances of a turnaround could be slim, however. They say your best penalty killer is your goalie, and Tampa Bay’s goalie is playing great. Dwyane Roloson is enjoying a superb postseason, posting a 1.80 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage. The 41-year-old has yet to allow more than three goals in a game during this year’s playoffs, and Washington certainly doesn’t want to let this series reach an elimination game—Roloson is 5-0 lifetime in playoff elimination games.

Roloson has led an absolutely dominant penalty-killing effort by Tampa Bay. The Lightning have killed off 39 of the 40 penalties they’ve taken in the postseason.

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