Washington pretty much owned the Lightning in the regular season in winning four of the six meetings. But the Caps are now dealing with a scalding-hot goalie in Dwayne Roloson, who held high-powered Washington to just two goals each in the first two games. Michal Neuvrith has been just average for the Caps in net. Vincent Lecavalier was the star of Sunday’s Game 2 overtime win for the Bolts, scoring two goals including the game-winner. Washington's power play went 0 for 6 and is 0 for 11 in the series. The Lightning have turned aside 45 of 46 short-handed situations this postseason. If there’s good news for Washington it’s that it does know how to rally in a series. In 2009, the Capitals were in the exact situation they are now — down 0-2 after dropping two at home — before coming back to eliminate the New York Rangers.

Including the six regular season meetings between the Capitals and the Lightning, Washington has scored the game’s first goal just once in eight games. And the Caps have managed just five shots on goal in the third period of each of the first two games. If the Caps don’t win tonight their season could be over less than 24 hours later as this series has rare back-to-back games. Washington has played five of its seven playoff games on home ice this spring, winning three of the five.

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