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In a deep hole, Caps look to get back in series

The Capitals look to climb out of a 2-0 hole against Columbus.
Credit: Joe Puetz
Apr 2, 2018; St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) blocks a shot made from the St. Louis Blues during the second period at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports

(WUSA9) — The Washington Capitals are in 2-0 hole. Not the end of the world, but not ideal either.

If the Caps are to come back and win the series, they need to win Game 3, Tuesday in Columbus.

Only four teams in the history of the NHL have come back from 3-0 down to win the series, the most recent being the 2014 Kings.

Washington was down 2-0 last season to Pittsburgh, before winning 3 of 4 games to force a Game 7 that they lost. So for most of the team, this isn't unfamiliar territory.

The only question is, can they complete the comeback this time?

If the Capitals are to win Game 3, here are three things to watch for:

  • Braden Holtby: You could make the argument that Holtby should have been in net from the get-go in the series, given his past playoff performance. There's was an even stronger argument to be made for Holtby to start Game 2 after the loss in Game 1. Now, there's no question that if Washington is going to make noise in the playoffs, Braden Holtby will be a big reason why. Holtby's career numbers in the postseason are impressive. The Caps goaltender has a 2.00 goals against average, and has stopped more than 93 percent of the shots he's faced in his playoff career. Those numbers are among the best in the history of the NHL. If Braden Holtby plays at that level, Washington should win Game 3.
  • Special teams: Both teams' power plays have been clicking. Washington has scored on 5 of their 13 power plays, Columbus has scored on 4 of 8. If the Capitals want to turn this series around, they have to tighten up their penalty kill. If they don't, their season will end soon.
  • Tom Wilson: The Capitals forward needs to play with more discipline. Wilson has committed two penalties so far in the series, one each in games 1 and 2. The Blue Jackets have scored on the resulting power play both times the Caps forward has gone to the penalty box. Wilson needs to find the line between being a physical force versus being undisciplined, and he needs to not cross that line.

While the series is not over until there are handshakes, the Caps would go a long way towards easing fans concerns with a Game 3 win.

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