National Hockey League playoffs 2017: Sidney Crosby 'day-to-day' with concussion

"It's something that there's a high desperation level come playoffs and everybody's doing it", said Cole, who has 31 blocks in nine games.

So, here we stand. Pittsburgh leads the series 3-1 with Game 5 in Washington on Saturday.

You can't win. Not in the age of Twitter of super-slo-mo replays. Outscoring them is another matter entirely.

Two players who will be counted on to help fill the void are center Evgeni Malkin and winger Phil Kessel, who lead Pittsburgh - and, going into Tuesday's games, the National Hockey League - with 15 and 12 points, respectively, this postseason.

The Penguins aren't saying much about Crosby's injury, although coach Mike Sullivan did say that the team is "optimistic and hopeful that we will get him back in a timely fashion" and that Crosby's demeanor was "very positive". "He's a competitive guy". "I didn't control the puck well".

Consider the Capitals believers.

The Penguins blocked 18 shots a game on the way to the championship last season and are averaging 19.3 so far in these playoffs.

And let's be very clear: The Capitals have been the best team in this series and if not for lucky bounces and the play of Marc-Andre Fleury, would have swept the Penguins.

"Now our backs are against the wall", Trotz said. Even though the Capitals possession numbers are dwarfing the Penguins, their inability to produce has left them out in the cold.

Game over. Series over?

The Capitals know the Penguins are a formidable opponent; even without Crosby, with forwards Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel.

He shoots the puck more (3.9 shots per game without Crosby compared to 3.4 per game with him) and, perhaps not coincidentally, the puck goes in the net more - his shooting percentage rises a full point, from 13.4 percent to 14.4 percent when Malkin plays without Crosby.

"Sid skated this morning". They always respond the right way.

Matt Niskanen's shot to Crosby's jaw early in Game 3 left Crosby concussed and his immediate future uncertain. The "Mario Kart" showdown Beagle wanted will have to wait too.

Save for a scrap in the second period that amounted to little more than an extended wrestling match between Chris Kunitz and Tom Wilson - who made a run at Kunitz but missed - things stayed relatively tame.

The Penguins benefited from an own-goal for a 2-0 lead at 3:51 of the second.

Anaheim unleashed 21 shots in the second period, when it scored twice to tie the game at 2-2. Justin Williams escaped a pair of Penguins on the boards and fed Evgeny Kuznetsov at the top of the circle for a wrist shot that zipped by Fleury.

The Capitals would have had no business losing Game 3, as the Penguins rallied late in a sign that Washington may once again choke.

Fleury did the rest as he continued his renaissance with starter Matt Murray out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. That would be having a wildly successful regular season, only to leave fans disappointed with an early playoff exit. You (have to) check your feet in those big moments.

Anaheim managed to get back into the series with a 6-3 victory in Game 3, though McDavid's spectacular goal during a brief Edmonton rally showcased the skills that have the 20-year-old poised ready to pick up where Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier left off almost 30 years ago.

Seven years is a long time to hold a grudge, but I can definitely see how that would be relevant.