Capitals Game 5 vs. Blue Jackets: How to watch and what to watch for

When every first-round series in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs had completed its fourth game, two series already ended in 4-0 sweeps. Five teams had a 3-1 advantage. Only the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets were tied at two.

As the series returns to the District for Game 5, everyone knows it has become a best-of-three scenario and possibly the most thrilling series left this round:

Both the #Caps and Jackets won their first two road games of their best of seven series; now it’s a best-of-three set with Game 5 in D.C. on Saturday. #ALLCAPS

Preview | https://t.co/qOVzq0VXDA pic.twitter.com/AwcILt1Yzx

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 21, 2018

Here’s everything you need to know before the opening faceoff of Game 5:

Opponent: Columbus Blue Jackets (series tied 2-2)

Location: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

Date and Time: Saturday, April 21, 3 p.m.

TV Channel: NBC

Radio: FAN 106.7 

Pregame Reading:

Andre Burakovsky to miss rest of Capitals’ first-round series, by Adam Zielonka

Capitals tie series with Game 4 win, fulfilling Ovechkin’s prediction, by Adam Zielonka

Playing through nagging injury, T.J. Oshie a leader in the details, by Adam Zielonka

Brett Connolly discusses Capitals “puck girl”: “Whatever happened to ladies first?” by Adam Zielonka

What to watch for: The Capitals have scored first in every game this series. After surrendering two-goal leads to lose the first two games at home, they’ll need to hold on Saturday in order to be the first home team in this series to win a game … Braden Holtby has saved 94 percent of the shots he’s faced since he made his first appearance of the series, when he came on for Philipp Grubuaer in Game 2. His career playoff save percentage is now .9321, still the second-best mark in NHL history, just a shade behind Tim Thomas’s .9326.