Capitals Game 6 at Penguins: How to watch and what to watch for

Three down, one to go.

The Washington Capitals are in a position they don’t often find themselves: Leading a playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. The Capitals can advance to the Eastern Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Monday with one more win.

If they lose to Pittsburgh, the teams will return to Capital One Arena for a Game 7.

Last season, it was the Capitals who had to win a Game 6 to tie it 3-3. Will the Penguins do the same at home Monday night? Here’s everything to know:

Opponent: Pittsburgh Penguins (Capitals lead series 3-2)

Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date and Time: Monday, May 7, 7 p.m.

Television: NBC Sports Network

Radio: FAN 106.7

Pre-game reading:

Braden Holtby saves Capitals fans from more despair, by Thom Loverro

Capitals have two chances to break 20-year ’D.C. Sports Curse,’ by Adam Zielonka

To beat Penguins, Capitals have had to match champions’ resiliency, by Matthew Paras

Vrana’s top-line heroics, Holtby’s saves deliver Capitals Game 5 win, by Adam Zielonka

A key adjustment for Capitals swings Game 5, by Matthew Paras

John Carlson scores day after wife gives birth to baby boy, by Adam Zielonka

What to watch for: Capitals coach Barry Trotz downgraded Nicklas Backstrom to a “game-time decision” Monday morning a day after saying he expects the second-line center to play Game 6. Backstrom left Game 5 early with an upper-body injury. He did not take part in the morning skate in Pittsburgh, leaving Lars Eller to move up to the second line and Travis Boyd (who has not yet made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut) to skate with the third.

… Nathan Walker, another rookie yet to play in a playoff game, also was part of the top 12 forwards at the morning skate in place of Shane Gersich, who made his postseason debut in Game 5.

… With the Penguins facing an elimination game, Sidney Crosby said Monday he thought the Capitals had been “pretty relentless the last couple years.” As back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, Pittsburgh has won nine straight playoff series up to this point.