from Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

This is as bad as it’s been in quite a while for the Penguins.

They’ve lost a game.

One in a row.

Not exactly a streak. More like a smudge.

Still, it matches their longest skid of the past four months, since they dropped consecutive games to Carolina and Tampa Bay — both in overtime — Jan. 12-15.

What’s more, they haven’t suffered three consecutive losses since dropping five in a row Dec. 11-19, the final four of which were Mike Sullivan’s first four after replacing Mike Johnston as coach.

All that is noteworthy because Washington will have to beat them for the second consecutive time in Game 6 at 8:10 p.m. today at Consol Energy Center to extend this second-round playoff series to a Game 7.

And to claim a spot in the Eastern Conference final opposite Tampa Bay, the Capitals would have to close out this best-of-seven against the Penguins with three victories in a row.

Impossible?

Hardly.

continued