from Tom Gulliti of NHL.com,

Up to this point, the Eastern Conference Second Round between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins has followed roughly the same script as the second-round series between the teams last season.

Like last year, the Capitals trailed 3-1 in the best-of-7 series, but won Game 5 at home at force a Game 6. Last season they were eliminated in Game 6 in Pittsburgh.

"It's an opportunity to be in the same situation and write a different ending, which is very lucky for us. That's what you want," defenseman Karl Alzner said after the Capitals morning skate. "You want another opportunity and a crack at the game and this is exactly it."

The Capitals spent a long summer thinking about what they could have done differently after losing Game 6 last season. If they could have had a chance then to play that game over, they would have taken it.

Now they have it and don't want to waste the opportunity.

"Seldom in life do you get a chance to be in a position like we were last year, the position we were a couple of games ago," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "So it's just an opportunity. We're going to focus on [Game 6] and we have to. All that last game has done is get us an opportunity to continue to play and that's how we have to approach [Game 6]."

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