The Capitals are in an all too familiar situation heading into Game 5 against the Penguins Saturday night.
For the second consecutive year, Pittsburgh can eliminate Washington in the second round of the playoffs with a win in Game 5.
The Pens won without Crosby in Game 4 and he could be back for Game 5, which would obviously be huge for them.
Even if he doesn't play, though, the Caps will have their hands full and they need their best players to step up.
Alexander Ovechkin has four points in four games this series, but in Game 4 he wasn't at his best, and head coach Barry Trotz echoed that fact.
Friday, Ovechkin practiced with the third line, prompting many fans to speculate about a demotion and worry.
Fear not, though, Capitals fans, because Trotz was asked about the move after practice and he had a perfectly reasonable explanation for the move:
Obviously we won't know what the plan is until we see it during Game 5, but the double-shifting explanation makes sense considering he's Washington's best player and playing him more should only lead to good things happening.
If it is, however, a demotion, Ovi seems fine with it.
(H/T: Isabelle Khurshudyan)
