After their Game 3 loss on Tuesday, the Penguins find themselves trailing the Capitals in a playoff series for the first time since their second-round series against Washington in 2009.
That does not make tonight's Game 4 at PPG Paints Arena a must-win, but clearly the Penguins do not relish the thought of going back to Washington on Friday for a possible elimination game.
To avoid that scenario, the Penguins will have to shore up a few things. Most notably they must avoid surrendering odd-man breaks. With Tom Wilson suspended for three games, the Penguins figure to get back to just playing hockey. And that's what they've done better than anyone the last two years.
1. Speed kills.
On a team based on speed, no one possesses more of it than Carl Hagelin.
After missing the better part of the last four games with an upper body injury that includes a few missing teeth and stitches to his mouth and tongue, Hagelin should be back in the lineup tonight.
That should benefit the Penguins two-fold.
Hagelin uses his tremendous speed to generate offense and is coming off a regular season in which he posted 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points, his most in three seasons with the Penguins. In six playoff games this spring, he had three points, including a goal in Game 6 of the first round:
Hagelin is also a valuable defender on the penalty kill and on the forecheck, using his speed to pester defenders while forcing turnovers and odd-man breaks.
The biggest benefit, though, will be to Mike Sullivan, who will have some semblance of normalcy on his lines. Hagelin figures to slot back into his regular spot as the second-line left wing with center Evgeni Malkin. Hagelin and Malkin have shown great chemistry along with Patric Hornqvist, who has since been skating on the top line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel.
With the Penguins not getting any production outside of the top line, could Sullivan split that unit up? Just a thought.
2. Searching ZAR and wide
Zach Aston-Reese might be a rookie with only 27 NHL games under his belt, but the 23-year-old was serving in a valuable role before he was lost to a concussion and broken jaw, courtesy of Wilson's latest cheap shot.
Replacing Aston-Reese's 9:29 won't be easy. He played far bigger than his 6-foot and 204-pound frame and brought requisite amounts of truculence and belligerence, two areas where the Penguins have been sorely lacking at the wing.
Dominik Simon would seem a safe bet to remain in the lineup, likely slotting as the fourth-line left wing. The Czech has two assists in five games but has failed to capitalize on several quality chances.
Could Daniel Sprong be an X-factor? Doubtful.
Sprong is back in Pittsburgh, serving on the Black Aces, and he even participated in the pre-game skate prior to Game 1 in Washington, leading to speculation that he could be bumped up to the NHL roster. In a bit of gamesmanship, Sullivan said that Sprong is a "possibility" to play.
The 20-year-old winger averaged a point per game in his first full pro season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording 32 goals and 33 assists for 65 points in 65 games. He finished the regular season strong, scoring eight goals in the final 10 games.
3. Goin' streaking?
It bears repeating that the Penguins need to have some sort of advantage at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins had 62 points at home, second-most in the NHL.
But they haven't won there since Game 1 of the Flyers series, 21 days ago. Their three home playoff losses this spring -- out of just four games -- already matches their total from last year. It's also the most consecutive home losses they've had this season.
What would another loss mean, besides pushing the two-time defending champions to the brink of elimination?
The last time they lost four games in a row at home was Nov. 28-Dec. 19, 2015 when they lost five in a row. The last three of those losses were also Mike Sullivan's first games as Penguins coach.
Regardless of venue, the Penguins have not lost three games in a row since Feb. 24-March 1 (at Florida, vs. New Jersey and at Boston).