WASHINGTONThis wasnt supposed to be the breakthrough season for theCapitals.

Following last years disappointing Game 7 against Pittsburgh, an offseason of change in which they lost Nate Schmidt, Karl Alzner, Kevin Shattenkirk, Justin Williams, Marcus Johan son and Daniel Winnik due to salary cap restrictions and the Golden Knights expansion draft radically altered the Washington lineup.

Some pundits before the season predicted the two-time Presidents Trophy winners wouldnt even qualify for the playoffs in 2017-18, even after three consecutive second-round exits, and few thought the team could still be a serious Stanley Cup contender.

Now they're one win away from reaching the Cup Final for the first time since1998.

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Despite facing elimination Mark Barron Jersey and without muchmomentum, which hadlong since shiftedto the Lightning afterthree straight Capitals lo ses, Washington responded with its backagainst the wall, . The Caps arenow 6-0 in the AlexOvechkinera in non-Game 7 games when facing elimination games at home, and the biggest game of the Ru sian stars career is looming Wednesday night.

That this Capitals team, a division champion buthardly the juggernaut that had fallen flat in postseason play so many times before, has been the one to shift the narrative is one of hockey's greatest ironies.

Some different players in different roles and some players that stepped into larger roles this year that werent asked to do as much in previous years and theyve embraced that, Capitals forward T.J. Oshie said. It feels like we have a sense of resiliency and not getting too down on ourselves which at times in the past happened a little too much.

That resiliency has beenon display so far in these playoffs.

The Capitals dropped the first two games to theBlue Jackets at Capital One Arena, and were looking at a potential3-0 series deficit in overtime of Game 3 in Columbus with doom-and-gloom of playoff failures past lurking on the shadows of Nationwide Arena. But Lars Ellers ugly goal gave the Capitals new life in the tight series. The win sparked four consecutive wins to eliminate the Blue Jackets and longtime Caps playoff tormentor John Tortorellaand earn a third Josh Reynolds Jersey straight date with Pittsburgh in the second round.

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Washington camejust their second win over the Penguins in the postseason first since 1994 thanks to Evgeny Kuznetsovs overtime tally.This round started off swimmingly for Washington, with the Caps posting to a quick 2-0 lead with two wins in Tampa to start the series, but the tables quickly turned and the teams second three-game losing skid of the campaign pushed them to the brink for Mondays Game 6.

In Monday night's Game 6 against the Lightning, a nervous energy permeated Capital One Arena after a cautious start by both clubs who seemed reluctant to make a mistake that could swing the series. The Washington fan base, one that has seen numerous seasons go up in smoke in games just like this one, was loud but nervous as the first period went by without a goal.

The nervous energy grew as Jay Beagle took a penalty early in the frame, putting the Tampa power play one that did extensive damage to the Capitals early in the series went to work, but the crowd exhaled after Washington killed the penalty.

Oshiefinally gave the fans a reason to roar with 4:48 left in the second, converting a nifty pa s fromNicklasBackstromon Washingtons first power play in two games, and the goal turned the crowds angst into energy. Washington had a couple of other of good scoring chances, but AndreiVasilevskiykept Tampa within a goal.

GOLDEN STANDARD

The crowd had a chance to exhale a bit more in the third Caps got an insurance goal when Jay Beagle beat an icing call, feeding Chandler Stephenson who pa sed in front to Devante Smith-Pelley for a 2-0 lead, and Washington seemed to feed off the crowds energy, creating more scoring chances and keeping the Lightning on their heels. An empty-net goal by Oshie sent away the home crowd which saw its first win of the series for Washington in the District thinking of something that had been floating in their heads just over a week ago when the team had a 2-0 lead, that this could actually be the Capitals team that may hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.

For the reputation the Capitals have delivered as a playoff underachiever over their history, this 2017-18 edition has seemed different, able to overcome some small breaks and bounces that would have proved fatal to other editions.

Ovechkinalso has recorded a career-tying 11 playoff goals this spring, along with 10 a sists to give him the second-most points in the Ethan Westbrooks Jersey postseason right behind teammateKuznetsov. WhileOvechkindidnt record a point Monday night, he was a wrecking ball, delivering some big hits four,to be exact and looking like a player who knows his time to win a Stanley Cup isrunning short.

Still, the Caps captain was busine s-like in the crowded locker roompostgame, only answering a couple of questions.

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Its not done yet. Tomorrow, were going to Tampa and then play in Game 7, he said. One game, Game 7, Im pretty sure Tampa will play their best.

Braden Holtbystopped 24 Tampa shots for his first shutout of the season and his first playoff shutout since the series-clinching Game 6 in Philadelphia back in 2016. Hediscu sed the attention to detail he believes this team po se ses, which has allowed it not to get overwhelmed by the stage.

I think if you start looking too much into it, you start losing track of your goal," Holtby said. "Weve done a good job staying in the moment, one game at a time. Game 7 is going to be no different than 1-6 of Greg Zuerlein Jersey this series. We focus on what we can have succe s with, we hold everyone accountable that they bring their best game and once the puck drops you go to moment-to-moment and the goal is do the little things to have an impact and push the outcome in your favor.

But,Trotztold reporters afterwardtheteam has tried to keep its focus, and so far, its worked for the Capitals.

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Its a game of inches and youve got to go with the punches this time of year. I think weve been able to do that. The turning point (in the series)is weve never wavered. Nomatter what, we were up 2-0 and all of a sudden were down 3-2, those are the things in the playoffs that can drive you absolutely crazy. Weve been really focused on dont let anything change it. Focus on the next event, faceoff, penalty kill, power play, focus on the inches in fro