Capitals must win 3 in row to advance

The Penguins can advance to the Eastern Conference finals with a victory in Game 5 Saturday in Washington after sending the Capitals to their third straight loss.

The Capitals are three periods from an eighth playoff series loss to the Penguins in nine all-time postseason meetings after Wednesday night’s 3-2 overtime defeat.

“We have to have the mentality shift by shift, period by period, try to turn it around,” Caps captain Alex Ovechkin said.

The Penguins survived despite missing defenseman Kris Letang, serving a one-game suspension for an illegal hit.

Rookie goalie Matt Murray stopped 34 shots to improve to 13-1 in his last 14 starts, including a 6-1 mark in the postseason.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby left briefly in the third period after getting slashed by Ovechkin.

Crosby was angry as he left the ice, throwing his stick against the wall as he walked down the tunnel. But he returned a few minutes later andwas on the ice for the overtime goal by Patric Hornqvist that gave the Penguins a 3-1 series lead.

“I thought it was worse than it was,” Crosby said. “Initially you think maybe you’re not coming back, so it’s not a great feeling, but I don’t think there was any intention there. Whenever you win it’s always a better feeling, there’s no doubt.”

The Capitals have to rally froma 3-1 deficit, something they’ve done only twice in the franchise’s 41 seasons. The Caps had the league’s best record in one-goal games during the regular season but are just 2-4 in one-goal contests in the playoffs.

“We have the experience, the composure,” goaltender Braden Holtby said. “It’s just a matter of putting it to use now and keep pushing forward. Hopefully the bounces will go our way sooner or later.”

Good news for Isles: Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock practiced Thursday and is hoping to return from an upper-body injury for Game 4 on Friday against the Lightning.

Pulock’s return could help the Islanders’ struggling power play. They’re 3-for-13 in the series, which the Lightning lead 2-1.

In addition, Isles defenseman Thomas Hickey is expected back for Game 4. He took a big hit in the chin from Lightning forwardBrianBoyle inGame3.

Hickey said he went through the NHL concussion protocol.