3 Keys: Capitals at Panthers, Game 5 of Eastern First Round

(2WC) Capitals at (1A) Panthers
7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN360, TVAS, BSFL, NBCSWA
Best-of-7 series tied 2-2

It will be the Washington Capitals' turn to push back when they play the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round at FLA Live Arena on Wednesday.
The Capitals and the Panthers have alternated wins through the first four games of the best-of-7 series. Washington was on the verge of taking a 3-1 series lead, up by one goal late in the third period of Game 4 on Monday. But Florida tied it on Sam Reinhart's goal with 2:04 remaining and won it 3-2 on Carter Verhaeghe's goal 4:57 into overtime to even the series.
"We had the lead late in that game, it's one we wanted to close out, but at the end of the day it's a 2-2 series," Capitals forward Conor Sheary said. "It's a three-game series now. We're just looking one game at a time, trying to take one on the road tonight and then focus on what's next after that."
The Panthers hope to build off their comeback victory in Game 4 and take the series lead for the first time. Florida gradually has gained confidence after playing tentatively early in the series.
RELATED: [Complete Panthers vs. Capitals series coverage]
"We're having a good time and we're having a lot of fun," Panthers forward Claude Giroux said. "We're in a position right now that we're back at home and we've got to win two out of three. That's why you play playoff hockey. It's stressful. It's exciting. There's a lot of emotion that goes on. You lose Game 3 and you're down a little bit, but we just believed that we can come back in this series and now it's 2-2."
During the regular season the Panthers led the NHL with 34 home wins (34-7-0), while the Capitals led NHL with 56 road points in the regular season (25-10-6), and won 4-2 in Game 1 at Florida.
Teams that win Game 5 when a Stanley Cup Playoff series is tied 2-2 hold an all-time series record of 219-58 (.791), including a 6-0 record in the 2021 playoffs.
Here are 3 keys for Game 5:

1. Dictate style of play

After having trouble with the Capitals' forecheck and neutral-zone structure through much of the first three games, the Panthers took the play to the Capitals more in Game 4. Florida outshot Washington 32-16 and held a 73-37 advantage in shot attempts. The Panthers want to continue that Wednesday while the Capitals need to get out of their zone quicker and create more pressure in the offensive zone.
"Last game if fell off a little bit for us where the zone time went in their favor and puck possession went in their favor and all the numbers that I think are important went in their favor," Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. "So we've got to be better at what we're doing. I don't think it's been all four games this is what it is, but last game for sure we need to do a better job of controlling things."

2. Stay physical

The Capitals (56) and the Panthers (46) combined for a series-high 102 hits in Game 4, and they've had at least 93 total hits in each game. Despite missing forward Tom Wilson (240 regular-season hits) for all but three shifts in Game 1 because of a lower-body injury, Washington has 203 hits in the series and Florida has 190.
That kind of physicality can take a toll later in an extended series.
"You don't want to play against a team that's hitting a lot, so we're trying to do that," said Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary, who is tied for fifth in the playoffs with 23 hits.

3. Power up

This has been a recurring theme for the Panthers, who are 0-for-13 with 15 shots on goal on the power play in the series. But Florida believes it's on the verge of breaking through after going 0-for-4 with five shots on goal in Game 4.
"It's going to be an important factor and I think we're getting there," Panthers coach Andrew Brunette said. "So I think if we get one, the floodgates will open."
The Capitals are 5-for-17 on the power play in the series, with at least one goal in each of the first four games. But after scoring on their second chance in Game 4 to take a 1-0 lead, Washington couldn't convert on three man-advantage opportunities in second period, including a 5-on-3 for 43 seconds when the score was tied 1-1.

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- T.J. Oshie
Marcus Johansson -- Nicklas Backstrom -- Anthony Mantha
Connor McMichael -- Lars Eller -- Conor Sheary
Johan Larsson -- Nic Dowd -- Garnet Hathaway
Martin Fehervary -- John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov -- Nick Jensen
Trevor van Riemsdyk -- Justin Schultz
Ilya Samsonov
Vitek Vanecek
Scratched: Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Matt Irwin, Michal Kempny, Hunter Shepard
Injured: Carl Hagelin (left eye), Tom Wilson (lower body)

Panthers projected lineup

Carter Verhaeghe -- Aleksander Barkov -- Anthony Duclair
Jonathan Huberdeau -- Sam Bennett -- Claude Giroux
Mason Marchment -- Anton Lundell -- Sam Reinhart
Noel Acciari -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Patric Hornqvist
Ben Chiarot -- Aaron Ekblad
Gustav Forsling -- MacKenzie Weegar
Brandon Montour -- Radko Gudas
Sergei Bobrovsky
Spencer Knight
Scratched: Petteri Lindbohm, Joe Thornton, Lucas Carlsson, Maxim Mamin, Robert Hagg, Jonas Johansson, Ryan Lomberg
Injured:Markus Nutivaara (undisclosed)

Status report

Wilson traveled with the Capitals but the forward will miss his fourth straight game and remains day to day. … Marchment did not take part in the Panthers morning skate and will be a game-time decision because of an undisclosed injury that sidelined him for the final three games of the regular season, Brunette said. Mamin skated with Lundell and Reinhart on Wednesday and the forward could take Marchment's place. … The Panthers were back to their regular top two lines for the morning skate after making changes in Game 4.