5 Keys: Capitals at Penguins, Game 3

CAPITALS at PENGUINS
7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS2
Best-of-7 series is tied 1-1
PITTSBURGH -- Evgeni Malkin will be a game-time decision for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday.

The center has missed the past three games because of a lower-body injury.
The series is tied after the Capitals took a 3-0 lead on their way to a 4-1 win in Game 2 on Sunday. The Penguins scored three goals in the third period for a 3-2 win in Game 1 on Thursday.
Here are 5 keys for Game 3:
RELATED: [Complete Capitals vs Penguins series coverage]

1. Malkin's health

The Penguins have won two of three games since Malkin was injured in Game 5 of the first round against the Philadelphia Flyers.
He participated in an optional morning skate Tuesday after practicing Monday. Malkin has five points (three goals, two assists) in five games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs after leading Pittsburgh with 42 goals and 98 points in the regular season.

2. Ovechkin's goal streak

Alex Ovechkin's shot is no secret, but how to stop it seems to be. He has four goals during a three-game goal streak, including one goal in each of the first two games of the second round.
Ovechkin had two goals in seven games against the Penguins in the second round of the 2017 playoffs. If he continues at his current pace, rather than revert to how he played a year ago, the Capitals could be on their way to a 2-1 series lead.
"It's much easier and more comfortable when you're ahead of them [in a series]," Ovechkin said. "We're going to take it game by game."

3. Getting Kessel and Brassard going

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan shifted Phil Kessel to third-line right wing during practice Monday. Kessel has one goal in eight playoff games after scoring 18 combined postseason goals in 2016 and 2017.
Third-line center Derick Brassard also has one goal in eight playoff games. Sullivan hopes putting them together can get both going.
"You just have to push back," Brassard said. "You just have to control the momentum of the game. You just have to answer with some better shifts."

4. Holtby remaining consistent

Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby made 32 saves in Game 2, and has a 1.95 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in seven playoff games (six starts).
Holtby was strong in net against the Penguins in the second round of the playoffs last year but had a few off games. He allowed three goals on 14 shots in a 6-2 loss in Game 2 of the series, rebounded with 28 saves in a 3-2 overtime win in Game 3, and then regressed by allowing three goals on 18 shots in a 3-2 loss in Game 4.
If Holtby avoids one of those dips Tuesday, the Capitals could win a second straight game.

5. A strong start

The opening minutes of the first period have been important so far in the series. Washington capitalized with a goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov 17 seconds into Game 1, and took the lead when Ovechkin scored 1:26 into the first period in Game 2.
The Penguins overcame that early goal-against in Game 1 but weren't as fortunate in Game 2. Washington would like to continue that trend in Game 3 while Pittsburgh would like to see it end.
"I think we just have be more focused on the details," Penguins forward Bryan Rust said. "Be ready to work hard from the drop of the puck."

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Tom Wilson
Chandler Stephenson -- Nicklas Backstrom -- T.J. Oshie
Brett Connolly -- Lars Eller -- Devante Smith-Pelly
Jakub Vrana -- Jay Beagle -- Alex Chiasson
Dmitry Orlov -- Matt Niskanen
Michal Kempny -- John Carlson
Brooks Orpik -- Christian Djoos
Braden Holtby
Philipp Grubauer
Scratched:Jakub Jerabek, Travis Boyd, Madison Bowey, Shane Gersich, Pheonix Copley, Nathan Walker
Injured: Andre Burakovsky (upper body)

Penguins projected lineup

Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Patric Hornqvist
Dominik Simon -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Conor Sheary -- Derick Brassard -- Phil Kessel
Zach Aston-Reese -- Riley Sheahan -- Tom Kuhnhackl
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Olli Maatta -- Justin Schultz
Jamie Oleksiak -- Chad Ruhwedel
Matt Murray
Casey DeSmith
Scratched: Carter Rowney, Matt Hunwick, Josh Jooris, Tristan Jarry, Michael Leighton, Garrett Wilson, Jarred Tinordi, Lukas Bengtsson, Jean-Sebastien Dea, Daniel Sprong, Adam Johnson, Teddy Blueger, Thomas Di Pauli, Chris Summers, Andrey Pedan
Injured:Carl Hagelin (upper body)

Status report

The Capitals lineup likely will not change from Game 2. … Hagelin and Dumoulin will be game-time decisions. Both took part in the optional morning skate. Hagelin has missed the past two games. Dumoulin left Game 2 at 4:23 of the second period with an upper-body injury.