With one period remaining before possible elimination, the Capitals might have played their best 20 minutes of the series in the third period of Game 5.
The Capitals scored two goals 27 seconds apart in the third after Nicklas Backstrom tied it 2-2 at 2:49 of the period. They outshot the Penguins 32-22, allowing 10 Penguins shots through the first two periods.
If Washington pressures Pittsburgh in a similar fashion on the road, there could be a Game 7 on Wednesday.
"You build up all year and you work all year and all summer, all the weight lifting and whatever it was, to get to this spot," Capitals forward T.J. Oshie said. "I expect some good resolve and desperation in our game."