After outscoring the Philadelphia Flyers 10-2 in the opening three games of their first-round series, the Washington Capitals now find themselves heading to a Game 6 after failing to clinch a second-round berth in their first two tries.

Despite holding a 1-8 record in their last nine playoff games with a chance to eliminate their opponent, the Capitals aren't concerned about their past postseason struggles.

"Not worried about it," said defenseman Matt Niskanen, per Jordan Hall of CSN Philly. Friday's 2-0 Game 5 loss - that saw the Capitals outshoot the Flyers 44-11 - marked the first time Washington loss back-to-back games in regulation all season.

"I don't think this team has any playoff experience," Karl Alzner added, when asked if it was fair to be concerned about the team's postseason history. "It's our first playoffs together. In my opinion, no, sorry to be cheeky. That's the truth I think."

As far as head coach Barry Trotz is concerned, the pressure is on the Capitals to close this series out. But after a dominant Game 5 performance that ended in a loss, he doesn't see a need to change his team's approach heading into Sunday's game.

"Keep playing that way and it'll turn," he said.

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The St. Louis Blues are exactly where they didn't want to be.

After failing to close out the Chicago Blackhawks for the second game in a row, the Blues head home for Game 7 having completely relinquished momentum to the defending Stanley Cup champions.

A 3-1 lead heading into the second period of Game 5 wasn't enough, as the Blackhawks stormed back for five unanswered goals, improving to 15-1 in their last 16 Game 6s.

Ahead of Saturday's game, Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock said it doesn't matter where the series ends as long as the Blues win, and is expecting his team to respond with the season on the line.

"They raised the bar," Hitchcock said postgame. "Now it's our turn to answer."

Suddenly on the brink of their third consecutive first-round elimination, the Blues season, and potentially Hitchcock's position with the team, hang in the balance.

"They had a great second, they did what they had to do and now we're in a spot where we've got home-ice Game 7 to determine our season," said Scottie Upshall. "Now it's down to 60 minutes, whoever wants it, gets it. We're in our own building and we're going to take advantage of it."

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Andrew Shaw's return to the Chicago Blackhawks' lineup was a memorable one.

Having served a one-game suspension in Game 5, Shaw was back on the ice for Game 6, scoring the insurance marker for Chicago while playing a key role on the Blackhawks' top line in the 6-3 victory.

Already a member of two Stanley Cup-winning teams, Shaw marveled at the atmosphere in the United Center on Saturday night, saying it's like nothing he's ever heard.

"It was probably the loudest I've ever heard the United Center," Shaw told Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. "I was out there at one point, my ears were buzzing."

Andrew Ladd, who won it all with Chicago in 2010 and returned to the Blackhawks at the trade deadline, echoed Shaw's comments.

"It was amazing," Ladd said. "The loudest probably that I've ever heard the building, which says something."

Game 7 goes Monday night in St. Louis.

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Dutch Gretzky made his first goal as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks count.

Dale Weise bagged his first goal since being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens, in Game 6 against the St. Louis Blues, and the marker was a big one. It turned out to be the game-winner - and the third of five goals in a row - forcing a Game 7 on Monday night.

Weise is not only a goal scorer but a title holder:

"It's special," Weise said about being a Blackhawk. "It's a special group."

Game 7 on Monday night at 8:30 p.m. ET is going to be special, too.

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The Minnesota Wild are looking to a local legend for inspiration ahead of Game 6 against the Dallas Stars on Sunday.

Prince, one of the greatest musical talents to walk the earth, died Thursday, and tributes have been rolling in ever since. The Wild, who forced Game 6 with an overtime win Friday, are the latest to pay their respect:

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The Arizona Coyotes could have their next general manager in place as soon as next week.

That's the latest from club president Anthony Leblanc, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Saturday's "Headlines" segment. There are two leading candidates, Friedman added.

"That leads to one of two names as the likely choice: Les Jackson, the current director of scouting in Dallas, or John Chayka, who's already the Coyotes' current assistant general manager," Friedman said. "I think it would be a surprise if it came this quick if it was anyone but those two.

"We're also expecting a higher position for Dave Tippett in addition to coach."

Chayka is only 26 years old.

The Coyotes relieved Don Maloney of his duties earlier this month.

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The St. Louis Blues are trying to put away the Chicago Blackhawks, which isn't easy.

The Blues blew a 3-1 lead in the second, as the Blackhawks blitzed the Missourians in the second frame, counting three goals on 19 shots in the period.

As the teams hit the dressing room, it appeared that Vladimir Tarasenko wasn't too pleased with his coach, Ken Hitchcock. With 14 minutes left in the third period, Tarasenko had played only 12:58 - only 30 seconds more than grinder Troy Brouwer.

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The Nashville Predators' 2-0 series lead seems like ages ago.

After two impressive road wins to begin the postseason, the Predators have allowed the Anaheim Ducks to win three straight and face a first-round elimination for the second year in a row.

Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne - who struggled by his standards in the regular season - is taking much of the blame after allowing four goals for the second consecutive game.

"I feel like I've got to play better," Rinne said, according to Adam Vingan of The Tennessean. "I'm getting outplayed."

Rinne's stat line in this year's postseason features a 3.02 goals-against average with a troubling .899 save percentage.

The 33-year-old didn't receive much help in the loss, as the Predators made seven trips to the penalty box in Game 5.

As Nashville's top forwards struggle to score, Anaheim has stolen momentum, and can punch its ticket to the second round with a win Monday night.

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There's no solace in being the most handsome man in the planet. That's how bad Henrik Lundqvist feels Saturday night.

The New York Rangers all-world goaltender somehow finished only two of his club's five games in the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins, as he was injured in Game 1 and pulled in Games 4 and 5. It's Lundqvist's shortest spring since 2011, with the Rangers bowing out meekly in five games.

"In the second period, it was a feeling of embarrassment to give up that many goals," Lundqvist said, according to the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis. "But also a sense of hopelessness. I think we played a team that was smarter, better, and (had) better goaltending."

The Penguins put up a four spot in the second, but "The King" graciously faced the media after his team's stunning first-round defeat Saturday, as the competitive window seemingly slammed shut in the Rangers' faces. It was a very un-Lundqvist-like postseason that saw him finish with an .867 save percentage in five games.

However, the truth is Lundqvist got no help. The Penguins scored their goals Saturday on 10-bell scoring chances, and the goaltender was left helpless by his teammates. It wouldn't have made a difference who was playing in the Rangers' crease on Saturday - they were losing that game, and losing it handily.

And so begins a summer of soul-searching for the Blueshirts, with Lundqvist having turned 34 in early March. He can still play - it's the rest of the roster that's the issue. While his playoffs were certainly a disappointment, the 2015-16 season was the seventh straight in which Lundqvist posted a save percentage of .920 or higher. He remains elite. The same cannot be said for New York's roster, as Pittsburgh proved.

Signed through 2019-20, if Lundqvist doesn't win a Stanley Cup when it's all said and done, he'll go down as one of the best to have never done so.

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The Florida Panthers are hoping to come home to Nick Bjugstad with the good news that Game 6 is still on.

After needing stitches to repair a head wound after he falling face-first into the boards Friday, the Sun Sentinel's Harvey Fialkov reports that Bjugstad didn't travel with his teammates to New York for Game 6 against the Islanders on Sunday, citing a source. The Panthers trail the series 3-2 after losing Game 5 at home in double overtime.

Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant said Saturday morning that Bjugstad was day-to-day, and he hoped the center would be able to make the trip. With or without Bjugstad, the job remains the same.

"We'll see what happens," Gallant said. "But we haven't made any excuses all year and we're not going to make one now."

Bjugstad missed time earlier this season with migraines, so he does have head-injury history, giving the report legs. Based on how serious the injury looked at the time - Bjugstad laying on the ice looking stunned after hitting the boards - not traveling north makes sense for the young forward.

It's a tough loss for the Panthers. Bjugstad has two goals and two assists in five games, with the 23-year-old clearly enjoying his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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