The Washington Capitals head into Thursday's Game 5 matchup with the visiting Carolina Hurricanes knowing they must win the next three games to keep their second-round series going and advance to the NHL's Eastern Conference final.

Aliaksei Protas took McMichael’s place on the second line with Tom Wilson and center Pierre-Luc Dubois, while Anthony Beauvillier moved from the fourth line to the first in place of Protas. Taylor Raddysh, a healthy scratch in Game 4, replaced Beauvillier on the fourth line.

The Capitals are staring down elimination in Game 5. Here's what would help them start to dig out from the 3-1 hole.