NHL Playoffs 2018: Updated TV Schedule, Odds, Standings and Bracket Predictions

The Washington Capitals have come back from an 0-2 deficit and are on the precipice of a facing off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a third straight year.

However, they have another step to take before they get there. They have to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets one more time, and it may not be so easy, with Columbus head coach John Tortorella still hopeful.

After the Blue Jackets lost Game 5 in Washington, Tortorella was typically short with the press. "We'll be back here for Game 7," he said, per Stats/Associated Press (h/t CBS Sports).

In order for that to happen, the Blue Jackets will have to beat the Capitals Monday night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Monday's Stanley Cup Schedule

Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m., NBCSN. Boston leads series 3-2.

Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:30 p.m., CNBC. Washington leads series 3-2.

All times ET.

Updated Playoff Standings

Eastern Conference

Tampa Bay Lightning defeated New Jersey Devils 4-1 in the first round. Tampa Bay will face the winner of the Boston-Toronto series. Dates and times are to be announced.

Pittsburgh Penguins defeated Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 in their Round 1 tie. Pittsburgh will face the winner of the Washington-Columbus series. Dates and times to are be announced.

Western Conference

Nashville Predators handed Colorado Avalanche a 4-2 series defeat to move on to Round 2, where they will face Winnipeg Jets, who sealed a 4-1 first-round triumph against Minnesota Wild. Dates and times are to be announced.

Vegas Golden Knights defeated Los Angeles Kings 4-0 in Round 1, and they'll meet San Jose Sharks in the second round after they swept the Anaheim Ducks 4-0. Dates and times are to be announced.

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

The Capitals have been steadied since Braden Holtby returned to his position in goal. Holtby had a rather shaky regular season, and head coach Barry Trotz gave Philipp Grubauer the start in goal in the first two games of the season. 

However, Grubauer struggled with a 4.57 goals-against average and a .837 save percentage. Holtby has returned to the form that he has displayed throughout his career. He has a 1.66 GAA and a .936 save percentage against the Blue Jackets.

More than just the numbers, Holtby has come up with key saves at big moments, and the Capitals have played with more confidence since he returned to the lineup.

The Capitals took a 3-2 lead in the series when Nicklas Backstrom scored the overtime winner. Backstrom deflected a point shot from Dmitry Orlov by Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. That goal gave the Capitals the first home win by either team in the series.

The Blue Jackets will have the opportunity to record their home victory Monday night. If Artemi Panarin, Seth Jones and Cam Atkinson can lead the Blue Jackets past the Caps, they will get their opportunity for an all-or-nothing seventh game Wednesday. If not, their season will come to an end.

The Caps are minus-108 favorites to win this game and end the series (bet $10 for $9.26 profit), while the Blue Jackets are minus-102 to extend the series, according to OddsShark.

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

The Bruins will try to rebound from their Game 5 loss at home and take out the Maple Leafs Monday night at the Air Canada Centre.

The Bruins were unable to take advantage of their opportunity Saturday night as they fell behind 4-1 before making a surge in the final part of the second period and throughout the third. However, they could not solve Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen when the margin was just one goal.

While Andersen was on top of his game, Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask was off of his. After giving up his fourth goal of the game, head coach Bruce Cassidy replaced him with Anton Khudobin.

Cassidy said Rask will be back in net for Monday's game, but he clearly has to improve after his shaky performance that saw him give up the four goals on 13 shots.

The Bruins are capable of playing lockdown hockey, but the Maple Leafs' speed has taken its toll in Toronto's two wins in the series. Mitchell Marner, William Nylander, Zach Hyman and Auston Matthews are all capable of causing problems when they get behind the Boston defense.

The Bruins have a big advantage when they start working their cycle game in the offensive zone, and nobody does it better than the line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Those three will try to break down the Toronto defense, which lacks the speed, mobility and all-around ability of the Bruins' trio if they are playing at the top of their game.

Boston is a minus-120 favorite to end the series, while Toronto is a plus-109 underdog to extend it to Game 7.

Predictions

There's little doubt that the Blue Jackets are capable of extending the series, but they need to find a way to get past Holtby. The Washington goalie is in top form, and he will not let in any leaky goals.

The Blue Jackets need Panarin, their best sniper, to get an early goal or two to create doubt in the mind of the goalie and his teammates.

That is not likely. Despite Tortorella's prediction, the Caps will end the series and win their fourth straight game.

The Bruins are likely to get a much better effort from Rask than they did in their Game 5 loss, but the Maple Leafs are an excellent team with a lot of pride. They are not going to go down easily at home.

In fact, they are not going down at all. Toronto outlasts the Bruins in a low-scoring game and extends the series to seven games.