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HockeyPreview

Revamped Penguins, recuperating Lightning set for East final

A lot has changed since the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Pittsburgh Penguins met less than three months ago in the regular season. Tampa's injury concerns and Pittsburgh's impressive depth will be key during the East final.

Tampa injuries, overhaul in Pittsburgh the major storylines

Matt Murray's journey from third-string goalie to out-duelling the presumptive Vezina Trophy favourite Braden Holtby has been one of the more compelling stories in the playoffs. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

On the calendar, the gap between the last time thePittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning met and Fridaynight'sGame 1 of the Eastern Conference finalis less than three months.

Within the lifespan of a season, it seems a lot longer.

When the Lightning blew past the Penguins 4-2 on Feb. 20 avictory that earned Tampa Bay a sweep of its three-game seasonseries with Pittsburgh Steven Stamkos was still scoring goals,Matt Murray was still thePenguins' third option in net and thePittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan's midseason overhaul remained verymuch a work in progress.

Not anymore. Stamkos remains out indefinitely while dealing witha blood clot while Murray has become a revelation innear lockstepwith the Penguins' evolution from enigmatic underachiever to StanleyCup favourite. No wonder thePenguins couldn't help but laugh whenasked if they could remember what happened on that sloppy Saturdayin mid-winter when the Lightning built a quick three-goal lead andcruised.

"I couldn't even tell you," Pittsburgh forward Phil Kesselsaid. "I don't even remember when we played them last."

Probably best to just block it out and press forward anyway at atime of year where short-term memory loss is anasset.

The Penguins wrapped up a 12-day high-wire act against rivalWashington on Tuesday night when Nick Bonino firedhome the winnerin overtime of Game 6. The cathartic celebration sent Pittsburgh tothe conference finalfor thefourth time since 2008. Less than 72hours later, they face the only team that's been more dominant inthe post-season.

The Lightning raced through the first two rounds of the playoffs,dropping one game each to Detroit and the New YorkIslanders.

Remarkable, considering they've been without Stamkos and defencemanAnton Stralman, still recovering from afractured left leg.

Stralman could be close to returning

Stamkos is practising but the five-time All-Star hasn't beencleared for contact. Stralman appears to be on the verge ofreturning, though coach Jon Cooper is in no hurry to announce hislineup, saying Thursday "it's just pointless to talkabout whetherthey're going to play or not."

Stralman scored four times against Pittsburgh during the regularseason, though he's not exactly ready to proclaimhimself themissing ingredient as Tampa Bay tries to reach its secondconsecutive Stanley Cup final.

"I don't think I ever scored a goal against the Penguins untilthis year, so I don't know what that tells you," Stralmansaid.

"Stuff like that happens, just a fluke."

Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay meeting with a spot to play for the Cup,however, is not. Shortly after fizzling against theLightning inFebruary, the Penguins put together a 14-2 surge to end the regularseason they have carried into May.Tampa Bay's speed and comfort inclose games the Lightning are 5-0 in one-goal contests in theplayoffs area sign their long post-season run a year ago wasn'tjust puck luck.

Not-so-dynamicduo

It's a testament to the depth the Penguinshave built around Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin that they handledtheCapitals without much help (on the scoresheet at least) fromtheir two franchise cornerstones. The formerMVPs combined for justfour points against Washington while the Penguins relied heavily onthe trio of CarlHagelin, Nick Bonino and Kessel to provide thepunch that sent the Capitals home for the eighth time in nineplayoff meetings with Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford is hardly concernedabout who puts the puck in the net, so long as it getsthere.

"I don't care if Matt Murray gets the goals," Rutherford said.

Who will play in Pens' net?

Sullivan has yet to name a Game 1 starter in net,though the 21-year-old Murray has made a compelling case to stayonthe job even with Marc-AndreFleuryback from a concussion. The6-foot-4 Murray outplayedVezinaTrophyfinalistBradenHoltbyinthe last round, now he'll see 6-7 Ben Bishop at the other end of therink. Bishop is 8-2with a 1.89 goals against so far.

"He takes up a lot of the net,"Kesselsaid. "We've got tomake him handle a lot of shots and get second opportunitiesonhim."