Penguins vs. Lightning Game 7: Who reaches the Stanley Cup Final?
The season is on the line for two of the Eastern Conference's best teams. The Tampa Bay Lightning are looking to clinch a second consecutive Stanley Cup Final berth, while the Pittsburgh Penguins are aiming to return to the Cup Final for the first time since 2009. Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN) figures to be a classic.
Paste BN Sports' NHL staff makes its predictions:
Kevin Allen: Penguins 4, Lightning 3. This series illustrates what parity is about in the NHL. These are two quality teams, and the difference between them is minimal to the point that every game has its own character and flavor. A single break can turn the tide, as happened in Game 6. But doesn't home ice have to count for something? Taking Phil Kessel to score game-winner.
Jimmy Hascup: Penguins 4, Lightning 2. Game 6 was a precursor of what’s to come from the Penguins’ stars in Game 7. Even though the series is 3-3 and goals are 19-17 Penguins, the underlying stats don’t portray this as being as even a series: On a whole, the Penguins lead in shots (230-162), shot attempts (391-299), scoring chances (218-156) and high-danger chances (97-68), per war-on-ice.com. Matt Murray has to be much better than he’s been at home in this series, though.
Kristen Shilton: Penguins 5, Lightning 4. Teams that go up 3-2 in a conference final are 37-7 in Game 7s since the 1982 season. But history also tells no team has made the Stanley Cup Final without their leading scorer (in this case, Steven Stamkos for Tampa Bay). This Game 7 is as much of a free-for-all as we could hope for. Both clubs have had their moments along the way, but I've said all along it's the Penguins' resiliency and adaptability that makes them special. It's what's carried them to this point, and it will never be more important than it is tonight.
Peter Barzilai: Penguins 5, Lightning 3. The Penguins have controlled play throughout most of the series, with more shots (182-132) and scoring chances (175-132) at even strength, according to war-on-ice.com. Sidney Crosby had his best game of the series in Game 6. And there’s a reason they call it home-ice advantage.
Mike Brehm: Penguins 4, Lightning 2. The Lightning won Game 7 on the road in last year’s conference final. But that team had Ben Bishop and Steven Stamkos in the lineup. The one-game break seemed to help Matt Murray and he’ll do enough to get the Penguins into the Final.