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Lightning vs. Penguins: Series preview and prediction

By Dave Stevenson

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 5: Erik Condra #22 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shoots the puck against goalie Jeff Zatkoff #37 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the Amalie Arena on February 5, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 5: Erik Condra #22 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shoots the puck against goalie Jeff Zatkoff #37 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the Amalie Arena on February 5, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Nov 17, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) on the ice against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) on the ice against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins are about to begin their Eastern Conference Finals series that should be a close one.

It wasn’t the Eastern Conference Finals that everyone believed would be happening at the start of the playoffs, but here we are with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh earned their way to the conference finals by eliminating the New York Rangers in the first round and the President Trophy-winning Washington Capitals in the second round.

Some might say that the Lightning had an easy path to the conference finals since they only had to beat the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Islanders, but keep in mind that they did that without their captain Steven Stamkos and without their second best defenseman Anton Stralman, who is arguably one of the top 20 defensemen in the NHL. It’s always hard to advance in the playoffs.

Give credit to Tampa for doing so when most teams would have faltered.

The series will be an exciting one, as both teams’ greatest strength (their speed) should make for a fast paced and action packed series. Two excellent goaltenders in Matthew Murray and Ben Bishop will be squaring off. This might not be the Capitals-Penguins Eastern Conference Finals that should have happened but didn’t thanks to questionable playoff formatting by the NHL, but it is the series that hockey fans deserve.

For more NHL Playoffs coverage, check out our NHL hub page.

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