Eastern Conference finals preview: Penguins vs. Lightning

1:53 PM ET

Pittsburgh Penguins (2nd seed, Metropolitan Division) versus Tampa Bay Lightning (2nd seed, Atlantic Division)

Better buckle up for what should be a track meet of a series between two of the speediest, most-skilled teams in the National Hockey League. The Lightning will come in slightly more rested, having dumped both the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Islanders in five games. The Penguins are coming off an emotional rollercoaster of a series with the arch-rival Washington Capitals that went six games and featured three overtime contests and plenty of nastiness before the Penguins prevailed.

How they win

Pittsburgh: Basically if the Penguins keep doing what they’re doing — which is use their speed and skill to force opponents into backing off, thus allowing easy penetration of the offensive zone — I’m not sure there’s a team anywhere that can beat them over the course of seven games. Pittsburgh, the top offensive team in the playoffs, is averaging 3.36 goals per game and rolling out four lines with legitimate scoring punch. A defense that was thought to be a flaw in the team’s design has been, for the most part, excellent behind Kris Letang and Trevor Daley. In fact, Letang is having a Conn Smythe-worthy postseason so far. Olli Maatta returned to the lineup in Game 6 after missing three games thanks to a nasty hit from Brooks Orpik. In all, 15 different Penguins have scored this spring, which is pretty incredible. The line of Phil Kessel, Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino, all new to the Pens within the last year, was dynamite in the Washington series and single-handedly delivered the Game 6 overtime series clincher.

Ben Bishop has a .938 save percentage and two shutouts for the Lightning so far this postseason. Scott Audette/NHL/Getty Images

Tampa Bay: Well, there is a guy named Ben Bishop in goal for the Lightning who is a Vezina Trophy nominee and who has been, with the exception of Game 1 against the Islanders, peerless. In five possible clinching scenarios in the last two playoff springs Bishop has allowed one goal and collected four shutouts. Victor Hedman is now fully back in beast mode and appears to have returned to the dominant form that was integral to the Lightning’s march to the Stanley Cup finals last June. Tampa Bay still won’t have the injured Steven Stamkos up front, but Tyler Johnson and Nikita …

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