Game 1 Lightning @ Penguins Game Day Notes

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Pittsburgh Penguins

When: 7:08 p.m. | Where: Consol Energy Center |

Tv: Root Sports | Radio: 105.9 the X |

Referees: Eric Furlatt (27); Wes McCauley (4) | Linesmen: Steve Barton (59); Steve Miller (89)

PENGUINS vs. LIGHTNING (REGULAR SEASON)

Overall Record: Penguins lead 34-28-8

In Pittsburgh: Penguins lead 20-9-6

2010-11 Results and Recaps: The Penguins and Lightning split the regular-season series, 2-2. Both teams swept the home portion of the series:

– Oct. 27: Tampa Bay 5, Pittsburgh 3 –The Penguins led 3-1 early in the first period following back-to-back shorthanded goals in the same penalty by Craig Adams and Matt Cooke. Tampa Bay responded with four unanswered goals. PGH Leading Scorer: Adams, 1G- 2A; GWG: St. Louis

– Nov. 12: Pittsburgh 5, Tampa Bay 1 –Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 15 of 16 shots to become the seventh-youngest netminder in NHL history to record his 150th win. PGH Leading Scorer: Talbot, Dupuis, Crosby, 1G-1A each; GWG: Goligoski

– Jan. 8: Pittsburgh 8, Tampa Bay 1 –Chris Kunitz tallied his second career hat trick to pace a season-high eight-goal outburst for the Penguins. PGH Leading Scorer: Goligoski, 1G-3A; GWG: Kennedy

– March 31: Tampa Bay 2, Pittsburgh 1 –Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson stymied the Penguins by stopping 36 of 37 shots. Mike Rupp scored Pittsburgh’s lone goal. PGH Leading Scorer: Rupp, 1G; Kovalev, 1A; GWG: St. Louis

– The Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning meet in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals in the first-ever postseason meeting between the teams.

– The No. 4 seed has been a common spot for the Penguins. This is the third straight season the Penguins have earned the Eastern Conference’s fourth seed and fourth time in five seasons.

In 2008-09, the Penguins went on to defeat Philadelphia, Washington, Carolina and Detroit en route to the franchise’s third Stanley Cup championship. Last season, the Penguins began the playoffs with a six-game series win over the No. 5 seed Ottawa Senators before falling to Montreal in seven games during the second round.

– The Penguins are 14-9 all-time in opening-round series, including three-straight opening-round series victories (2010, Ottawa, 4-2; 2009, Philadelphia, 4-2, 2008, Ottawa, 4-0).

– Pittsburgh is 23-27 all-time in Game 1s of series, including a 16-11 record at home. The Penguins are 6-1 in their past seven Game 1s at home. The Penguins were 1-1 in game 1’s last season.

– Tampa Bay is 26-25 alltime in the playoffs, with one Stanley Cup Title. They are making their first post-season appearence since 2007.

– The Penguins are 21-8 at home since the 2008 post-season. The Lightning are 0-4 in opening series games on the road.

– Pittsburgh is 8-2 in their last 10 games. Tampa Bay has won 7 of 8 games.

– With a win tonight over the Lightning, head coach Dan Bylsma will become the Penguins’ all-time franchise leader with 24 postseason wins, surpassing Scotty Bowman.

– Bylsma will surpass Bowman for most career series victories (6) if the Penguins defeat the Lightning.

– The Penguins concluded the regular season with a four-game winning streak and were 8-2 in their in last 10 games. Over their last 18 games the Penguins were 13-4-1.

– Pittsburgh finished its inaugural season at CONSOL Energy Center with a record of 25-13-2, with its 25 wins ranking third (tied) in the NHL. The Penguins 4-11-1 against the Eastern Conference top-8, 2-0 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

– The Penguins scored a power-play goal in three straight games to close out the regular season (3-11, 27.3%). The Penguins 25th ranking during is the regular season was the lowest in franchise is history.

Chris Kunitz (7) and Tyler Kennedy (7) are the Penguins active leaders with 7 power play goals this season.

– The Lightning ranked 6th on the power play this season. Steven Stamkos led the team with 17 power play goals.

– Pittsburgh ranked 1st on the penalty kill for the first time in franchise history. The Lightning were 8th. Pittsburgh scored 13 short-handed goals, Pascal Dupuis led the team with 4. Tampa Bay gave up a league worst 16-shorthanded goals.

– Pittsburgh closed out the regular season by scoring four or more goals in each of their final four games (4.3 average).

– The Penguins closed out the regular season by allowing two or fewer goals in four of their past five games and nine of 13. Pittsburgh’s goals-against average over its last 13 games was 2.16.

— Goaltender Marc Andre Fleury went 21-8-5 with a 2.08 goals against average and a .926 goals against average in one goal games this year.

– Alexei Kovalev has 98 career playoff points and has collected 54 points in 67 games against the Lightning in his career.

– Tyler Kennedy enters the playoffs on a four game points streak (2G-2A). It is Kennedy’s first four game points streak since April 2009. Other Penguins on points streaks of 2 or more games; Mike Rupp, Mark Letestu and yes Eric Godard.

– Forward James Neal and Defenseman Ben Lovejoy will be making their playoff debuts tonight, as will Lightning star center Steven Stamkos.

PLAYOFF MILESTONES WATCH

– Alex Kovalev (2 points from 100)

– Marc-Andre Fleury (2 shutouts to tie Tom Barrasso’s team record)

TB Last 5 Games: 4-1 | PIT Last 5 Games: 4-1

TB Last 10 Games: 7-3 | PIT Last 10 Games: 8-2

TB 1-Goal Games: 23-7-11 | PIT 1-Goal Games: 24-8-8

TB 2-Goal Games: 11 – 4 | PIT 2-Goal Games: 7 – 6

TB 3-Goal Games: 12-14 | PIT 3-Goal Games: 18-11

TB Scoring first: 32-12-7 | PIT Scoring First: 31-7-3

TB Opponenet Scoring first 14 – 13 – 4 | PIT Opponent Scoring First: 18-18-5

TB Leading after 1 period: 21-2-6 | PIT Leading After 1 period: 23-4-2

TB Trailing after 1 period: 7-1> 2-2 | PIT Trailing After 1 Period: 10-12-1

TB Tied after 1 period: 18-11-3 | PIT Tied after 1 period: 16-9-5

TB Leading after 2 periods: 34-2-3 | PIT Leading After 2 periods: 32-3-1

TB Trailing after 2 periods: 4-19-1 | PIT Trailing after 2 periods: 0-19-1

TB Tied after 2 periods: 8-4-7 | PIT Tied after 2 periods: 17-3-6

***Game Notes, Stats provided by Penguins Communications Department, Stats LLC***

Forwards

Kunitz – Staal – Kennedy

Neal – Letestu – Kovalev

Conner – Talbot – Dupuis

Rupp – Adams – Asham

Defensemen

Orpik – Letang

Martin – Michalek

Niskanen – Lovejoy

Marc Andre Fleury in goal