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the look ahead

The Tampa Bay Lightning-Pittsburgh Penguins series is following this year's NHL playoff script: wonky goaltending and no home-team advantage.

Marc-André Fleury is providing the wonky goaltending, as the Lightning blitzed him 8-2 on Saturday to cut the Penguins' lead in the best-of-seven series to 3-2. He was sensational for the Penguins in the first game of the series, earning a shutout in the only game that went the home team's way. But in the Penguins' two losses, Fleury coughed up 13 goals.

However, the Penguins goalie can wave some interesting statistics at his critics. He has a 14-7 record in games following a playoff loss, and in eight of those games he allowed two goals or less.

Fleury has another statistic going for him - outside of Game 1 of this Eastern Conference quarter-final, the road team won every game. The sixth game of the series goes Tuesday night in Tampa and the Penguins plan to bring their best road game.

"On the road, we just play a simple game," Penguins defenceman Zybenek Michalek told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. "We try to play within our system and play good defensively. These last two games at home, we weren't able to do that. Hopefully, we get back on the road, play our system and get that last win we need."

THE SURE NHL PLAYOFF GAMES

Monday: Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m., Eastern time, CBC, RDS. Pens lead Eastern Conference series 3-2. Take the road team.

San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings, 10 p.m., Eastern, TSN, RDS. Sharks lead Western Conference series 3-2. Will LA goaltender Jonathan Quick (51 saves in last game) continue Sharks' playoff curse?

Tuesday: Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m., Eastern, CBC, RDS. Bruins lead Eastern Conference series 3-2. It all depends on Habs goalie Carey Price.

Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers, 7:30 p.m., Eastern, TSN. The first Game 7 of this year's playoffs. It has to be Ryan Miller time for Sabres to advance.

TORTORELLA, SATHER STICK TOGETHER

The New York Rangers remain a study in mediocrity - one of half a dozen or so Eastern Conference teams capable of snagging one of the last two playoff spots and not much more - but their management team remains in place. According to the New York Post, head coach John Tortorella signed a three-year contract extension a couple of months ago.

However, Tortorella can say he took the Rangers to the playoffs in two out of the three years since he was hired in February of 2009, even if they lost in the first round both times. General manager Glen Sather was hired way back on June 1, 2000. Since then, the Rangers have won exactly two playoff rounds.

Thanks to Andrew Gross of The Record newspaper in New Jersey, here is the proud Sather legacy:

2010-11: Lost first round, Capitals, 4-1; 44-33-5 record for 93 points (Eighth in Eastern Conference); coach John Tortorella.

2009-10: Missed playoffs; 38-33-11, 87 pts. (9th East); Tortorella.

2008-09: Lost first round, Capitals, 4-3; 43-30-9, 95 pts (7th East); Tom Renney, Tortorella.

2007-08: Won first round, Devils, 4-1, Lost second round, Penguins, 4-1; 42-27-13, 97 pts (Fifth East); Renney.

2006-07: Won first round, Thrashers, 4-0, Lost second round, Sabres, 4-2; 42-30-10, 94 pts. (6th East); Renney.

2005-06: Lost first round, Devils, 4-0; 44-26-12, 100 pts. (Sixth East); Renney.

2004-05: Lockout.

2003-04: Missed playoffs; 27-40-7-8, 69 pts (13th East); Sather, Renney.

2002-03: Missed playoffs; 32-36-10-4, 78 pts. (Ninth East); Bryan Trottier, Sather.

2001-02: Missed playoffs; 36-38-4-4, 80 pts. (11th East); Ron Low.

2000-01: Missed playoffs; 33-43-5-1, 72 pts. (10th East); Low.

WILL MALKIN RETURN?

Forget Sidney Crosby, what about Evgeni Malkin?

Neither Malkin nor Pens head coach Dan Bylsma denied the Penguins' other superstar might make it back during the playoffs from knee surgery on Feb. 4 that was supposed to keep him out of the lineup until next season. After Malkin was spotted on the ice last Thursday and Friday in 30-minute skating sessions, he told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, "I don't know, it's hard to say," when asked about the possibility.

Malkin tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee. He had the surgery to repair the ACL, while intensive rehab is being used to repair the MCL.

Bylskma played down the possibility of Malkin playing in the playoffs, saying the skating sessions were just a test of his knee. Malkin told ROOT Sports television after the second session that, "I feel pretty good."

BRASHEAR TRIES NEW GAME (SORT OF)

Mark down June 4 on your calendar if you think you will be in the vicinity of Quebec City and have absolutely nothing to do. Donald Brashear, 39, who made his living as a fighter in the NHL, plans to make his debut in mixed martial arts cage-fighting at Colisée Pepsi. If he can pass a medical and get a licence from the province, that is. Yes, it sounds cheesy, but he will still be a step up from what he did this hockey season - play in the semi-pro Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey, the notorious goon league.

QUOTABLE

"That was the biggest game of my career. I wanted to be part of this team's success in the playoffs and prove to myself and my teammates that I can play in these pressure situations. I just felt each and every game I was getting better and better. It wasn't showing up on the scoresheet, but I noticed it, and the coaching staff noticed it, so it was nice to get rewarded - especially in a game of this magnitude," ~ Steven Stamkos

The Tampa Bay Lightning star scored the first two playoff goals of his career and also had an assist to pace the Lightning's offensive explosion in Game 5, when they won 8-2 over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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