Lightning to face Penguins in Eastern Conference Finals

"UNB! Network" Florida Sports Report

The Lightning will face the Penguins in the 2016 ECF
in the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

TAMPA, FL - The Tampa Bay Lightning for the second straight season will play in the Eastern Conference Finals (ECF) in the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Lightning won Game five of their Eastern Conference Semi-Final against the New York Islanders 4-0 on Sunday to advance to the ECF.

The Lightning will play the Pittsburgh Penguins, who on Tuesday defeated the Washington Capitals in Game six of their Eastern Conference Semi-Final to advance to the ECF.

Last season in the ECF, the Lightning faced the New York Rangers, who they defeated in a full seven game series.

By defeating the Rangers, the Lightning advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they were defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.

Games 1 and 2 of the ECF will be at Pittsburgh’s Consol Energy Center because the Penguins own home-ice advantagebecause of their regular-season record that was better than the Lightning's. Games 3 and 4 will be played at Amalie Arena in Tampa. If necessary, Game five will be played in Pittsburgh, then the series will headf back to Tampa for game six, then back to Pittsburgh for game seven.


Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh have met only once previously in the playoffs, which was an Eastern Conference Quarter Final that the Lightning won in seven games.

The Lightning will be looking to defeat the Penguins in the ECF to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight season.