-No lineup changes for the Penguins.

-The Penguin's starters are Tyler Kennedy, Chris Kunitz, Jordan Staal, Kris Letang, Brooks Orpik and Marc-Andre Fleury.

-Their scratches are Mike Comrie, Matt Cooke, Deryk Engelland, Eric Godard Dustin Jeffrey and Eric Tangradi.

-The Lightning's starters are Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos, Eric Brewer, Mattias Ohlund and Dwayne Roloson.

-Its scratches are Blair Jones, Randy Jones, Mattias Ritola, Matt Smaby, Dana Tyrell and Dustin Tokarski.

-It's absolutely deafening in here as the team's take the ice.

-Jeff Jimerson is welcomed back to screaming approval. He handles his duties with a white towel draped over his left shoulder:

-Fan offer a roaring "FLERRRRR-EEEEE!" chant before the opening faceoff. They have their goaltenders' back.

FIRST PERIOD

18:02: Simon Gagne moves the puck p the left wing in the neutral zone. He dumps it down ice then is splattered along the boads by Maxime Talbot.



17:47: The Penguins are coming out physical. Mattias Ohlund (6-foot-4, 229 pounds) recovers a wraparound in the right wing corner of his own zone and is blasted to the ice with a shoulder to the sternum by the much smaller Chris Conner (5-foot-8, 180 pounds).

16:41: Marc-Andre Bergeron chops a shot from the right half wall. OOnce again, Adams sacrifices his body by kneeling down and blocking it with his shins. Adams knows what this about.

16:13: Malone takes a pass on the left wing and whips a wrister from above the left circle wide to the far side.

15:18: James Neal recovers a puck in the right wing corner and chucks a shot on net. Roloson hugs the near post and eats it up.

14:47: Purcell chucks a wrister on net from the right half wall. Fleury turns it away.

13:48: Kennedy forces a turnover behind the Lightning net with a nice forecheck and deals a pas to Staal in the left circle. Staal chops a one-timer on net. Roloson is in perfect position and kicks it out.

13:06: Letang swats a shot on net from the left circle. Roloson kicks it out. Kunitz and Letang each crash in for the rebound. Letang gets checked into the cage. Kunitz appears to chops it into the net despite three bodies being in the cage. Officials immediately wave "no-goal." Letang jumps out of the cage to celebrate but no dice.

12:14: Kennedy blocks a shot at the left point. Letang taps the rebound up ice. Kunitz splits Bergeron and Pavel Kubina and races in on net. From the left circle he snaps off a wrister which goes wide to the far side.

11:11: Lundin chops a slapper from the left point wide to the far side.

10:07: What a garage league. Talbot controls the puck on the left wing wall with his back to the net. Ohlund steps up and smacks him from behind into the boards face first. Talbot's face appears to catch the dasher board and he goes down in a heap. NO CALL. Talbot lays on the ice as play goes on. Ryan Malone even bumps into him as he's on the ice in distress. The puck is played down ice to the Penguins' zone as Talbot is still in a heap. Eventually play is halted. Athletic trainer Chris Stewart attends to Talbot who eventually recovers to his feet. Boston's Milan Lucic was kicked out of the game for a muc more border line hit last night.

9:13: Gagne winds up and cranks a slapper on net from above the left circle.Fleury boots it out.

8:45: Ohlund chops a slapper from the left point wide to the far side.

8:37: Rupp dumps a puck up the left wing boards of the Lightning's zone. Brewer holds him up. Officials call Brewer for interference. Something tells us that's a make up call for the hit on Talbot. Staal, Neal, Kovalev, Letang and Michalek take the ice.

6:50: Kovalev controls the puck in the right circle, moves in and rips a wrister on net. Roloson gloves it.

6:39: From the right point, Martin pushes a pass to Matt Niskanen at the left half wall. Niskanen blows a one-timer on net. Roloson eats it up.

6:37: The Brewer minor is killed. The Penguins actually maintained possession in the offensive zone which is something of an accomplishment for them.

6:06: Michalek booms a slapper from the right point. It hits something on the way and deflects wide on the near side.

5:28: Malone tosses a wrister on net from the left half wall. Stamkos and Orpik race after teh rebound in the right wing corner. Guess who won that confrontation? Orpik dumps him.

5:10: Another power play for the Penguins. Conner steals a puck off St. Louis and races after it in the left wing corner. St. Louis trips up Conner. That's two minutes. Kovalev, Michalek, Letang, Neal and Staal take the ice.

5:05: Kovalev booms a slapper from the right half wall wide on the near side.

3:10: The St. Louis minor expires. The Penguins regressed a bit there.

1:13: Victor Hedman gains the offensive zone to a smattering of boos and snaps off a wrister from the left half wall.

1:01: Arron Asham picks up a loose puck in the neutral zone, gains the offensive zone winds up and cranks a slapper from the top of the slot which hits something on the wy and deflects out of play.

0:46: Whoa..... Nate Thompson backhands a puck from the right wing. Gagne is in front. The puck hits off his right skate and deflects on net. Fleury is able to kick it out with his right leg. Everyone just had their heart skip a few beats there.

0:00: End of period. Lightning 0, Penguins 0.

FIRST INTERMISSION

-That was tense. But what else would you expect from a Game 7?

-The Penguins controlled things that period. They maintained possession in Tampa Bay's zone. They won most of the battles on the boards and they were by far the more physical team. But they just can't buy a goal right now. They just don't have anyone who can finish on a regular basis.

-The power play could make someone cry.

-Conner has rebound after a tough Game 6. He smacked Kubina to the ice early and drew a penalty out of St. Louis.

-The Penguins have a 15-7 lead in shots.

-Letang and Kovalev each lead the game with three shots.

-Gagne leads the Lightning with two.

-Letang leads the game with 9:20 of ice time.

-Hedman leads the Lightning with 8:09.

-The Penguins control faceoffs, 15-8 (65 percent).

-Staal is 6 for 8 (75 percent).

-Stamkos is 4 for 9 (44 percent).

-Brewer, Ohlund and Thompson each lead the game with two blocked shots.

SECOND PERIOD

18:48: Kennedy settles a bouncing puck in the neutral zone, races into the offensive zone and whips a wrister wide to the far side from the right wing.

18:38: Another chance for the Penguins. Kunitz deals a littpe pass from the left of the cage to Staal in the slot. Staal has a clean look at the net but Stamkos slides down to block the shot. He ends up tripping Staal. That's two minutes. Kovalev, Letang, Michalek, Neal and Staal take the ice.

17:56: From the top of the slot, Michalek pushes a puck to Neal on the right half wall. Neal chops a one-timer on net. Roloson eats it up.

17:10: With Sean Bergenheim playing without a stick, Letang sneaks up the right wing and lifts a wriser on net from a tough angle. Roloson eats it up.

16:36: Above the right circle, Neal takes a pass as the Stamkos penalty expires. He winds up hesitates and chops a slapper which hits something on it's way to the net. Letestu is to the right of the cage. The puck bounces between his feet. He tries to play it to his stick but is knocked a defender knocks him away.

15:15: Off a turnover by Orpik, Steve Downie chops a slapper from the slot. Letang blocks it.

14:58: Conner zips up ice into the offensive zone. he fends off Hedman and snaps off a wrister. Hedman blocks it.

14:24: Moore has a slapper from the slot blocked in front by Orpik.

14:19: Deja vu Moore takes the puck from the right wing behind the net. He makes a backhanded pass to Bergenheim sitting to the left of the cage. Everyone in a black jersey is slow to recognize the pass. Bergenheim snaps it by the left leg of a helpless Fleury. Those two hooked up the same exact play in Game 6. Moore and Downie get assists. Lightning 1-0.

12:12: You knew that was coming. Orpik is called for hooking Malone in the slot. Malone didn't exactly put up much of a fight there. This is pretty much do or die for the Penguins here. Michalek, Martin, Adams and Dupuis take the ice.

11:32: Dupuis whips a puck down ice from the right point of the Penguins' zone. That allows for a line change.

11:01: Downie tries to take a pass on the right wing but is dumped to the ice on a beautiful hip check by Letang. Lovejoy recovers the puck behind his net and wraps it around the boards for a clear.

10:18: WHAT! A! SAVE! WOW! Kubina takes a pass in the left circle and rips a wrister. Fleury kneels down and robs it with a fantastic glove save. This place erupts in "FLERR-EEEE! FLERRR-EEEE!" chants. That could change the momentum here.

10:12: The Orpik minor is killed. The Penguins needed that.

9:19: The Penguins go right back to the penalty box as James Neal is nabbed for slashing Stamkos. Dupuis, Orpik, Adams and Michalek take the ice. Attendance is announced as 18,507. It is the team's 210th consecutive sellout.

9:09: Dupuis races up the right wing and chops a backhander on net. Roloson fights it off.

7:56: Michalek forces Gagne into a turnover on the right wing boards. Dupuis whips it down ice for a clear.

7:19: The Neal minor is killed. Another must-kill for the Penguins.

6:55: Bergenheim whips a wrister on net from the right wing corner. Lovejoy flops down and blocks it with his left skate.

6:14: Rupp smacks Brett Clark to the ice with a hit in the left wing corner of the Lightning's zone.

5:09: Orpik airmails a slapper from the neutral zone. Roloson fights it off.

4:17: After some sloppy play by the Penguins with the puck in their own zone, Bergenheim chops a shot on net from the left wing. Fleury eats it up.

3:37: Letang gets a pass at the right point. He forever and a day to shoot. He attemps a pass to Staal streaking through the slot but their timing is off and they can't connect on the pass.

2:42: Neal settles a bouncing puck at the left point and chucks it towards the net. Letestu is in front and appears to re-direct it wide to the right.

2:08: Off a turnover, Talbot takes a pass at the blue line and snaps off a wrister from above the left circle wide to the far side.

1:20: The Lightning goes offsides. During the stoppage, Downie bumps into Talbot attempting to goad him into something. Talbot doesn't bite.

0:55: Michalek booms a slapper from the right point. It hits something in front and rest in the slot. Kennedy chops at it and the puck hits over the cage.

0:07: Letang cranks a one-timer from the left point. Roloson kicks it out with a "thud."

0:00: End of period. Lightning 1, Penguins 0.

SECOND INTERMISSION

-Things evened out that period. Play was fairly even. Each team had it's moments of puck possession in the offensive zone. The Lightning just did a better job of capitalizing on at least one of its chances.

-The Penguins just don't have any finishers right now. No one can take advantage of any of their scoring chances.

-Both teams have been outstanding defensively. The Lightning is doing a good job of collapsing around its net. It's very similar to what the Canadiens did last postseason.

-Roloson has been shaky on a few shots. He's offered a few iffy rebounds. But again, the Penguins just can't take advantage.

-How crucial does that non-goal by Kunitz which an official waved off look right now?

-Steve Moore is just a playoff performer.

-The Moore-Bergenheim-Downie line is once again terrorizing the Penguins in their own zone. They grind and grind and grind their way into offensive chances. It's what the Penguins do.

-The Penguins have a 22-18 lead in shots.

-Letang leads the game with five.

-Bergenheim leads the Lightning with three.

-Letang leads the game with 17:!5 of ice time.

-Brewer leads the Lightning with 15:52.

-The Lightning has a 23-21 edge in faceoffs (52 percent).

-Lecavalier is 7 for 13 (54 percent).

-Staal is 9 for 15 (60 percent).

-Brewer leads the game with five blocked shots.

-Lovjeoy, Martin and Letang each lead the Penguins with two.

THIRD PERIOD

19:16: Off a turnover by Michalek, Stamkos whips a wrister on net from the right circle. Fleury kicks it out with his right foot.

18:44: Letang pushes the puck behind the Lightning net, turns and chops a shot the crease. Roloson kicks it out. Kennedy crashes in on the rebound but can't punch it by the right foot of Roloson. THey just can't finish.

18:02: Lovejoy gains the offensive one with speed. He leaves a drop pass at the right point. Neal grips and rips a wrister on net. Roloson eats it up.

17:33: Mark Letestu floats a wrister on net from the right wing. Roloson eats it up.

16:37: "Search and Destroy" by Iggy Pop and the Stooges is played:

15:00: The Bruins have beaten the Canadiens in overtime. The Penguins or Lightning will face the Capitals in the seond round.

14:35: This is it. Do or die here. The Lightning is called for too many men. Steve Downie will serve the minor. The home fans offer a standing ovation hoping to will this floundering power play into a goal. Kovalev, Neal, Staal, Fleury and Michalek take the ice.

13:10: Bergenheim clears the puck. This power play just can't do anything.

12:51: Kennedy trips and rips a wrister from the right circle. Roloson kicks it out with a "thud."

12:35: The bench minor expires. The Penguins mustered one shot on that power play. One.

11:44: Kennedy has a shot from teh slot blocked by Kubina.

11:36: Asham has a chance in the slot and is tripped up. No call. He sold that a bit.

11:12: Michalek fires a wrister on net from the right point. It hits Roloson in front and trickles to the left wing corner.

10:54: Michalek tosses a wrister at the cage from the right point wide on the near side.

10:41: The Lightning are able to clear the puck after a very, very dominatnt shift by the Asham-Rupp-Adams line.

9:02: We have a four on four situation as Moore and Letang get minors. Moore for interference on Letang and Letang for diving. Moore They call diving now?

8:06: St. Louis races up the left wing and rips a wrister on net from the left circle. Fleury juuust gets a piece of it.

7:23: Ohlund coats up the left wing and booms a slapper from the neutral zone. Fleury turns it away with his stick.

6:51: Kennedy sneaks up the right wing and snaps off a wrister from a tough angle. Roloson holds it out.

6:36: They're pulling out all the stops now. They're borrowing a page from the Steelers' book and playing "Renegade:"

5:54: A slapper by Michalek from the left point is blocked by Gagne.

5:33: Gagne knocks Thompson off the puck with a nice hit on the left wing wall. That creates a turnover. Michalek ends up with his in the slot and rips a shot which hits something and deflects out of play.

5:07: Clutch. Clutch. Clutch. Adam Hall has a chance in front on a loose puck but can't punch it by Fleury. Wow!

3:37: Michalek chucks a wrister from the right point. It hits something on its way to the net and deflects wide.

2:06: Kened sneaks up the right wing, goes below the goal line and taps a little pass to Kunitz right to the right of the slot. Kunitz chops at the puck like a lumberjack but can't put it behind Roloson.

1:52: Neal rips a wrister from the left circle wide to the near side.

1:33: This is it. Do or die. The Penguins will never get a bigger gift in their lives. Off a faceoff in the Tampa zone, Thompson slashes Kunitz's sitck and breaks it. The Lightning calls a time out to get organized. Fleury is pulled for an extra attacker. Letestu, Staal, Letang, Michalek, Neal and Staal take the ice.

1:11: Neal has a chance in the slot but a Lightning defender blocks it wide. Huge block

0:34: Letang booms a slapper from teh top of the slot. Roloson holds it out despite having Neal chop him down low a handful of times. The Penguins call a time out to get organized.

0:30: Off a faceoff win, Letang booms a slapper wide to the left of the cage.

0:13: Letestu allows a puck to go offsides. Play is halted.

0:07: The Lightnin is able to clear the zone and kill off the rest of the clock.

0:00: End of game. End of playoffs. End of season. Lightning 1, Penguins 0.

POSTGAME

-Ultimately, the power play ended their season. It didn't matter if Mike Yeo was coaching it. It didn't matter if Crosby or Malkin were healthy. It didn't matter if Alex Kovalev was younger. It didn't matter if Alex Goligoski or James Neal was on it. The power play ended the Penguins' season.

-Let's have some perspective here. There was no Crosby or Malkin for the second half of the season. There was no Staal of the first half of the season. There was no Fleury for the first month (virtually). How did this team even get this far? There's nothing to be ashamed of with this team. The Penguins squeezed as much out of this patchwork roster as they could.

-We'll have a much broader season recap tomorrow so we'll concentrate on the game and this series in this post.

-The remaining "scorers" on the Penguins' roster just couldn't get it done. Kovalev was too old. Neal just couldn't create. Kunitz disappeared in the series when he wasn't suspended. Kennedy could only do so much. Mark Letestu was in over his head as a No. 1 center. Jordan Staal was too inconsistent.

-Dwayne Roloson had a shutout in a Game 7. That's as clutch as anything you'll find in this sport. But let's not act like he did anything extradordinary to earn that shutout. He was hardly pressured tonight. The Penguins put pucks on net but most of them were from the perimeter. And there weren't too many chances down low in tight. The Penguins just couldn't get to too many second chance rebounds either.

-Give the Lightning credit. It played a safe, disciplined defensive game. It's players collapsed aroudn the net and prevented plenty of shots from getting through. It was very similar to what the Canadiens did last year.

-What more could you expect of Marc-Andre Fleury. He did everything he could to help his team win tonight. He was outstanding. He robbed the Lightning of a few goals. The only shot which beat him was a perfect play from behind the net. After the game, fans chanted his name one last time. He deserved it. He was everything from January on for the Penguins.

-Dominic Moore owns the Penguins in the postseason. He tormented this team last season when he helped the Canadiens beat them in the posteason. And he did it again in this series. The Penguins should try to acquire him this season if for nothing else, just to keep him away from a potential opponent.

-Kris Letang had his best game of the series. He was all over the ice. He created several scoring chances and skated as about as well as he has since the all-star break.

-Sadly, the Penguins' best line was probably the fourth line once again. Asham, Rupp and Adams did everything they could to create chances with their limited time and dominated the Lightning physcially on every shift.

-Regarding Kovalev, he barely played in the third period and was not on the ice for the final power play. Bylsma said he made that choice because he wanted players on the ice who provided the best chance to score.

-The Penguins gave a game puck to the Lightning's management following the game so it could be presented to assitant coach Wayne Fleming who is back in Tampa battling cancer. Lightning coach Guy Boucher thanked the Penguins for their class.

-The "non-goal" by either Letang or Kunitz in the first period was waved off due to incidental contact.

-The power play... Sigh.... It won't take one or two line up changes to fix. Something on an organizational level will need to change.

-The Penguins led in shots, 36-23.

-Neal and Letang each led the game with six.

-Bergenheim led the Lightning with four.

-Michalek led the game with 26:34 of ice time.

-Brewer led the Lightning with 25:14.

-The Lightning led in faceoffs, 35-31 (53 percent).

-Stamkos was 9 for 15 (60 percent).

-Staal was 14 for 24 (58 percent).

-Brewer led the game with seven blocked shots.

-Martin, Dupuis and Letang each led the Penguins with two.

-Game summary.

-Event summary.