* The Lightning reversed the trend in which the teams alternated wins throughout the series (w/ DET winning Games 1, 3 and 5 and TBL winning Games 2, 4 and 6). Tampa Bay has not lost consecutive games on home ice since Dec. 6 (vs. CBJ) and 9 (vs. WSH) – the only time they did so this season.

* Bishop, who also picked up an assist on an empty-net goal, finished his first playoff series with a 1.87 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and one shutout (7 GP). Per Elias, he became the first goaltender to record a shutout in first Game 7 appearance since his Second Round opponent – Montreal’s Carey Price – did so in the 2008 CQF vs. BOS (25 SV).

* Elias also notes that Bishop became the first goaltender to post his first career playoff shutout in a Game 7 since Ilya Bryzgalov did so with the Ducks in the 2006 CQF at CGY (22 SV). Price earned one other shutout in his 2008 CQF series prior to Game 7, in Game 4 at BOS (27 SV).

* Coburn, who was acquired from the Flyers on March 2, scored his first goal in a Lightning uniform (11 GP, regular season and playoffs) and first in the playoffs since April 26, 2011 – in Philadelphia’s Game 7 victory in the CQF vs. BUF.

* Elias says Coburn became the first player to score his first goal with a team (regular season and playoffs) in a Game 7 since May 13, 2013, when Matt Bartkowski did so with the Bruins in the CQF vs. TOR. The last time a player had that goal count as the decisive tally in a Game 7 was on May 18, 1995, when Norm Maciver potted the series-clinching goal for the Penguins in the CQF vs. WSH.

* Anton Stralman added an empty-net goal, his first tally in the postseason since May 7, 2012 vs. WSH (w/ NYR) – a span of 49 games. Stralman, who joined the Lightning as a free agent over the summer, improved to 6-0 in six career Game 7s. TeammatesBrian Boyle (5-0) and Matt Carle (4-0) also maintained their unblemished Game 7 records.

* The team that scored first won six of the seven games in the series. Overall, the club that has registered the first goal has won nine of the last 10 meetings between the Lightning and Red Wings (regular season and playoffs).

* The Lightning will face the Canadiens in the Second Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This marks the third postseason meeting between these teams and second in as many years. Both clubs have earned one sweep in their prior playoff matchups – Tampa Bay in the 2004 CSF and Montreal in the 2014 FR.

GAME 7 TRENDS
* Home teams improved to 93-65 (.589) all-time in Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a 2-0 record this year.

* The club that scores first improved to 117-41 (.741) all-time in Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a 2-0 record this year.

FINALIZED SECOND ROUND MATCHUPS, SCHEDULE

The matchups for the Second Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been set:

Eastern Conference
(A1) Montreal vs. (A2) Tampa Bay
(M1) NY Rangers vs. (M2) Washington

Western Conference
(C3) Chicago vs. (WC1) Minnesota
(P1) Anaheim vs. (P3) Calgary

Click here for the finalized dates, times and national broadcast information for the Second Round.

A LOOK BACK AT THE FIRST ROUND
Of the 47 games contested in the First Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs:

* 29 (61.7%) were tied or within one goal entering the final five minutes of regulation, including both Game 7s;

* 20 (42.6%) saw the winning team overcome a deficit at any point in the contest, including five in which the victorious club overcame a multi-goal deficit; and

* 10 (21.3%) required overtime, including two that went to multiple extra periods.

NHL ANNOUNCES HART FINALISTS
The NHL announced that Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, Canadiens goaltenderCarey Price and Islanders forward John Tavares are the three finalists for the 2014-15 Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.”

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association submitted ballots for the Hart Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, June 24, during the 2015 NHL Awards from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Click here for more information on each finalist.

* ICYMI: The NHL will reveal the three finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy prior to tonight’s games.

LOOSE PUCKS
Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek (15 SV) finished his first playoff series with a 2.11 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and two shutouts (7 GP) . . . The Lightning outscored the Red Wings 9-7 in the third period/overtime of their seven-game series. During the regular season, Tampa Bay shared first in the NHL (w/ CGY) with 99 third-period goals . . . The Lightning’s last three Game 7 appearances have featured a shutout – also in the 2011 CF at BOS (1-0 L) and 2011 CQF at PIT (1-0 W) . . . ICYMI: Red Wings forward Drew Miller narrowly missed an open net when Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop made a diving poke check in the second period . . . Click hereto watch the top goals from the First Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs . . . Click here for a preview of the Stanley Cup’s guest appearance on tonight’s episode ofElementary.

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Washington @ NY Rangers, Game 1, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA
Calgary @ Anaheim, Game 1, 10:00 p.m., NBCSN, SN, TVA
NBC Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder

FAMILIAR FOES DROP PUCK ON SECOND ROUND . . .
The Rangers and Capitals contest the opening game of the Second Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs when they face off at Madison Square Garden. These Metropolitan Division rivals are meeting in the postseason for the ninth time overall and fifth time in the past seven seasons – they have split their eight prior matchups, including two wins each since 2009.

Three of the four series the Rangers and Capitals have played since 2009 have required a Game 7, including each of the past two – both won by New York. In their most recent meeting, in the 2013 CQF, Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist posted shutouts in Games 6 (27 SV) and 7 (35 SV) to help the club overcome a 3-2 series deficit. Only three other goaltenders in NHL history have recorded shutouts in Games 6 and 7 of a playoff series: Detroit’s Harry Lumley (1950 SF vs. TOR), Edmonton’sCurtis Joseph (1998 CQF vs. COL) and Detroit’s Dominik Hasek (2002 CF vs. COL).

The Rangers won three of their four games against the Capitals during the regular season (WSH: 1-3-0), but the clubs split their two matchups at Madison Square Garden.

. . . DUCKS, FLAMES MEET FOR FIRST TIME IN NINE YEARS
The Ducks and Flames also begin their Second Round series when they drop the puck at Honda Center. These Pacific Division rivals are meeting in the playoffs for the second time overall and first time in nine years. In their lone other series, in the 2006 CQF, Ilya Bryzgalov stopped all 22 shots he faced to lead Anaheim to a 3-0 victory in Game 7 at CGY.

The Ducks have posted a 14-4-2 record in their last 20 meetings with the Flames dating to Dec. 10, 2010 (CGY: 6-10-4) – including a 3-1-1 mark this season (CGY: 2-3-0) – and have not lost consecutive head-to-head contests in that span. The Ducks also have won 19 straight home games against the Flames dating to April 27, 2006 (regular season and playoffs). Calgary’s last win at Honda Center came during the clubs’ only other playoff meeting – in Game 3 of the 2006 CQF (2-1 W).

This series features a common face in Flames goaltender Jonas Hiller. An undrafted free agent who signed with Anaheim in May 2007, Hiller spent his first seven NHL seasons with the Ducks, compiling a 162-110-32 record during the regular season (2.51 GAA, .916 SV%, 21 SO) and a 12-12 mark in the playoffs (2.29 GAA, .932 SV%, 3 SO).

NHL ANNOUNCES SECOND ROUND OFFICIALS
The NHL announced the officials for the Second Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Thanks to the NHL PR Deparment for the information above.