* ICYMI: Bonino’s winner came moments after the crossbar camera captured a spectacular goal-line stop by Capitals forward Jay Beagle.

* The Penguins will face the Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final for their second all-time playoff meeting. Sean Bergenheim scored the lone goal and Dwayne Rolosonmade 36 saves to help Tampa Bay eliminate Pittsburgh in Game 7 of the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals, after trailing 3-1 in the series.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: PENGUINS ADVANCE
* Pittsburgh improved to 8-1 in nine all-time playoff series vs. WSH, including six straight wins.

* Via Elias, the Penguins became the second team this postseason to win a series-clinching game despite surrendering a three-goal lead (also SJS in First Round at LAK). It happened only twice in the previous 25 playoff years.

* Bonino is the eighth player in Penguins history to score a series-winning goal in overtime, joining Brooks Orpik (2013 CQF at NYI), Pascal Dupuis (2010 CQF at OTT),Marian Hossa (2008 CSF vs. NYR), Darius Kasparaitis (2001 CSF at BUF), Martin Straka (2001 CQF vs. WSH), George Ferguson (1979 PR at BUF) and Michel Briere(1970 QF at OAK).

* The Penguins have won 21 of their past 26 contests at CONSOL Energy Center dating to Jan. 17 vs. CAR, including a 5-1 mark in the postseason.

* The Penguins have won all 45 games this season when leading after two periods (6-0 in playoffs).

CLUTCH PERFORMER
Capitals forward Justin Williams notched 1-1—2 to bring his totals to 14-12—26 in 19 career playoff games in which his team faced elimination. Via Elias, Williams’ average of 0.74 goals per game in contests when facing elimination ranks third in NHL history (minimum: 10 such GP) behind Maurice Richard (0.88; 15 goals in 17 GP) and PavelBure (0.80; 12 goals in 15 GP).

* Elias also notes that only four players in NHL history have scored more goals when facing elimination: Mark Messier leads with 16 such tallies, ahead of Jaromir Jagr,Gilbert Perreault and Richard who each have 15.

WORKING OVERTIME
Home teams improved to 8-8 in 16 total overtime games during the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs (70 GP), with nine of those extra-session contests falling in the Second Round (23 GP).

* The nine overtime games this round are the most in the second round since the 16-team postseason format was introduced in 1980.

* The Second Round has seen 39% of games extend past regulation (9 of 23), compared to 15% of contests in the First Round (7 of 47).

LOOSE PUCKS
The start time for Game 7 between the Sharks and Predators has been set for 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. PT on Thursday in San Jose (NBCSN, SN, TVAS) . . . Via Elias, Pittsburgh’s MattMurray (36 SV) improved to 7-2 in his postseason career and became the first rookie goaltender to win multiple series-clinching games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2006, when Cam Ward (CAR; 4), Ilya Bryzgalov (ANA; 2) andRyan Miller (BUF; 2) each achieved the feat . . . Capitals defenseman John Carlsonscored to match the franchise record for points in a playoff year by a defenseman (5-7—12), equaling the mark established by Kevin Hatcher (5-7—12) and Scott Stevens(1-11—12) in 1988 . . . NHL LiveWire: Members of the Predators were mic’d up when the team staved off elimination with an overtime victory in Game 6 against the Sharks . . . The final for the EA SPORTS NHL 17 Cover Vote pits San Jose’s Joe Pavelski against St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko. Voting for this round is open until 3 p.m. ET on May 16, with the winner to be revealed at the 2016 NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 22 . . . MUST SEE: Hockey fan Gerry Nelson and his son Wyatt shared a touching and emotional moment with the Stanley Cup . . . NBC’s Mike “Doc” Emrickwon the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality-Play by Play, his third consecutive win and fourth in six years.

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
St. Louis @ Dallas, 8:00 p.m., series tied 3-3, NBCSN, SN, TVAS
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GAME 7s TO DETERMINE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: PART 1
Each of the last two days of the Second Round will feature a Game 7, with a spot in the Western Conference Final at stake. The Stars and Blues contest the first such contest tonight in the fourth Game 7 in 13 all-time playoff series between the franchises. The others – which all required overtime – came when the Stars were based in Minnesota: the Blues won in the 1968 Semifinals and 1972 Quarterfinals, while the North Stars were victorious in the 1984 Norris Division Final. While the Stars will be contesting their first Game 7 since 2007, the Blues will play their second such game this postseason, having eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks in the First Round. Blues forward Troy Brouwer, who tallied the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the First Round, is set to play in a Game 7 for an eighth consecutive playoff series, dating to the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals -- the longest such streak in League history.

the information above wa supplied by the NHL PR department