NHL Playoffs 2016: Latest Stanley Cup Standings, Predictions and Key Storylines

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has a tough decision to make when it comes to his starting goaltender in Game 6 of his team's series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

The Penguins dropped a 4-3 overtime decision at home to the Lightning on Sunday night, and they now trail the series 3-2.

After a brilliant run that started late in the regular season, the Penguins are in danger of seeing their season come to an end in Game 6.

Sullivan started Marc-Andre Fleury in goal in Game 5, and the Penguins' longtime goaltender gave up four goals on 25 shots. Fleury has a spotty postseason record in recent years, and it may be difficult for Sullivan to go with him over 21-year-old Matt Murray.

Murray has been in net for most of the postseason and performed well (2.33 goals-against average and .923 save percentage), but he did not have his best showing in Game 4, when the Lightning pulled out another 4-3 victory. After Fleury replaced him in the second period, the Pens rebounded from a 4-0 deficit, but they could not come all the way back.

Sullivan spoke about his difficult decision, per Dan Rosen of NHL.com:

"

It's just a tough circumstance. We believe in the guys that we have. We think we have quality people. But it's an imperfect situation so all things considered we're trying to make the best decisions that we can, that we think give the best chance to win. That's what we do and that's what we go with. We'll continue to do that.

"

Fleury has played in just two games during the postseason—the start in Game 5 and in relief in Game 4—posting a 3.04 GAA and an .875 save percentage. While that's a small sample size, he went through a four-year streak with a save percentage below .900 in the playoffs from 2010 through 2013, per Hockey-Reference.com.

Matchup	Series	Date	Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins	TB, 3-2	May 24	8 p.m.	NBCSN, CBC, TVAS	Pittsburgh
San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues	SJ, 3-2	May 25	9 p.m.	NBCSN, CBC, TVAS	San Jose

While Sullivan may speak with some degree of confidence about his team's goaltending, it's difficult to believe he would go into Game 6 in Tampa with anything but trepidation about the prospect of naming Fleury as his starter.

The goaltending decision is crucial, because Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov is blazing-hot after scoring two goals in the pivotal Game 5 victory.

Kucherov's wraparound goal late in the third period tied the score, and he also notched a second-period goal and assisted on Tyler Johnson's overtime winner. Kucherov has scored 11 goals and recorded eight assists in 15 postseason games.

"I truly believe when you're a rising star in this league, as he is, it just seems the bigger the moment, the bigger they rise to the occasion," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said, per NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "He's proving that last year wasn't a fluke and he's just a gifted, skilled, determined player, and he's really a pleasure to coach."

If Kucherov continues to score big goals at big moments, the Lightning will go to the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive year. They are one game away and have a chance to punch their ticket at home Tuesday night.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Eastern Conference Final Prediction

The Lightning appear to be in good shape because they have been able to get key scoring late in games throughout the playoffs. They used that to get past the New York Islanders in the second round, and they are on the verge of doing that to the Penguins.

However, the Penguins are still playing well, and if not for a late game-tying goal by Kucherov in Game 5, they would be trying to clinch the series at Amalie Arena.

The expectation here is that they will play their best game of the postseason in Game 6. We also expect Sullivan to tab Murray to start in goal, and he should be back in form.

Look for Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby to lead the way in a 5-2 Pittsburgh victory.

Western Conference Final Prediction

The San Jose Sharks will have a chance to earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night at the SAP Center. The Sharks bounced back from a Game 4 defeat at home to beat the St. Louis Blues 6-3 on Monday night. Joe Pavelski and Joel Ward scored two goals each for the Sharks.

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

The Blues will need a huge effort in Game 6 if they are going to host the series finale Friday night.

The Blues are hoping to get Vladimir Tarasenko going. He has not scored a goal in the series, and he has just one goal in his last eight games. Tarasenko has one of the best wrist shots in the game, but he has not been creating the scoring opportunities that head coach Ken Hitchcock expects from him.

If Tarasenko hasn't gotten it done to this point, it's difficult to see his finding the winning formula in Game 6. The Sharks, led by Pavelski and Brent Burns, will take Game 6 and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.