NHL Playoffs 2016: Latest Stanley Cup Scores and Predictions

The Pittsburgh Penguins live to fight another day with a 5-2 Game 6 win on Tuesday over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa. 

The San Jose Sharks have an opportunity to be the first team to punch its ticket to the Stanley Cup Final with a win over the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final on Wednesday night. 

Let's take a look at how both series got to where they are:

Eastern Conference Final
Western Conference Final
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Tied 3-3)	Date	Time (ET)	TV
Game 1 @ Penguins	3-1 Lightning
Game 2 @ Penguins	3-2 Penguins (OT)
Game 3 @ Lightning	4-2 Penguins
Game 4 @ Lightning	4-3 Lightning
Game 5 @ Penguins	4-3 Lightning (OT)
Game 6 @ Lightning	5-2 Penguins
Game 7 @ Penguins*	Thursday, May 26	8 p.m.	NBCSN
San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues (Sharks lead 3-2)	Date	Time (ET)	TV
Game 1 @ Blues	2-1 Blues
Game 2 @ Blues	4-0 Sharks
Game 3 @ Sharks	3-0 Sharks
Game 4 @ Sharks	6-3 Blues
Game 5 @ Blues	6-3 Sharks
Game 6 @ Sharks	Wednesday, May 25	9 p.m.	NBCSN
Game 7 @ Blues*	Friday, May 27	8 p.m.	NBCSN

Predictions

Penguins Will Come All the Way Back from the Brink

Pittsburgh has all the momentum with its Game 6 win. After a short hiatus, Matt Murray looked like the goalie who backstopped the Penguins to decisive wins in the first and second rounds over the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. 

He stopped 28 of 30 shots just hours before his 22nd birthday as Pittsburgh's potent offense came alive. Phil Kessel, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang delivered the Penguins to a quick 3-0 lead before closing things out in the third period. 

They're just three of the usual suspects who have been fueling this offense. Of the 18 Penguins who have dressed this postseason, 14 have recorded at least five points, while seven have at least 10. 

It's a recipe for disaster for the Lightning, who continue to be without Vezina Trophy candidate Ben Bishop due to injury and top scorer Steven Stamkos as he recovers from surgery.

On top of that, the Penguins will be back at home at Consol Energy Center for Game 7, where they've been 6-3 this postseason, though the Lightning have provided two of those losses. 

When it comes down to a one-game playoff like this one, I'm going with the home team that has more healthy depth throughout its lines. The Penguins fit the bill on both of those subjects, as a team led by Crosby and Evgeni Malkin should beat a Lightning team that's been without Stamkos for the entire postseason. 

Sharks Will Feed Off Big Game 5 Win to Close Series

In the two times this series that the Sharks have lost to the Blues, they've rebounded with high-intensity, decisive wins in which they've bombarded the St. Louis defense. 

Most importantly, they've completely shut down the Blues' top playmaker and scorer, Vladimir Tarasenko, who was enjoying a solid postseason before the Western Conference Final:

Rounds 1 & 2	Stat	Western Conference Final
14	Games	5
7	Goals	0
6	Assists	0
13	Points	0
8-6	Team Record	2-3

This has forced St. Louis to rely on secondary scoring that isn't as explosive or skilled as Tarasenko. That's not knocking those players; it's just that Tarasenko is one of the most gifted goal scorers in the NHL. 

The Blues' leading scorer this postseason is 20-year-old Robby Fabbri, who is trying to keep up with San Jose's number of veterans that includes Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture. 

The Sharks have four different players, including defenseman Brent Burns, who have more points than Fabbri's 15 this postseason. 

With a potent offense and a St. Louis defense that's shown some goaltending concerns over the past few games, San Jose should be able to close things out at home on Wednesday. 

Stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com.