NHL Playoffs 2018: Schedule Guide for Sunday's Stanley Cup Round 2 Games

Two participants in the conference final stage of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs could be determined Sunday. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning return home for Game 5 against the Boston Bruins off two wins at TD Garden, while the visitors are hoping to extend their postseason life for at least two more days. 

The Vegas Golden Knights' improbable playoff run could reach another new high Sunday if they take care of business in Game 6 against the San Jose Sharks.

The expansion team already exceeded expectations by securing a playoff berth, and it is one win away from the Western Conference Final.

Sunday Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule

Game 5: Boston at Tampa Bay (3 p.m. NBC) 

Game 6: Vegas at San Jose (7:30 p.m., NBCSN)

All Times ET.

Lightning Enter Game 5 with Plenty Of Confidence

Everything has gone in Tampa Bay's favor since its Game 1 defeat on home ice.

The Lightning reeled off back-to-back road victories to set up the clinching scenario in Game 5 at Amalie Arena.

Tampa Bay's attack is as well-rounded as any in the NHL this postseason, as 15 different players have contributed to at least one of the 14 goals scored against the Bruins.

Only Ondrej Palat put together a two-goal performance over four games, while four skaters knocked in a tally each in Game 4.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper praised the all-around effort from his side, per the team's Twitter account: 

As if Boston needed something else to go against the team in the series, Torey Krug has been ruled out with a lower-body injury.

Krug, who has two assists on the power play and a goal versus Tampa Bay, will be replaced by Nick Holden, as Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said, per Eric Russo of the team's official website. 

"Nick will go in," Cassidy said. "He did a good job for us when he was in. We're going to miss Torey, obviously, he's a good player for us. He really adds to our offensive side of things. But Nick's done a good job, so he'll go in."

Losing an asset in an area where the Bruins must capitalize hurts, and it gives the Lightning even more of an advantage before the teams take the ice for Game 5. 

In addition to peppering Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask with shots from every line, the Lightning should see an uptick in defensive pressure led by Brayden Point, who silenced Boston's top line in Game 2. 

Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand thrived in Game 1 before Point's line made adjustments to stop them in Game 2.

With the same scenario presenting itself ahead of Game 5, the Lightning should learn from the first set of tweaks they made to quell three of Boston's top attackers. 

Vegas in Line for 2nd Postseason Series Victory 

What Vegas has achieved already is nothing short of remarkable, but the Golden Knights aren't done yet. 

Vegas moved back into the driver's seat of its series with the Sharks on Friday by way of a 5-3 victory in which it scored the first four goals and chased San Jose goalie Martin Jones. 

John Locher/Associated Press

Although the goal of winning one game to advance to the Western Conference Final is simple, the Vegas players are aware it could be the toughest victory to achieve, per Gary Lawless of the team's official website.

"It is the hardest to get," center Erik Haula said. "They're going to be desperate, and they're going to bring their best game. We have to figure out a way to match it." 

Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Alex Tuch lead the Golden Knights with three goals apiece in the series, with two tallies coming from Tuch in Game 5. 

If Vegas is able to replicate its fast start from Friday, it should deliver a demoralizing blow to the Sharks. 

On the other side of the ice, San Jose is holding on to the belief it could send the series back to T-Mobile Arena by winning Sunday, as center Tomas Hertl said, per the team's Twitter account:

San Jose has a blueprint to beat the Golden Knights at home from Game 4, when it put four goals past Marc-Andre Fleury while Jones recorded a shutout.

As long as Jones regains confidence from a rough Game 5, the Sharks will be competitive Sunday, but there may be too many players to contain defensively, as Vegas has scored at least three goals in four of this series' five games. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.