Penguins sticking with a winner for Game 1

The Penguins aren't planning to change a thing, including the outcome, when they embark on the Eastern Conference final Friday night against the Lightning.

Matt Murray was the first goaltender off the ice at the optional morning skate and, although Mike Sullivan didn't explicitly declare him the starter, that was as powerful an indicator as the coach's words in his post-skate press conference, when he praised Murray's poise and composure all through these Stanley Cup playoffs.

"I just think Matt has the ability to stay in the moment," Sullivan said. "He doesn't get overwhelmed by the circumstance or the drama. He loves to play. He loves to compete. He has the ability to respond the right way to some of the adversities over the course of a game. Over the course of a number of games, for that matter."

Murray also took the majority of shots in the skate. Marc-Andre Fleury and Jeff Zatkoff left the ice 15 minutes later, typical of backups.

Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel, Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang were the only players who didn't participate in the optional skate. All are expected to play.

Actually, no changes of any kind are expected from the Penguins' winning lineup in the Game 6 elimination of the Capitals. Olli Maatta, maybe their most likely player to have been replaced, participated with the regulars, while Justin Schultz, his most likely replacement, skated extra with the players expected to be scratched.

No new injuries or ailments were reported or apparent.

On the Lightning's side, there was one significant surprise: Steven Stamkos, expected to be out for the year because of a blood clot, participated in the optional skate with a regular full-contact sweater. But since the skate was optional and, thus, light, not much could be read into that and, indeed, he said afterward there had been no change in his status. He's still on blood thinners and still hasn't been cleared, though he expressed a somewhat wistful hope of returning for this series.

Two other recovering players also participated in regular sweaters, feisty winger J.T. Brown and terrific defenseman Anton Stralman. Only Brown is seen as having a chance to play in Game 1, though he declined to say so. He's missed eight games with an undisclosed injury. Stralman, out seven weeks with a broken leg, said he isn't sure if or when he can return. He skated hard for roughly an hour.

I'll have a column this afternoon that will include a series prediction.