Stanley Cups: 1

2011-'12 record: 38-36-5-3, 84 points (3rd in Southeast, 10th in East)

2011-'12 playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Guy Boucher (84-61-19, 3rd NHL year, 1st team)

Top returning scorer: C Steven Stamkos (60 goals, 37 assists, 97 points)

Top returning goalie: Mathieu Garon (23-16-4, 2.85, .901)

Key additions: G Anders Lindback; D Matt Taormina; C Kyle Wilson; LW Benoit Pouliot; D Sami Salo; D Matt Carle; RW B.J. Crombeen.

Key subtractions: G Sebastien Caron; RW Michel Ouellet; D Brett Clark; D Bruno Gervais; RW Ryan Shannon; RW Tim Wallace; C Trevor Smith; D Mike Commodore; G Dwayne Roloson.

Goaltending: Lightning hope that Predators back-up Lindback can solve the goaltending woes that sunk the team from Eastern Conference finalists to playoff spectators in one season, or that at least he can keep the net warm until high-end prospect Andrei Vasilvesky is ready for NHL action.

Player to watch: LW Cory Conacher. Undersized forward led AHL in goals (39) and was league’s rookie of the year in 2011-12. Has been compared to Lightning star Martin St. Louis, another small forward who made a big breakthrough.

Icing: Cap settling at $64.3 million instead of $60 million was relief for Lightning GM Steve Yzerman, who has $58 million already invested in 15 players . . . Entire Lightning team signed autographs for fans on first day of training camp . . . Boucher placed the emphasis on team bonding as much as on conditioning during the club’s brief camp.

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Biting back

PHT: After coming back home in an 0-2 hole, the Sharks are now even with the Kings after holding on to win Game 4 Tuesday night.

NBC Sports

Highlights: Sharks even series with Kings

  The San Jose Sharks capitalized on their scoring chances in the first period and the early part of the second period in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Los Angeles Kings. After falling behind by two goals, the Kings almost cut the lead in half in the second period, but the referee blew the play dead as the puck was about to cross the goal line. The series is now tied at two.

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