Stanley Cups: 4

2011-'12 record: 34-37-7-4, 79 points (5th in Atlantic, 14th in East)

2011-'12 playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Jack Capuano (60-66-21, 3rd NHL year, 1st team)

Top returning scorer: C John Tavares (31 goals, 50 assists, 81 points)

Top returning goalie: Evgeni Nabokov (19-18-3, 2.55, .914)

Key additions: D Lubomir Visnovsky; D Matt Carkner; RW Brad Boyes; LW Eric Boulton; D Joe Finley.

Key subtractions: RW P.A. Parenteau; D Milan Jurcina; D Steve Staios; LW Jay Pandolfo; D Mark Eaton; D Dylan Reese.

Goaltending: Former first overall pick Rick DiPietro is healthy again, but the oft-injured netminder was limited to eight games last season. That likely leaves the brunt of the work in the hands of the veteran Nabokov, a three-time 40-game winner with San Jose.

Player to watch: RW Nino Niederreiter. Limited to one goal in 55 games, the club’s top pick in the 2010 entry draft will continue with AHL Bridgeport to start the season, but the slick, shifty forward figures to work his way back to the big club before season’s end.

Icing: Visnovsky has vowed to stay with Slovan Bratislava of the KHL in violation of the club’s contract with him. The Isles have threatened to suspend him . . . C Josh Bailey will miss 2-4 weeks with knee injury suffered while playing in Germany during the lockout . . . Boyes was a 43-goal scorer for Blues in 2007-08 and will likely start the season on the wing with Tavares.

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Pens send Sens packing

PHT: Powered by a James Neal hat trick, Pittsburgh dominated Ottawa 6-2 in Game 5 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

NBC Sports

Highlights: Penguins crush Senators to move on

  The Pittsburgh Penguins squashed any concept of an upset by a massive underdog in the Ottawa Senators. James Neal led the way for the Pens with a hat trick as Pittsburgh now moves on to the Eastern Conference finals after a 6-2 victory in Game 5.

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