Stanley Cups: 0

2011-'12 record: 38-26-7-11, 94 points (1st in Southeast, 3rd in East)

2011-'12 playoffs: Lost 4-3 to New Jersey Devils

Coach: Kevin Dineen (38-26-18, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)

Top returning scorer: LW Tomas Fleischmann (27 goals, 34 assists, 61 points)

Top returning goalie: Jose Theodore (22.16.11, 2.46, .914)

Key additions: D Filip Kuba; RW George Parros; LW Jean-Francois Jacques; C Peter Mueller; C Casey Wellman.

Key subtractions: D Jason Garrison; RW Mikael Samuelsson; LW Wojtek Wolski; RW Matt Bradley; RW Krys Barch; LW Marco Sturm; RW Michael Repik; C John Madden; LW Tim Kennedy.

Goaltending: Former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Theodore and journeyman Scott Clemmensen provided a solid 1-2 punch last season, and prospect Jacob Markstrom looms on the horizon, but rumors persist that Panthers will be players in the Roberto Luongo sweepstakes. Former Panther Luongo maintains a home in Florida.

Player to watch: C Jonathan Huberdeau. Taken third overall in 2011 entry draft, the Saint John (QMJHL) star is a silky-smooth skater with a deft touch with the puck. He collected 222 points in last two and a half seasons of junior and garnered nine points in six games for Canada at recent world juniors.

Icing: Loss of 16-goal scoring D Jason Garrison to Vancouver via free agency figures to hurt Florida’s power play . . . Veteran forwards Alexei Kovalev and Marek Svatos were invited to training camp in an effort to pump up league’s 27th-best offense . . . D Erik Gudbranson was suspended by team after injuring his shoulder while wakeboarding.

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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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