Getting back to the Stanley Cup final didn’t require that much, really.
All the Penguins had to do was survive a seven-game Eastern Conference final that needed an extra 25 minutes and nine seconds in the final game to yield the goal that determined they, not Ottawa, would face Nashville in the final.
OK, so much for the easy part of their playoff run.
Next up are the Western Conference champion Predators, whose lineup is infused with outstanding talent.
Even with No. 1 center Ryan Johansen out because of a season-ending thigh injury, there are game-breaking forwards such as Filip Forsberg and James Neal.