The NHL Experts blog is a collaboration of voices from around and inside the game of hockey. With viewpoints ranging from the press box to the front office, the Experts blog will offer unique perspectives through the playoffs to keep readers informed of significant storylines in all aspects of the game.

The Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning each posted 46-25-11 records in the regular season, for an identical 103 points. Both won their conference quarterfinals matchups in seven games, then swept their opponents in the conference semis. Now the offensively gifted Lightning and the defensively tough Bruins square off in front of goaltenders who are seemingly as identical as their teams' season records. The answers to these three questions will be the difference.