GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- It was the morning of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round series against the Washington Capitals when New York Rangers center Derek Stepan was answering a question about right wing Jesper Fast.

"He seems to be on pucks really fast," Stepan said of his linemate. "He anticipates well and he's made some big plays when he's had the puck on his stick."

Call Stepan clairvoyant if you want to, because he might as well have been describing Fast's impact on Stepan's overtime winning goal hours later, the goal that sent the Rangers into the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

BRANDON, Fla. -- It was no surprise Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan was starting to feel better shortly after his emergency appendectomy Monday and wanted to participate in an optional practice Thursday in hopes of playing in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, NBC, TVA Sports).

"[The surgery] was tough news," Callahan said. "I didn't know what to expect, but each day it's felt tremendously better even though it's only been two days. You want to get back as soon as possible but you also want to make sure you can help the team. I think every guy in the room would do the same."

Although Callahan said playing the conference final is exciting regardless of who the opponent is, it's understandable if he's a little more motivated to face the Rangers. Even if he doesn't want to admit it.

ANAHEIM -- The regular season has not been kind to Jakob Silfverberg early in his NHL career.

In 2013-14, the forward's first season with the Anaheim Ducks, he played 52 games, sitting 30 because of injury or as a healthy scratch. He scored one goal in his first 27 games this season.

But the attributes that made Silfverberg the featured player the Ducks received in the July 2013 trade with the Ottawa Senators for forward Bobby Ryan have bloomed this spring.

Silfverberg's 11 points are third on the Ducks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and his eight assists were tied for second in the NHL through Monday. Almost as important to the Ducks as Silfverberg's offensive output has been his defensive play, which makes him an X-factor against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final.

"I try to play the same way I've been doing all year, but obviously I've been more successful in the playoffs and I feel like I play on another level," Silfverberg, 24, said. "I try not to change anything, but I feel like the outcome has become better for me. I don't know if it's just because of the playoffs."

CHICAGO -- Most teams would be thrilled with two two-way stars like Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews and right wing Marian Hossa on the top line.

Along with Toews and Hossa, the Blackhawks also have 23-year-old Brandon Saad, who’s become a two-way force in his own right. Saad has played left wing with Toews and Hossa most of this season and parts of the past two, and has developed into a near clone of them.

Chicago has three forwards on its top line with speed, size, skill and a thirst for playing defense to get the puck back on their sticks.

BROSSARD, Quebec -- Andrei Markov got off on the wrong foot in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs when he scored the first goal of the Montreal Canadiens' Eastern Conference First Round series against the Ottawa Senators.

The defenseman's own-goal on Carey Price in Game 1 of Montreal's six-game series win set the tone for the 36-year-old Russian's play against Ottawa.

"Yeah, I know I have to be better," Markov said after practice Wednesday. "Those things happen and there's no question that I have to be better and I will try to be better next series, and try to look forward and move forward."

TAMPA -- After signing forward Ryan Callahan to a new contract and picking up defenseman Anton Stralman in free agency, the signing of center Brian Boyle did not get the big headlines for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

However, the value of the 6-foot-7, 244-pound forward was well known in the locker room, and Boyle's versatility and leadership has proven to be crucial to the Lightning's success in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Boyle was one of the players who spoke to the team before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. His experience on the ice and leadership in the locker room makes him revered by teammates.

"We appreciate everything Brian brings to this team," Callahan said. "He's one of the best teammates you can have. He plays the game the right way and he's an important part of what we do here."

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz gave a simple piece of advice to forward Marcus Johansson: Shoot the puck more.

It worked. Johansson set NHL career highs in goals (20) and points (47) this season.

"I've always kind of been a pass-first guy, but I think shooting more, that creates more room for myself," Johansson said. "It's been fun. Scoring is fun and I don't mind doing it."

Coming off last season season when he scored eight goals, two at even strength, Johansson was frustrated, but Trotz, in his first season with Washington, knew he could help.

"One of the things I thought with Marcus is he needed to shoot more," Trotz said. "I thought Marcus had more to give in his game. He's a tremendously talented, very, very bright player."

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- It's not new to see New York Rangers right wing Martin St. Louis stay on the ice after practice longer than any of his teammates, as he did Monday and Tuesday. He's built a potential Hall of Fame resume by constantly working on his game, shooting puck after puck after puck to hone his best skill.

This week, though, St. Louis has taken a single-minded approach to the extra work he's putting in before and after practice in preparation for the Eastern Conference Second Round series against the Washington Capitals, which begins Thursday at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

ANAHEIM -- It's hard to believe the Anaheim Ducks once had trouble finding a role for Andrew Cogliano.

But after Bruce Boudreau replaced Randy Carlyle as Ducks coach 24 games into the 2011-12 season, Boudreau had to play Cogliano at center and both wing positions to fill holes and to try to find a place for Cogliano.

Nothing worked.

"I remember him apologizing [because] I played in different positions and it was hard," Cogliano said. "But also, for me, I don't think I played nearly as capable as I needed to in that first year, which made me one of those guys that was easy to move around. We were both on the same page in terms of I just needed to be put in a spot and be given a role and told what to do."

The 27-year-old left wing has since found a role and thrived in it for the Ducks, who will play the Calgary Flames in the Western Conference Second Round.

CHICAGO -- The Minnesota Wild tend to bring out the best in Bryan Bickell during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Chicago Blackhawks are banking on it happening again in the Western Conference Second Round as they prepare to face Minnesota for the third consecutive postseason. Bickell, a 6-foot-4, 223-pound power forward, had a combined seven goals and three assists in the Blackhawks' series victories against Minnesota the previous two seasons.

Last year, he scored four goals and had two assists in a second-round series that Chicago won in six games.

"I don’t know [why]," Bickell said. "I have to look over the video to see how I scored those goals to see what I need to do to be successful against this team. It's a new season, a new series. Things change. Different players need to step up."