5 Keys: Devils at Lightning, Game 1

DEVILS AT LIGHTNING
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TAMPA --Center Steven Stamkos will be in the lineup when the Tampa Bay Lightning play the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Amalie Arena on Thursday.

RELATED: [Complete Lightning vs. Devils series coverage]
Stamkos, the Lightning captain, missed the final three games of the regular season but practiced this week and took part in the optional morning skate Thursday.
Tampa Bay finished with 113 points and the best record in the Eastern Conference.
The Devils are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2012, when they reached the Final and lost to the Los Angeles Kings in six games. Goaltender Keith Kinkaid will make his first NHL postseason start.
Here are 5 keys for Game 1:

1. Stamkos ends playoff drought

This will mark Stamkos' second playoff game since Game 6 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks. He missed 16 of 17 games during the 2016 playoffs after surgery to treat a blood clot near his right collarbone.
He missed the final 65 games of the 2016-17 season with a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee.
Stamkos has been mostly healthy this season, with 86 points (27 goals, 59 assists) in 78 games.
"When you start counting the years … this is my 10th year now and it's crazy how fast it goes," Stamkos said. "You really have to cherish and appreciate every opportunity. You really don't want to waste that opportunity, especially when you have the group that we have now."

2. All eyes on Hall

Devils forward Taylor Hall will make his playoff debut after putting together his best NHL season. Hall, who could be a finalist for the Hart Trophy, carried New Jersey offensively with 93 points (39 goals, 54 assists) and was sixth in the League in scoring. Now he wants to put together a long postseason run.
"You're excited and it's a playoff game and big deal," Hall said. "But as a group you have to focus on what has made us successful all season long and as individuals, what has made you successful all season long. Just let your talent show through, and as a group, we've done that all season."

3. Can Kinkaid keep it going?

The Devils goaltender has been at the top of his game through the second half of the season. He's is 19-6-1 since the All-Star break and 7-0-1 in his past eight starts heading into the playoffs.
He was 26-10-3 with a 2.77 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and one shutout in 41 games (38 starts).
"It's going to be a good experience and [I] can't take it any differently than the regular season," Kinkaid said. "It's just another game, prepare the same way and don't over-prepare."
Kinkaid won his only start against the Lightning this season, making 35 saves in a 2-1 win at Prudential Center on March 24.

4. Big stage for Vasilevskiy

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy led the NHL with 44 wins and eight shutouts, but this is his first playoff series as Tampa Bay's No. 1. He was 0-2-0 with a 3.10 GAA and .898 save percentage in two starts against New Jersey this season.
Vasilevskiy has considerable playoff experience. He started Game 4 of the 2015 Cup Final, a 2-1 loss to the Blackhawks, and eight games in the 2016 playoffs, including the last six in a seven-game loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Final. He has a 2.85 GAA and .920 save percentage in 12 playoff games (seven starts).

5. Former teammates collide

Lightning forward J.T. Miller and defenseman Ryan McDonagh, and Devils forward Michael Grabner, began the season as teammates with the New York Rangers before all three changed uniforms prior to the NHL Trade Deadline.
Devils forward Brian Boyle was part of the Lightning's playoff runs in 2015 and 2016, and remains popular among Tampa Bay fans.
McDonagh, Boyle, Lightning defensemen Dan Girardi and Anton Stralman and Devils defenseman John Moore each played for the Rangers when they reached the Cup Final in 2014, where they lost to the Kings in five games. Tampa Bay forward Ryan Callahan, like McDonagh, is a former New York captain.
"Lots of familiar faces on both sides," Miller said. "Guys with playoff experience, guys that know how to win."

Devils projected lineup

Taylor Hall -- Nico Hischier -- Kyle Palmieri
Miles Wood -- Pavel Zacha -- Pat Maroon
Blake Coleman -- Travis Zajac -- Stefan Noesen
Michael Grabner -- Brian Boyle -- Brian Gibbons
Andy Greene -- Sami Vatanen
John Moore -- Mirco Mueller
Ben Lovejoy -- Will Butcher
Keith Kinkaid
Cory Schneider
Scratched: Jesper Bratt, Drew Stafford, Jimmy Hayes, Damon Severson
Injured: Marcus Johansson (concussion)

Lightning projected lineup

J.T. Miller -- Steven Stamkos -- Nikita Kucherov
Ondrej Palat -- Brayden Point -- Tyler Johnson
Alex Killorn -- Yanni Gourde -- Anthony Cirelli
Chris Kunitz -- Cedric Paquette -- Ryan Callahan
Victor Hedman -- Anton Stralman
Ryan McDonagh -- Dan Girardi
Braydon Coburn -- Mikhail Sergachev
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Louis Domingue
Scratched: Andrej Sustr, Jake Dotchin, Slater Koekkoek, Cory Conacher, Peter Budaj
Injured: Adam Erne (lower body)

Status report

Erne is doubtful for the series.