Hockey fans are about to get a real-time glimpse of what it takes to win the Stanley Cup.

The NHL announced Friday that it's paired up with Showtime for a documentary series called "All Access: Quest for the Stanley Cup," which will begin airing May 20 at 9 p.m. ET.

"The docu-series will be the first of its kind to nationally televise the championship of a major North American sport as it unfolds," the league said in a release.

The series will focus on the Eastern and Western Conference finalists and the two teams that will compete for the Cup.

"The intensity, unpredictability and relentlessness of the Stanley Cup playoffs are unmatched in all of sports," Steve Mayer, executive producer at the NHL, said. "With a level of access to our players and clubs that has never before been granted during a North American pro sports league's postseason, Showtime will chronicle the amazing storylines, remarkable performances and incredible dedication required to win the most storied trophy in all of sports."

Episodes will air weekly.

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. - New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist participated in practice Friday, a good sign that he may be available to start Game 2 of the Rangers' first-round playoff series with Pittsburgh. Lundqvist left Game 1 on Wednesday night ...

Pitted against each other in a bitter rivalry, St. Louis Blues star Vladimir Tarasenko and Chicago Blackhawks rookie Artemi Panarin are only enemies on the ice.

Longtime friends outside the rink, the show-stopping Russian snipers know each other well.

Tarasenko and Panarin were teammates for Russia at the 2011 World Junior Championships, where they won a gold medal in dramatic fashion. The two also played together for SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL in 2012-13.

After Tarasenko made the jump to St. Louis, he apparently pushed Blues management to sign Panarin, who stayed in the KHL for another two seasons.

Hitchcock on Tarasenko: "He told us the day he got here about Panarin. At least once a month. ... We all look a little dumb right now."

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) April 15, 2016

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock joked Tarasenko might be better suited to St. Louis' front office based on the advice.

Hitch: "Well I think instead of giving (Tarasenko) $8 million, we should have hired him as a scout." #stlblues

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) April 15, 2016

Panarin ultimately landed a deal with the Blackhawks, and stripped the hockey world of an opportunity to watch the two dynamos together in the NHL - although Panarin has certainly developed some exciting chemistry with Patrick Kane.

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After a 5-2 win in Game 1, the Pittsburgh Penguins may be getting reinforcements. And that's bad news for the New York Rangers.

Evgeni Malkin, out with an upper-body injury, was a full participant in practice Friday, working on the first power-play unit. He ruled himself a game-time decision for Saturday's Game 2.

Malkin was/is expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks from his time of injury. Today marks the end of the fifth week. #Pens

— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) April 15, 2016

"I feel more confident now," Malkin said. "It's fun to skate with the team. I'm excited to play.

"I wanna play, you know?" he added.

#Pens rushes: Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist, Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel, Sheary-Malkin-Rust, Kuhnhakl-Cullen-Fehr.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 15, 2016

Meanwhile, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who watched Jeff Zatkoff play exceptionally well in Game 1, also took part in practice, but it appears the crease will still be Zatkoff's.

"I don't expect (to play), but I hope so," Fleury said. "It feels like it's been forever."

Fleury hasn't played since March 31, due to a concussion.

"They all had strong practices," head coach Mike Sullivan said. Status is still day to day, but it's very encouraging."

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With Steven Stamkos out of the Tampa Bay lineup, Nikita Kucherov is the go-to sniper for the Lightning.

He's filled Stamkos' shoes quite well so far, as evidenced by his two goals in Game 1 versus the Detroit Red Wings.

Kucherov's snipes have garnered the attention of many in the Tampa area, so much so he's getting billboard treatment.

Church sign, playoff edition. @TBLightning #HolyThunder pic.twitter.com/syp55IAnMm

— Tyler Moore (@TheRevTy) April 15, 2016

That's dedication to your team.

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Sidney Crosby will remember Tom Sestito as a Penguin - even though Sestito played only four games with Pittsburgh.

Crosby signed a stick for Sestito's newborn son, leaving him an awesome message:

Pretty cool: Crosby signed a stick for Tom Sestito's newborn, Killian, saying he feels a foot taller with Dad on ice pic.twitter.com/WNydJ8fLJC

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 15, 2016

At 6-foot-5 and almost 250 pounds, Sestito won't be remembered for his goal-scoring exploits. He has 10 goals and nine assists in 141 NHL games for the Blue Jackets, Flyers, Canucks, and Penguins.

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