Notebook: Bolts expect toughest challenge yet in Game 6

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been perfect this postseason in clinching-game scenarios.
In the First Round against New Jersey, the Lightning took the lead in the first period on Mikhail Sergachev's goal, extended the lead in the third on a score by Nikita Kucherov, then held off the Devils down the stretch to close out New Jersey 3-1 at AMALIE Arena.
In the Second Round versus Boston, the Bolts fell behind following a late first-period power-play goal by David Krejci but leveled the score midway through the second period on Brayden Point's unassisted goal and grabbed the lead a couple minutes later on J.T. Miller's power-play goal, which held up as the game-winner in the 3-1 victory.
Monday's Game 6 potential series clincher will present a different challenge for the Lightning in that they'll have to close out the Washington Capitals on the road in a hostile environment inside Capital One Arena.

"We're going to have to match their urgency," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said Sunday before the team boarded a plane bound for Washington, D.C. "These close-out games, or potential close-out games, they just seem to bring out the best in everybody. For us, we've had some success when we've gotten the lead and when you do that, you put a little pressure on the other team, something we're trying to focus on tomorrow night."

The Lightning have won three straight in the Eastern Conference Final after dropping the opening two games at home and falling into a 0-2 hole. The Bolts went on the road to capture both games in D.C. and get back in the series and now are one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in franchise history (also: 2004 and 2015).
But to win their fourth-game in a row in the series and close out the Caps, the Lightning know they'll have to play their best game of the series.
"You try to close out a team when you can," Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos said. "That's the toughest game in the series. This group has experience in that we've had two games where we closed out teams in the playoffs. That's the mentality that we're going to have going in. At the same time, they're going to have their best. Their backs are against the wall. This will be the toughest game."
The Lightning have never lost to the Capitals in D.C. in the postseason, going 7-0, including 2-0 these playoffs. That's a streak they'd like to see continue come Monday.
"The series isn't over until you win four games, so we haven't really accomplished anything yet," Bolts forward Tyler Johnson said. "We're one game away, but that's what it is, one game away. You never want to give a team life. You want to try to get it over as fast as possible."
Video: WSH@TBL, Gm5: Callahan scores 33 seconds into 2nd
CALLAHAN PROVIDES INSPIRATION:During the media availability session at the Sheltair Jet Center Sunday morning, Tyler Johnson was asked what makes Ryan Callahan such a valuable member of the team.
Callahan is not a prolific scorer. Coming into Game 5, he had just one goal, that coming on an empty net to seal Game 5 versus New Jersey, and had yet to register an assist in the playoffs.
But Callahan provides the intangibles for the Lightning. He leads Tampa Bay for hits and ranks among the NHL playoff leaders. He's a willing shot blocker. He kills penalties with gusto. And he's a veteran, respected voice in the locker room and one not afraid to share his thoughts with the rest of the team.
In Game 5, Callahan became an offensive weapon for the Lightning too, hooking a pass to Cedric Paquette on the opening shift of the game to set up Paquette's goal :19 seconds into the contest and give the Lightning the always-important early lead. And again at the start of the second period, he followed up Anton Stralman's strong move to the net and was able to body home a rebound :33 seconds into the period to extend the Lightning lead to 3-0.
A smile crept over Johnson's face when he thought about what Callahan means to the Lightning.
"I love Cally," Johnson said. "He's a guy that you definitely need on your team. He literally does everything. He's a guy that when you watch play, he just kind of picks everybody up by doing the right thing constantly over and over again, sacrificing so much. He's just a big voice in the locker room. He's just a really, really big part of our team."
The Lightning are already an offensively proficient team, so when the fourth line can chip in with goals, like Paquette and Callahan were able to do in Game 5, it gives the rest of the team a lift that makes them almost unbeatable.
"He plays the game as honest as you're going to find," Stamkos said of Callahan. "He plays it clean. He plays it hard. He's not one of those guys who's going to go out there chirping your ear off. He's going to do it by constantly finishing his checks, by constantly being on the right side, by constantly being in the shooting lane and blocking your shot. He's just an unbelievable professional. He can change the momentum of a game and he can change a series. Him and Paquette and (Chris) Kunitz have done that for us."

ALONG FOR THE RIDE: When the Tampa Bay Lightning advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2015, the city of Tampa and the entire Tampa Bay area embraced the team and produced one of the wildest playoff-long celebrations the community has ever seen.
The Lightning were awestruck by the support as it was the current group's first foray into the Cup Final.
Now, the Bolts are a little more experienced having gone through that Cup run, but the support they continue to receive from the locals remains one of the coolest aspects of a deep playoff journey.
"I don't think I understood back then but I can appreciate it now, how it just kind of binds the city together," Cooper said. "I think the only unfortunate thing is the weather's probably nixed a few of the big-time parties that have happened. It is remarkable how this team has gravitated toward the city and vice versa. It's pretty cool when someone comes up to you and says, 'I haven't seen this group of friends in years but when the Bolts go on a run, we all get together.'"
Stamkos is quick to remind people Tampa is a "hockey town" when asked why he chose to re-sign with the Lightning during the 2016 offseason when nearly every team in the NHL was pursuing him. Going on a deep playoff run gives the community a chance to once again show to the rest of the world what a good thing the Tampa Bay Lightning have going in their small corner of the hockey world.
"We saw it when we went on our first Stanley Cup run, just how amazing this city is, everywhere from the grocery store to the restaurant to taking your dog for a walk," Stamkos said. "Everyone is so embraced. It's a lot of fun to be a part of."