Bolts begin Western Canada swing tonight at Calgary

CALGARY -- Last season, the Tampa Bay Lightning were just 19-16-4 and still searching for consistency in their game when they started the Western Canada portion of the schedule in Calgary.
Following a 3-1 loss to the Flames, the Lightning held an air-it-all-out team meeting that turned the season around.
The next night, the Bolts fell behind 2-0 in Edmonton before scoring three goals in the third period, kickstarting a seven game win streak that put them back in the playoff chase in the Atlantic Division.
Could this season's Western Canada swing bring similar fortunes to the Lightning?

The Bolts currently sit at 14-13-2 and four points out of a playoff spot in the Atlantic. And like a season ago, they come in reeling, having lost seven of their last eight games.
"I think the guys are kind of excited to get back on the road a little bit and be out here," Lightning center Tyler Johnson said. "It's always fun coming over here. You don't see these teams too often, so, for us, you're not really worried about what the other team is doing. You're just worrying about yourselves, and I think that's a perfect position for us to be in right now, just worry about our game and go from there."
Calgary and Tampa Bay are two contrasting teams currently. The Flames are on a six-game win streak and own the second-best record in the NHL over the last 10 games, going 8-1-1. The Lightning have the worst record in the league over their last 10 at 2-7-1.
"They've been on a good roll here," Johnson said of the Flames. "For us, I think we really have to focus on our game. There's a lot of things we can do a lot better. I thought against Pittsburgh it was a step in the right direction, but I think we can even take it up another notch, and it's going to start tonight against Calgary."
The Lightning held a 3-1 advantage over the Penguins on Saturday and outplayed Pittsburgh 5-on-5. But untimely penalties and a penalty kill that's been put to the test without one of its best players in Ryan Callahan, out the last six games with a lower-body injury, led to three-consecutive power-play goals for the Pens in a 4-3 come-from-behind win.
"I thought our effort was there," Johnson said. "You have to give Pittsburgh a lot of credit. They're a very good team. Our PK needs to be a lot better, but I thought, overall, our 5-on-5 play was a lot better than games in the past. We've just got to keep on building from that, keep on building in our defensive zone and keep working from there."

INJURY UPDATES: Tampa Bay leading scorer Nikita Kucherov left Tuesday's practice session at AMALIE Arena early and did not return, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper saying he wasn't sure what Kucherov's status was following the skate.
On Wednesday during an optional morning skate at Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome, Kucherov was on the ice but didn't participate in the rest of the drills with his teammates.
Instead, he skated off to the side and shot some pucks at the net before leaving the practice session early.
Associate coach Rick Bowness said Kucherov was "fine" but didn't say whether the Russian sniper would be in the Bolts' lineup against the Flames, leaving Kucherov a game-time decision to play tonight.
Johnson was asked what Kucherov brings to the lineup when he's in.
"I think a better question is: What doesn't he bring?" was Johnson's reply. "He's just one of those players who does it all. He's always been offensively gifted from the first time I've seen him, but he's strengthened his defensive game throughout the year and has gotten better at that. He really does everything. He's a goal scorer. He can make plays. He can change the momentum and the tide of the game. He even got in a couple fights the last couple games. He's just one of those complete players.
"He's been outstanding for us. He's a leader on the ice and the way he plays. He's had a tremendous year so far."
The Lightning got some encouraging news when Ryan Callahan (lower-body injury) joined the team for morning skate in a regular jersey like Kucherov. Following the skate, Callahan said he's "progressing" but didn't offer a timetable for his return.
Bowness said the Bolts are being careful with Callahan.
"We're taking our time with Cally," Bowness said. "We'll see where he is, but it was good to see him back on the ice. He's had a couple days off and we'll see how he feels. I haven't had a chance to talk to the staff, so we'll see."

ODDS AND ENDS: Cory Conacher was recalled from AHL Syracuse Wednesday morning and joined the Lightning in Calgary for their skate. "I'm just hoping to bring some energy to the team. I know they've had a couple games where they maybe could have gotten a point or two and they haven't and that's frustrating. Maybe a couple new faces might help just, whether you're in the lineup or not, just to help change the mood in the dressing room."…To make room for Conacher, defenseman Luke Witkowski was re-assigned to the Crunch…Andrei Vasilevskiy was the only goalie on the ice for the Bolts' optional skate, so good chance Ben Bishop will get the start tonight versus the Flames…Victor Hedman will play in his 500th career NHL game tonight, provided he's in the lineup.