The Tampa Bay Lightning have won each of their five games against Eastern Conference teams this season, including victories at the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs to begin a six-game road trip. Center Steven Stamkos' four points led Tampa Bay to a 7-3 win at Air Canada Centre on Tuesday, and the Lightning practiced at Bell Centre for a second straight day Thursday in preparation for an Atlantic Division showdown against the Montreal Canadiens. "They're going to be a team that's contending in the East all season long," Stamkos said. The return of goaltender Carey Price has been the biggest boost to Montreal's fortunes, according to Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper, even more significant than the addition of defenseman Shea Weber to the Canadiens lineup. But Cooper said each team countered the other's strengths with comparable talent, including Lightning goalie Ben Bishop and defenseman Victor Hedman, and Montreal left wing Max Pacioretty. "Both teams have a presence in the net and you work out from there," Cooper said. "They've got a Weber, and we have a Hedman. They've got a Pacioretty, we've got a Stamkos. You can go through the whole team, and both teams, I think, bring a lot to the table, and that's probably why they're both at the top of the standings and going to have a go at each for a good one tonight."
