Lightning waiting to discover second-round opponent

TAMPA -- The Tampa Bay Lightning will be rooting for one thing when the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs play Game 7 of the Eastern Conference First Round: a long, hard-fought game.
After the Lightning wrapped up their first-round series in five games against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, they have been waiting to see who their opponent in the Eastern Conference Second Round will be. They will find out when their two Atlantic Division rivals meet at TD Garden on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS, NESN).

"It's the best hockey you're going to watch all year," Lightning center Steven Stamkos said. "With the playoff format that we've had the last couple of years, you get some early matchups with some really good teams. Obviously there's a Game 7 coming up between those guys and hopefully they beat each other up a little bit."

Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said he tries to watch the playoff games as a fan but said that might be a little difficult Wednesday.
"They're really good teams, you can see the competitive level of both of them, especially as [Game 6] got close to the end," Cooper said. "So regardless of who we play, it's going to be tough.
"For me, I found myself commenting on big saves or good chances or nice plays. I guess in the end, you're a hockey fan. You appreciate good hockey and things that happen. It was a fun game to watch."
Lightning owner Jeff Vinik mentioned Game 7 during a ceremonial event with city executives outside Amalie Arena, saying he hopes they play four overtimes and "beat the crap out of each other."
The Lightning returned to Amalie Arena on Tuesday to practice for the first time since defeating the Devils.

"We've got to practice," Cooper said. "We can't roll right into the series. Last night the forcing of a Game 7 kind of changed our plans a little bit, because there was actually the potential to play Game 1 [on Wednesday]. Now that's been pushed back and gives us a little more time to regroup as a staff and just try and be really thorough on who our next opponent will be.
"For the guys, it's more to get the legs going, get the body going, get back into the game and have a little fun, because we know in the next couple of days, the environment is going to be different."
The Lightning had nearly full attendance for practice Tuesday, including forward Ryan Callahan, who missed Games 3 and 4 in the first round with an upper-body injury but returned in Game 5 and scored an empty-net goal.
Forward Adam Erne (lower body) is starting to do some light skating but is not practicing or cleared for contact. His status for the second round is undetermined.