TAMPA, Fla. - Jon Cooper wants his Tampa Bay Lightning to know something about heightened expectations. They dont mean anything unless you prove youre as good as you think you can be.The young team led by Steven Stamkos posted the third-best record in the Eastern Conference a year ago, and Cooper is among those who believe the club is capable of contending for the Stanley Cup title this season.The coach, beginning his second full season behind the bench in Tampa Bay, just doesnt want his players to get too caught up in whats being said and/or written about their prospects for success.You dont have a right to make the playoffs. Its not a given youre in, said Cooper, who replaced former coach Guy Boucher in March 2013 and helped the Lightning rebound from having the 28th-worst record in the league to go 51-35-2 finish last season.We have to realize its going to be tougher this year, Stamkos agreed. I know the expectations are higher, but were not going to surprise anyone. In that regard, we can use that as motivation.Stamkos missed 45 games, as well as Canadas gold-medal run in the Olympics last winter, yet the 24-year-old still was able to lead Tampa Bay to its first playoff appearance since 2011.The two-time All-Star delivered 25 goals and 40 points in 37 games, and his absence from early November to just before a late-season trade sent Martin St. Louis to the New York Rangers created unexpected opportunities for young players such as Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson, who helped the Lightning stay afloat without its star.Meanwhile, goaltender Ben Bishop set franchise records for victories (37), save percentage (.924) and goals-against average (2.23) before a left elbow injury sidelined him for the final week of the regular season and the playoffs, where Tampa Bay was swept by Montreal in the opening round.Ryan Callahan, obtained in the deal that sent St. Louis to the Rangers, returns for a full season after re-signing as a free agent. General manager Steve Yzerman has also brought in Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman, Brendan Morrow, Jason Garrison and backup goalie Evgeni Nabokov in hopes of strengthening the team defensively.Its not how many goals we score, its how many we keep out of the net, Cooper said.We like to think were an improved team, Yzerman added. But weve got to do it on the ice.___Some things to watch as the Lightning prepare for a year the team is hopeful will end with a strong post-season run:IMPRESSIVE TURNAROUND: The Lightning tied the franchise record for wins in a season in 2013-14, finishing with 101 points a€” tied most in team history.SCORING MACHINE: Stamkos has scored more goals than any NHL player since the start of the 2009-10 season with 210. Hes led the league in goals-scored twice and also ranked second in points two times. Despite missing more than half of last season, he still led the team with nine power-play goals.MORE FIREPOWER: Palat led the team with 59 points last season. Johnson, another first-year player, set a club record for rookies with 24 goals. In all, Tampa Bays rookies combined for 201 points, more than twice as many for first-year players from any other team. Palat led all NHL rookies with 44 points after Jan. 1.PLENTY OF LEADERSHIP: Stamkos, who was named captain last season, says theres no shortage of leadership on the roster, noting that Callahan was a captain in New York before being acquired from the Rangers and that Boyle, Stralman and Morrow also are established veterans who bring grit and playoff experience. Its not a one-man show here, Stamkos said. Its by committee. That makes it easier on me that way.TALK IS CHEAP: Yzerman likes the roster hes put together, but says it too early to talk about what this years team might be capable of accomplishing. Were optimistic, the Hall of Famer said, but it takes time for changes for gel. Clinton Portis Redskins Jersey . Catch all the action on TSN starting at 10:30pm et/7:30pm pt. 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"How many innings was that?" he wondered.Uniondale, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Nikolay Kulemin had two goals and an assist and the New York Islanders closed out a hugely successful pre-All-Star- break schedule with a 7-4 decision over the Philadelphia Flyers. John Tavares, Michael Grabner, Josh Bailey and Nick Leddy each scored once and assisted on another in a game the Islanders led from start to finish, with Jaroslav Halak adding 25 saves in the win. New York will enter the break atop the Metropolitan Division with 63 points and a 31-14-1 record. The Islanders put up four of their goals just past the midway mark of the second period, resulting in the Flyers pulling netminder Rob Zepp after he stopped just 16- of-20 shots. Mark Streit, Michael Del Zotto, Claude Giroux and Chris VandeVelde all had goals for the Flyers, while Ray Emery saved 18-of-20 attempts in relief of Zepp. Final Score: Carolina 4, Toronto 1 Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Anton Khudobin stopped 34 shots to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday. Eric Staal had two goals while Elias Lindholm and Brad Malone each scored once for the Hurricanes, who have won three of their last four. Nazem Kadri had the only goal of the game for the Maple Leafs, who have lost five straight and have scored just twice during that time. Jonathan Bernier gave up three goals on 13 shots before being pulled early in the second period. James Reimer stopped all 18 shots he faced in relief. Final Score: Vancouver 2, Florida 1 Sunrise, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Miller stopped 23 shots and set a new personal-best shutout streak in Vancouvers 2-1 decision over Florida on Monday. Miller, who had recorded back-to-back shutouts in his previous two starts at Philadelphia and Carolina, saw his run of keeping the opposition off the scoreboard end late in regulation.dddddddddddd He was bidding to become the first Canucks netminder to post three straight whitewashes since his counterpart, Roberto Luongo. Radim Vrbata and Bo Horvat scored early in the contest for the Canucks, who close out this successful three-game trip in Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Brandon Pirri recorded the lone score for the Panthers, while Luongo made 21 saves in his teams fourth straight defeat. Final Score: St. Louis 3, Colorado 1 St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Jaden Schwartz tallied a power-play goal and an assist in the St. Louis Blues 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Carl Gunnarsson and T.J. Oshie also scored, Alexander Steen extended his point streak to 10 games with two assists and Brian Elliott made 17 saves for the Blues, who have recorded a point in eight straight games (7-0-1) heading into the All-Star break. Matt Duchene scored and Semyon Varlamov stopped 27-of-30 shots for the Avalanche, who have lost four of their last five games. Final Score: Columbus 3, Minnesota 1 St. Paul, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 shots to help the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Monday. James Wisniewski had a goal and two assists, while Scott Hartnell added a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who have won their past two. Brandon Dubinsky also scored in the win. Zach Parise had the only goal of the game for the Wild, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Devan Dubnyk allowed all three goals on 23 shots in the loss. ' ' '