Lightning excited, ready for Game 7

The Tampa Bay Lightning lost out on a chance to close out the Pittsburgh Penguins at home and advance to the Stanley Cup Final for a second-consecutive year after falling 5-2 in Game 6 at Amalie Arena on Tuesday.

But the Lightning recognize the unique challenge playing a Game 7 represents. San Jose defeated St. Louis in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final Wednesday night to make its first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup, so the focus will be squarely on the Bolts and Pens tonight to see who the Sharks will face.

The eyes of the hockey world will be watching.

The Lightning relish being the center of attention.

“It’s an exciting time,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said in the locker room following the team’s morning skate at Consol Energy Center. “We have to embrace the moment. We can’t be scared now. That’s why I think the experience that we’ve had the last couple seasons is hopefully going to play to our advantage.”

The Lightning faced this exact scenario a year ago when they blew a chance to close out the New York Rangers at home in Game 6 of the ECF but returned to Madison Square Garden to shut out the Rangers in Game 7 – a situation the Rangers had never lost in previously — and win their first Eastern Conference championship since 2004.

The Lightning have played in three Eastern Conference Finals prior to this season, winning two of the three. Every ECF series the Bolts have played in has gone to seven games.

“Guys are definitely comfortable in this situation,” said Stamkos, who added …

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