Known for their goal-scoring prowess, the Tampa Bay Lightning are still scoring, but it is their defense that has stepped up after a slow start and moved them to first place in the Atlantic Division.

Winners of 12 of the past 15 games, the Lightning will take their strong stretch of play into Wednesday night's first meeting this season with the visiting Calgary Flames.

Affected by injuries like just about every team in the NHL thus far, Tampa Bay has leaned on goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and the defenders in front of the former Vezina Trophy winner to pass the Detroit Red Wings for the Atlantic's top spot.

"We've defended," said coach Jon Cooper, whose Lightning won just one of their first seven games but have gone 12-3-0 since. "Defending is hard because you play without the puck, an

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