![]() It was just too much for the Canadiens, who relied again on Price to keep them in a game – and the series. Kucherov, Point and Hedman all played through injuries, too. How deep? Nikita Kucherov had 32 points to join Mario Lemieux as the only players to lead the postseason in scoring two years in a row, and Brayden Point scored 14 goals through three rounds. Never losing twice in a row thanks to Vasilevskiy’s brilliance and one of the deepest rosters constructed since the cap was implemented in 2005, the Lightning solidified their status as a modern-day dynasty. Tampa Bay joined Pittsburgh as the only back-to-back Cup winner in the salary cap era, but even more impressively did it in the shortest span between championships in the long history of the NHL. The scene couldn’t have been any further from the mirthless, empty arena where the Lightning won the Cup last September in a quarantined bubble across the continent in Edmonton, Alberta. “To do it in front of our fans and our families, it’s so special, special,” defenseman Victor Hedman said. Savard set up Colton’s goal midway through the second period past Canadiens stalwart Carey Price and the packed crowd roared. Ross Colton and David Savard weren’t around last year and made sure to put their stamp on Tampa Bay’s latest title run. “And then you do it two years in a row, you deserve to go down in history.” “It’s so hard to win the Stanley Cup,” Stamkos said. Photograph: Scott Audette/NHLI/Getty Images The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate in the locker room with the Stanley Cup after Wednesday night’s clincher. Finishing with a handful in a frantic final minute, he made 22 saves to remain undefeated in games after a loss over the past two playoffs, both of them won by Tampa Bay in the pandemic. Vasilevskiy had a series-ending shutout for an NHL-record fifth consecutive time dating to the 2020 final. Winning has become normal for the Lightning, who did so this time relying on their playoff MVP goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and the only two Tampa Bay players on the ice without their names on hockey’s holy grail. “Full arena, incredible energy and another championship in Tampa,” Bettman said. As Stamkos took another lap with the Cup, players held up their phones to capture video of the fans, the confetti and the joy of being able to really, truly celebrate. Pyrotechnics went off around him to celebrate not only Tampa Bay winning during a pandemic once again but the end of another grueling season played against the backdrops of protocols, restrictions and heartbreak. in Madison Square Garden.It was a familiar sight for the back-to-back champions, even if it was different in every possible way.Īfter the Lightning beat the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 on Wednesday night to end the final in five games, Stamkos hoisted the Cup in front of 18,110 fans – 18,110 more than the last time he did back in September. The puck drop between the Lightning and Rangers is set for 7:30 p.m. We have a veteran group here that has played together for a long time.” “Obviously, a lot of curve balls this camp with the hurricane, going to Nashville, losing some exhibition games, and losing some practice days,” Stamkos said. The goal, once again, is to bring the Cup back to Tampa. The core of the team is still intact with Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov, and Andrei Vasilevskiy. The tradition, the hockey history, it’s just a really exciting time.” “If you’re going to start anywhere, start at The Garden,” Cooper said. The Lightning opens the season on the road in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers. “We are the team that came out of our conference. “In the past, we’ve been defending a championship, but we are defending the Eastern Conference,” Cooper said. “This is the official start of turning that page. “We know what happened last year,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said. Head coach Jon Cooper and the players are looking forward to turning the page with the season opener set for Tuesday night in New York. For the first time in three seasons, the Tampa Bay Lightning begin the NHL season without the title of “defending” Stanley Cup Champions.
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