Are the Lightning the NHL’s new dynasty? The coming years will determine that, though winning back-to-back Stanley Cups puts them right on schedule. The reigning champs retained their title belt, claiming their second Stanley Cup in as many years with Wednesday’s Game 5 win over Montreal. Unlike last season when the Lightning won the cup under relatively muted circumstances in Edmonton (site of the NHL “Bubble”), Tampa Bay got to celebrate in front of its home fans at Amelie Arena, where the Bolts have dominated all year (30-7-2 including 9-1-2 in the postseason).
For the Lightning, this is their third win in four Stanley Cup appearances following victories in both 2004 and 2020 (the Blackhawks bested them in 2015). Andrei Vasilevskiy, who finished runner-up to Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury for this year’s Vezina Trophy (awarded annually to the league’s top netminder), was an easy choice for the Conn Smythe, becoming the first goalie to win playoff MVP since Jonathan Quick in 2012.
The Lightning finished just third in their division but played their best hockey when it mattered most, receiving enormous contributions from past Hart Trophy recipient Nikita Kucherov (who did not appear in the regular season due to a hip injury) and Brayden Point, who led all playoff scorers with 14 goals, matching the franchise mark he set in 2020. Prior to Tampa Bay, the most recent back-to-back champs had been the Penguins, who brought home the title in both 2016 and 2017.
The Canadiens put forth a valiant effort in defeat, reaching the Finals for the first time since 1993 (also the last time a team north of the border raised the cup) despite having the worst record of any team that qualified for this year’s postseason (24-21-11).
After failing to clinch Monday in Montreal, the Lightning delivered the knockout blow back in their home building Wednesday night with rookie Ross Colton responsible for the game’s only goal. Colton’s tally, the product of a brilliant centering pass by defenseman David Savard, came with 6:33 remaining in the second period.
It’s been a remarkable year for Tampa sports teams with three championships (two Lightning Stanley Cups and a Buccaneers Super Bowl) and a World Series appearance by the Rays. Meanwhile forward Pat Maroone, who netted the game-tying goal to force overtime in Monday night’s Game 4 loss, has now won three consecutive Stanley Cups, two as a member of the Lightning and another with St. Louis in 2019.
With the 2020-21 season in the books, the focus will now shift to the upcoming NHL Draft and free agency with both beginning later this month. The NHL will also stage an expansion draft—the first since Vegas entered the league in 2017—this summer with the arrival of the league’s 32nd team, the Seattle Kraken.
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