Tampa Bay Lightning: 10 Best Performances In Franchise History
Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
10. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Ottawa Senators/New York Rangers
Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis celebrate 1000 career game milestone
January 26, 2013/November 25, 2013
Not many times do you have two of the greatest players in franchise history celebrate playing their 1000th career NHL game in the same calendar year. Well, that is exactly what happened to the Tampa Bay Lightning when the team celebrated the milestone achieved by Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis.
Starting with the Captain Vinny Lecavalier, the former number one overall pick in the 1998 NHL draft became the first player selected first overall to play all 1000 career games with the same team. Before their game against the Ottawa Senators, the organization celebrated Lecavalier’s accomplishment by presenting him with a custom watch courtesy of owner Jeff Vinik and a silver stick presented by General Manager Steve Yzerman.
Later in the year, teammate Marty St. Louis would join Vinny in the 1000 NHL games played club in a ceremony that took place before their game against the New York Rangers. Though Lecavalier’s ceremony was nice and celebrated the captain’s accomplishments, St. Louis’ ceremony seemed to have a little more excitement to it.
Just like Lecavalier, St. Louis would receive a custom watch from Vinik and was presented a silver stick by General Manager Steve Yzerman. However, St. Louis was also presented a timeline that celebrates the major accomplishments during his fantastic career. What made it more special was that the timeline was presented by former captain Dave Andreychuk and former teammate Brad Richards, who was playing for the New York Rangers at the time of the celebration.
Then, in what may have been the greatest roar from the crowd, injured forward Steven Stamkos limped out onto the ice and presented Marty with a personalized leather bound retrospective of his first 1000 games on behalf of himself and the rest of his teammates. It was the first time fans had seen Stamkos on the ice since his gruesome leg injury that he suffered earlier in the year, and it brought a smile to the face of St. Louis and the rest of Bolts nation.
Both of these celebrations were great and really helped celebrate what these two players have done during their NHL careers. Both played a majority of their careers with the Lightning organization and rank as two of the greatest players in Lightning history.
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