Tampa Bay Lightning: 50 Greatest Moments In Franchise History
By Kyle Barber
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
28. Steven Stamkos Hits 60 Goals
Date: April 7, 2012
It is pretty safe to say Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is one of the most prolific goal scorers the Lightning has seen in quite some time. Ever since the moment he debuted with the Lightning, which was the very first season after being drafted by the Bolts in the First Round (First Overall) of the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Steven Stamkos has consistently posted 40 plus point seasons.
While the 25 year old forward has had some pretty memorable seasons, there is one season in particular that will have Tampa Bay Lightning fans talking for many years to come. In the 2011-12 season, Stamkos’ fourth season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Steven Stamkos would set the bar to new heights when it came to goal scoring.
The season started out a little slow for the Lightning sniper. Stamkos would be held scoreless for the first three games of the season, but as soon as he was able to break the ice and get the mojo flowing all bets were off. Steven Stamkos would score his first goal of the 2011-12 season on October 13th. Unfortunately, that would be the only goal the Lightning would score that night as the Bolts were routed 5-1 by the New York Islanders.
By the beginning of November, Stamkos had already scored his first hat trick of the season. On November 4th, the Tampa Bay Lightning would take on the Chicago Blackhawks at the then-St. Pete Times Forum. The first period would come and go with neither team being able to find the back of the net. Thankfully, Steven Stamkos made quick work of breaking the ice with a goal just 15 seconds into the second period.
Stamkos would score his final two goals of the game, completing the hat trick, during the second period. The last of those goals happened to make its way into existence on the Power Play. Ultimately, it would take on overtime period, but the Tampa Bay Lightning would defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4.
Steven Stamkos would register 14 multi-goal games over the course of the 2011-12 season, but none of the other would result in a hat trick for the Lightning sniper.
As the end of the regular season quickly approached, Steven Stamkos found himself well ahead of other goal scorers in the National Hockey League. Being completely honest, he was pretty much a shoe-in to win his second Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy at the conclusion of the season, but Stamkos didn’t let his lead stop him from doing what he does best.
On April 7, 2012 the Tampa Bay Lightning ventured to the MTS Centre to do battle with the Winnipeg Jets in the final game of the regular season. Former Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Teddy Purcell was lighting things up for the Lightning, having already scored two goals in the first 22 minutes of the game. The one thing Lightning fans had yet to see was a goal from Steven Stamkos.
Then…it happened.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Brian Lee would play the puck along the boards in the Jets’ zone. Overburdened by the offensive pressure, Lee passed the puck up the ice to Martin St. Louis, who would play the puck just behind the Jets’ net.
Steven Stamkos casually made his way to the front of the net, and before Winnipeg Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec even knew what happened, the puck was in the back of the net and Steven Stamkos would score his 60th goal of the season. Stamkos would become the 20th player in NHL history to mark this achievement. The last player prior to Stamkos to achieve this goal was Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin in the 2007-08 season.
The amazing thing is, after Stamkos scored his 60th goal of the season, the Jets fans in the crowd – who had been booing and antagonizing Stamkos all game long – were actually cheering for him. This was a great sign of respect from the fans up there in Winnipeg.
Unfortunately, Steven Stamkos has not seen a season like this one ever since. On the bright side, at just 25 years of age, Steven Stamkos has many years ahead of him in the National Hockey League to reclaim some of his former glory and maybe even net himself another “Rocket” Richard Trophy. Who knows…he may even earn himself a Stanley Cup in the process.
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