Tampa Bay Lightning: Favorite Martin St. Louis Moments
As the Tampa Bay Lightning prepares to retire the jersey of former Lightning captain Martin St. Louis, we take a closer look at some of our favorite Marty moments in history.
The Tampa Bay Lightning may not have been around as long as some of the “Original Six” teams, but this doesn’t mean the Lightning doesn’t have some very rich history. Over the years, players have come and gone, but there are some who will remain in our hearts forever.
One of those aforementioned players is former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Martin St. Louis. Now, there are some who still haven’t come to terms with the circumstances in which he departed the team. While we may not share the same viewpoint, these Lightning fans still have the right to their opinion.
At the same time, it is incredibly difficult to dismiss the hard work and dedication, not only to the team but the Tampa Bay community as well, he has put in over the course of the 13 seasons he spent with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Doing so would be absolutely ludicrous.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tonight marks a very special moment in Tampa Bay Lightning history. When the Lightning charge into the Amalie Arena tonight to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Lightning will not only honor one of the team’s most memorable players but will retire their first jersey in franchise history.
By the time the puck has dropped and the action is underway, Lightning fans will have a new banner to gaze upon high in the rafters of the Amalie Arena; the jersey of one Martin St. Louis.
Once upon a time, Marty was known as the heart and soul of the Tampa Bay Lightning. While he may not have been the captain of the team for 12 of the 13 seasons he spent with the team, he was the glue that held everyone together and the oil that kept the machine known as the Lightning running well.
As Lightning fans prepare to honor their former captain, we here at Bolts By The Bay would like to take a closer look at some of our staff’s favorite moments in Tampa Bay Lightning history involving the one and only Martin St. Louis.
If you have been a fan for quite some time, you may remember some of these moments well. If you are a newer fan to the team, this will be a good opportunity to get to know one of the greatest players to ever where a Lightning jersey. Whether you love him or hate him, there is no denying you’ll remember him for many years to come.
Tasha St. Pierre – Bolts By The Bay Site Expert
When discussing a player who spent 17 seasons in the National Hockey League, 13 of which were with the Tampa Bay Lightning, it becomes increasingly difficult to pin down one single moment in history that stands out to you. Try as we may, we could only break it down to two.
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The first moment that comes to mind when you mention the name Martin St. Louis is the most obvious of answers. The date was June 5, 2004. The Tampa Bay Lightning were down 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Calgary Flames. One goal would decide the fate of an entire fanbase.
The Lightning and the Flames found themselves in double overtime. Should the Lightning score the next goal, the series would head back to Tampa Bay. If the Flames put the puck in the back of the net, it would be the end of the line for the Bolts.
Just 33 seconds into the Double Overtime period, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis would pick up the rebound and beat Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff to bring the series back to Tampa Bay. One single goal shifted the momentum of the series and opened the door for the Lightning to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
The second moment that sticks out in our minds when you mention Martin St. Louis was not a time when he put the puck in the back of the net himself, but a moment in which he helped a teammate achieve a major milestone in their career.
The date was April 7, 2012. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos was on the brink of a major milestone in his young career. There was no doubt Stamkos was set to win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy that season. The real question was, exactly how far could he go to achieve it?
The Tampa Bay Lightning were playing the Winnipeg Jets in the final game of the regular season. In the third period, just 3:29 seconds in, Martin St. Louis would earn the assist on the 60th goal of the season for a young Steven Stamkos. The 2011-12 season was the second time Stamkos won the “Rocket” Richard Trophy.
Steven Stamkos has come nowhere near this mark since Martin St. Louis left the team to go to the New York Rangers. It almost seems as if Marty was the perfect wingman for Stammer. While he may not have been the player to put the puck in the back of the net, his name will forever be remembered any time this particular milestone is discussed.
Martin St. Louis will always hold a special place in my heart. While we certainly wish Marty would’ve retired a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, no matter what happens, he’ll always be a Bolt to us.
Chase Kimball – Bolts By The Bay Contributor
In my opinion, Martin St. Louis was one of the most fun players to watch in the history of the NHL. His was an incredible shooter, scrappy, and had an uncanny ability to make something from absolutely nothing.
Tampa Bay Lightning
This is exactly what he did on January the 18th of 2014 against the San Jose Sharks. While the Lightning ultimately lost this game, St. Louis would have a night to remember.
Scoring a hat trick is an impressive enough feat as it is. Three goals in sixty minutes of play are rare and extremely uncommon.
When the final buzzer sounded, St. Louis would have not three, but four goals of the night. What’s more impressive than this already impressive feat is that he scored his hat trick in the first period alone.
St. Louis’s goal scoring ability was really on display that night. Apart from finding the back of the net four times in the first 22 minutes of the game, his second goal came from a behind-the-back backhand shot while skating. I’m still not quite sure how he was able to pull it off.
Surprisingly, this was just one of three of St. Louis’s first-period hat tricks. His fastest was 1:17 faster against the Carolina Hurricanes. Impressive as that may be, his four-goal night still takes the cake as my favorite Martin St. Louis moment.
In this game, he showed exactly why his jersey will be lifted into the rafters of Amalie Arena. Few players have had or will ever have the goal scoring talent of Martin St. Louis and he is undoubtedly one of, if not the most, talented goal scorer to ever wear a Lightning sweater.
Lauren Burg – Bolts By The Bay Contributor
With Martin St. Louis’ Number 26 being raised to the Amalie Arena rafters tonight, I find myself reflecting back on his marvelous career.
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There are more than a few memories I have so picking a favorite will be difficult.
In saying that, I think the memory that sticks out most was Marty’s hustle and persistence which resulted in him scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game Six during the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.
I was getting into the sport of hockey at that point and hadn’t even chosen a favorite team. I was watching the local team compete for hockey’s most coveted prize, a Stanley Cup.
Along the way, I saw one player determined to do anything–sacrifice anything–to lift his team to glory. That player was none other than Martin St. Louis. The scar he sports above his eye serves as a reminder of what he endured during that grueling run that culminated with him lifting Lord Stanley.
Undrafted and undersized, St. Louis finally got a chance to prove himself when he arrived in the Bay in 2000. He did that and more, winning the Hart Trophy twice, Art Ross once and Lady Byng trophy three times. He was also a six-time All-Star.
Yes, his departure in 2014 left some hurt feelings among some Tampa Bay Lightning fans. I won’t lie; I was hurt by the choice he made back then. However, like the scar he sports from the Stanley Cup finals nearly 13 years ago, time heals everything.
That’s why, like many Bolts fans, I’m ready to see the man that meant so much to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization for 14 years receive an honor he truly deserves.
Michael Troy – Bolts By The Bay Contributor
My favorite memory of Martin St. Louis happened nowhere near a hockey rink.
In the summer of 2014, my father, two of my friends and I went to Fleming’s for dinner. As we were waiting for our food, a group of men walked into the restaurant. Being carted behind them was a massive silver chalice.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The likes of Dave Andreychuk, Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Nikolai Khabibulin, and finally Marty St. Louis entered a back room. I was awestruck seeing them and the Stanley Cup. I only then realized it was the ten year anniversary of their victory in 2004.
My friends and I nervously asked the man outside the room if we could see the Cup. He smiled and let us in, and we spent a few short minutes meeting the former Bolts players. We weren’t allowed to touch the Cup though, as expected.
Meeting Marty, even though it was brief and he had just played in the final with the Rangers, was awesome. He was kind even though we were uninvited, and he let us take a picture with the Cup. I’ll never forget those five minutes.
This was special for me, having grown up hearing Marty St. Louis’ name around the house. Watching the 2004 Stanley Cup Final with my family is one of my first memories, and we all cheered for #26. I can’t wait to hear his speech tonight from the crowd at Amalie Arena and to watch his banner rise to the rafters. He was and will forever be my favorite Bolt.
Will Clewis – Bolts By The Bay Contributor
In light of tonight’s jersey retirement ceremony for Martin St. Louis, I’d like to share my favorite memory of him as a Bolt. It was tough to choose just one, as there are so many from the past.
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Now, most people would probably mention his goal in double overtime of Game 6 in the 2004 Stanley Cup Final as their favorite memory of him. While that is a distinct and memorable moment of his and favorite of mine, there is another one that some fans might just overlook since it’s not a highlight-reel goal or a dazzling move to deke out a defenseman.
Before I continue, though, I will say that I agree with the number one St. Louis moment that Tampa Bay Lightning beat writer, Bryan Burns, and radio announcer, Dave Mishkin, selected on their recent feature article listing “The Top 10 Marty Moments” during his tenure here. The top moment was, of course, the double OT goal in Game 6, which happened nearly 13 years ago.
But now onto my favorite Marty moment. Simply put, I chose his signing with the organization as my top moment because of its historical significance within the fabric of this still relatively young NHL franchise. Though I was too young to remember the actual signing in 2000, I still appreciate its significance and how it affected the Tampa Bay Lightning going forward.
For those of you not familiar with St. Louis’ story, he was regarded as “too small” to play with the big boys in the NHL, but he persevered and eventually found his way to the Lightning. Before joining the team, St. Louis played college hockey with the University of Vermont Catamounts for four seasons.
He went undrafted and eventually earned a contract with the Calgary Flames, playing with them for two seasons. Marty didn’t have too much success there, as he only had 16 points and a minus-7 rating in 69 games with the Flames from 1998 to 2000.
For the most part, St. Louis spent most of his time with the Flames’ AHL affiliate during his tenure there, though he did appear in 56 games during the 1999-00 season. However, Calgary decided to expose him for the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft. After he went undrafted then, the Flames opted to buy out his contract, and he became an unrestricted free agent the summer before the 2000-01 season.
He would land on his feet, though, and on July 31, 2000, the Tampa Bay Lightning took a chance on St. Louis and signed him to a contract. In hindsight, it turned out to be one of the greatest moves in franchise history.
Martin St. Louis is the Lightning’s all-time leader in points (953), assists (588) and many more categories and his passion and drive for the game helped bring the Lightning to new heights. He provided so many memorable moments over the years for Lightning fans everywhere, most notably raising the Stanley Cup in 2004 with blood trickling down his nose, and they’ll never be forgotten.
Just thought I'd tweet this out. Great pic. Found it on FB 😆 pic.twitter.com/PNIos56eM5
— Lightning Alley (@BoltsGameDay) January 11, 2017
Having this jersey retirement ceremony is so important, and by now, all of the true fans have brushed aside his rocky departure from the Bay, I hope. Let’s not forget what he did for this team and for this area. May his jersey and number 26 live on above the heads of those who take the ice for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
As for some honorable mentions of his in-game action, I’d like to include his four-goal game against the San Jose Sharks, in which he went on to score the only goals for the Lightning in a 5-4 loss on home ice back on Jan. 18, 2014.
It was the first time a player on the Lightning had scored four goals in a game since the first-ever game in franchise history (Chris Kontos was the first to do it back in 1992).
Next: Reliving The Top 5 Lightning Moments Of 2016
Finally, his assist on Steven Stamkos’ 60th goal during the 2011-12 season was pretty cool, to say the least. You can check out a video of that here. Anyways, I’m sure that Bolts Nation is ready for the organization’s first-ever jersey to be retired tonight. As always, Go Bolts!