Tampa Bay Lightning: Favorite Martin St. Louis Moments
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.
Tampa Bay Lightning
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.