Tampa Bay Lightning: Stanley Cup Champions
By James Yarcho
The Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup Champions.
Say it.
Scream it.
Relish in it.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have won the Stanley Cup Finals over the Dallas Stars four games to two, capping off an incredible run with a 2-0 shut out of the Stars. It was Brayden Point in the first period and Blake Coleman in the second, but it was only Point’s that they would need.
One of the most incredible and inspirational performances we’ve ever seen out of Andrei Vasilevskiy, he saved his best for last. The only goalie in the bubble to play every minute for his team also got his first shutout of the playoffs in the most important game he’s ever played in.
After the game, Victor Hedman said the third period was the longest period of his life. Once the Stars pulled Anton Khudobin for the extra attacker, Lightning bodies were flying everywhere to keep pucks from getting to their goaltender.
It was the culmination of not just a crazy 2020 but this goes back to the heartbreak of 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. It’s been what I’ve said all postseason long – resiliency. The Lightning finished 7-0 following losses in the playoffs, the same mark they hit in 2004 when they won their first championship.
There had been doubt cast on head coach Jon Cooper. That he wasn’t the man for the job, that he couldn’t get them over the hump. They garnered a reputation of “chokers” when it came time for the playoffs. That’s all over.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup Champions.
There were individual records set along the way, but ultimately it was about the team. When a man went down, they lifted each other up. They lost Steven Stamkos for all but 2:47 in the playoffs, they lost Ryan McDonagh, they lost Brayden Point, Victor Hedman played through injury in the Columbus series. It was trying, it was difficult, but it was all for the cup.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup Champions.
Pat Maroon wasn’t wanted back in St. Louis. Kevin Shattenkirk was bought out to leave the Rangers. Zach Bogosian was put on waivers by the Buffalo Sabers. Now, they’re champs.
Julien BriseBois gave up a first round pick and recent first round selection Nolan Foote for Blake Coleman. He gave up another first round pick for Barclay Goodrow. People questioned what he paid, criticized the overspending. And they were two of the most consistent and reliable players in the playoffs for the Bolts.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup Champions.
There’s nothing like it. There’s no trophy in sports more difficult to obtain. And in a year where the players were isolated, locked away from the outside world for over two months you could argue that this was the hardest one to ever win. The mental toughness to stick with the plan, to not let homesickness creep in and overtake your drive can not be understated. But the Bolts did it. Together.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup Champions.
This is the last time we’ll see this group together. There are difficult financial decisions ahead for BriseBois and all these players can not be retained, especially with a flat cap on the horizon. But it was a special group with a common goal. They will be forever linked in immortality as the team that did it. That won it all, in the most trying of times and most difficult of circumstances.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup Champions.