Ranking the Top Stanley Cup Final Goals in Tampa Bay Lightning History
Honorable Mention: Kevin Shattenkirk OT Winner, Game Four 2020
In Kevin Shattenkirk’s one year in Tampa, there was not a better moment for the defenseman than his overtime winning goal on the power play of game four. With the second power play unit on the ice, Shattenkirk’s wrister would move the Lightning to within one win of the Stanley Cup as Tampa Bay took a 3-1 series lead over the Dallas Stars.
In a season that was ultimately a chance for Shattenkirk to prove that he could still play in the NHL, he more than took advantage of it. His OT goal to put the Lightning on the brink of the Stanley Cup proved what he was still capable of after being bought out of his contract by his hometown New York Rangers.
This goal seems to not be mentioned enough in Lightning lore. Part of that is likely due to it coming in the bubble and another goal scored in the series that was even more memorable.
5. Ross Colton Cup Winner, Game Five 2021
The 2021 Stanley Cup victory became all about depth for the Tampa Bay Lightning as the series wore on. It was depth that came up on the Stanley Cup winning goal put home by Ross Colton as the Lightning would need just a single goal to finish off the Montreal Canadiens in game five to win their second straight Stanley Cup.
Colton played nearly the entire playoffs on the Lightning’s fourth line but slid up to the second due to Alex Killorn’s injury in game one. Thanks to a great setup from Ryan McDonagh and David Savard, Colton was in position to finish off the sequence the Lightning had been banging on the door of in that second period. Strong bottom hand on the stick and the rest was history.
You could not dream up a bigger way to cap off your rookie year than scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal on home ice.
4. Blake Coleman Game Winner, Game Two 2021
This was not the first time seeing Blake Coleman diving to score a big goal in the playoffs. His second period goal in game two in 2021 might have sealed the Lightning’s fate as eventual champs.
Game two was the best game Montreal played in the series. They came ready to play and were better than the Lightning for much of the first two periods. Coleman’s buzzer-beating goal in the dying seconds of the second was the ultimate back breaking goal where in that moment you kind of knew there was no way Montreal could win this game or make a comeback in the series.
This goal was the perfect encapsulation of Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. Two unbelievable efforts on one play to take the spirits out of Montreal. When thinking about what these two trade deadline acquisitions from 2020, look no further than this play that just about made the Lightning champs.
3. Ruslan Fedotenko Cup Winner, Game Seven 2004
Ruslan Fedotenko became “Mr. Game Seven” for the 2004 Lightning on the way to the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Fedotenko scored for the Lightning in game seven of the Eastern Conference Final as Tampa Bay defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in Tampa. That goal would be the biggest goal in the majority of NHL playing careers, but he would go on to double down with a pair of game seven goals of the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.
The second of Fedotenko’s goals in the game seven of the Final would end up being the Stanley Cup winner. Almost as famous as the goal scorer on his second goal was the setup man. Vinny Lecavalier delivered perhaps the greatest assist in franchise history. An unbelievable individual effort from Lecavalier put the puck right on the tape for Fedotenko and secured the insurance goal the Lightning needed. Two goals in game seven of the Stanley Cup Final. Stuff of legends.
2. Martin St. Louis 2OT Winner, Game Six 2004
Equally iconic as Fedotenko’s two goals in game seven is Marty St. Louis’ game winner in double overtime in game six in Calgary. 33 seconds into the second extra period, St. Louis sent the series back across the continent and made the wishes for game seven a reality for the Lightning.
Calgary was a goal away from their second Stanley Cup in franchise history. Some would say they did get it, but an infamous no-goal call in the third period of game six left the door open just a crack for the Lightning to hang around.
After an entire overtime period with the cup ready to come out of its box, the second overtime’s quick ending thanks to St. Louis goes down as one of the most iconic goals in Lightning history, by one of the most beloved players in Lightning history.
Steven Stamkos Goal, Game Three 2020
The great Mike Emrick said it best: “right out of a storybook”. The Lightning had been without their captain on the ice the entire time in the bubble. He had not played at all since February. Steven Stamkos was able to play just a handful of shifts in the game and had one shot and a goal for all time. In true superstar fashion as well, it was an absolute beauty. Picking out the far side corner in the way that has made Stamkos one of the great shooters in the game’s history.
You really could not write a better script for Stamkos to return and make a huge impact in the short time he was able to play. The only downside was that Stamkos further aggravated his core muscle injury on the play and really was not able to play at all the rest of the game. If that was going to be his only impact on the ice then that was more than enough.
Tampa Bay would go on to win game three in convincing fashion, downing Dallas 5-2. Stamkos’ goal unfortunately was not able to hold up as the game winner but nobody will ever care. The moment and the circumstances aligning the way they did makes this the top Stanley Cup Final goal in Lightning history and probably in franchise history.
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