Tampa Bay Lightning

N/A

Tag Type
Team
Slug
tampa-bay-lightning
Short Name
Lightning
Abbreviation
TB
Sport ID / Foreign ID
4417d3cb-0f24-11e2-8525-18a905767e44
Visible in Content Tool
On
Visible in Programming Tool
On
Root
NHL
Featured
Off
Auto create Channel for this Tag
On
Parents
NHL Atlantic
Primary Parent
NHL Atlantic
Primary Color
#003d7c
Secondary Color
#ffffff
Channel State
Standard
Eyebrow Text
Tampa Bay
Ticket Link
https://www.vividseats.com/tampa-bay-lightning-tickets--sports-nhl-hockey/performer/841?wsUser=899

Lightning Win 2020 Stanley Cup Final: Score, Celebration Highlights and Reaction

Sep 28, 2020
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov is mobbed by teammates after scoring the winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Denver. The Lightning won 4-3. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov is mobbed by teammates after scoring the winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Denver. The Lightning won 4-3. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Redemption.

The Tampa Bay Lightning went from stunning losers to Stanley Cup champions in the course of one season, and they did it in style. Monday's Game 6 against the Dallas Stars was never truly in doubt thanks to brilliant defending, a shutout from Andrei Vasilevskiy and timely goals from Brayden Point and Blake Coleman on the way to a 2-0 victory.

It was quite a difference from last season when the Lightning tied the NHL record for the most wins in a regular season just to get swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the playoffs.

The result was a 4-2 victory over the Stars in the series and Tampa Bay's first Stanley Cup title since the 2003-04 season.

Fittingly, the Lightning were in a celebratory mood.

            

Celebration

            

Conn Smythe Trophy Winner

The Conn Smythe Trophy goes to the Most Valuable Player of the entire playoffs, and Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman took home the award this year.

Hedman notched an assist in Monday's victory, which was his 12th of the playoffs to go with 10 goals. His 10 goals were the third-most for a defenseman in postseason history, per Justin Cuthbert of Yahoo Sports.

The 2017-18 Norris winner is likely heading to the Hall of Fame, and this is the best part of an already notable resume that includes four NHL All-Star team selections.

           

Game 6

Dallas had the momentum after keeping its season alive with a 3-2 win in double-overtime in Saturday's Game 5, but the Lightning wasted little time seizing it right back.

Point, who has been brilliant throughout the playoffs, opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period, and Coleman added the insurance in the second period. That was enough with Hedman and the defense getting into shooting lanes and breaking up opportunities for the Stars with impressive pressure.

It also didn't hurt having Vasilevskiy between the pipes. He turned away all 22 of the shots he faced, making sure his team would not have to face a Game 7.

Just like that, last year's failure turned into this year's championship.

Victor Hedman Wins 2020 Conn Smythe Trophy After Lightning Win Stanley Cup

Sep 28, 2020
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

It isn't easy to decide which player on the Tampa Bay Lightning was the most valuable during their run to a Stanley Cup championship. Several players made a strong case, but in the end Victor Hedman made the strongest, taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy.  

Imagine having to pick between some of the Lightning's top performers. 

Nikita Kucherov made a strong argument, scoring both the most points (34) and assists (27) in one postseason in Tampa Bay history. Tampa's top-line playmaker paired with Brayden Point and Ondrej Palat to absolutely terrorize opposing defensemen and goalies in these playoffs. 

Speaking of Point, he led the Lightning with 14 goals and was second overall in points (33) behind only Kucherov. Without prolific goal-scorer Steven Stamkos, who has missed almost the entirety of the postseason due to injury, Tampa needed someone to step up in the goals department. Point obliged. 

While Kucherov and Point handled the scoring, Andrei Vasilevskiy was an absolute brick wall in net, finishing these playoffs with an 18-7 record and a .927 save percentage. He was also incredibly clutch, winning six of the team's nine overtime games. It's one thing to stonewall an opposing team during regulation—it's another thing to do it in sudden death. Vasilevskiy couldn't have been any more steady or reliable. 

Those are also adjectives that apply to Hedman. Never mind the steady defense—his 10 goals from his spot on the blue line are the most for a defenseman since Brian Leetch scored 11 for the New York Rangers in 1994. Or how about his NHL best plus-17 rating in these playoffs? Hedman made one hell of a case. 

Lightning Defeat Stars in Game 6 to Win Franchise's 1st Stanley Cup Since 2004

Sep 28, 2020
Tampa Bay Lightning center Carter Verhaeghe, left, celebrates with center Blake Coleman (20), defenseman Erik Cernak (81) and Barclay Goodrow after scoring against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Carter Verhaeghe, left, celebrates with center Blake Coleman (20), defenseman Erik Cernak (81) and Barclay Goodrow after scoring against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

The Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup champions for the second time in history after beating the Dallas Stars 2-0 on Monday.

Tampa Bay's only other title came in 2004. Jon Cooper guided the franchise to the Stanley Cup Final in 2015 as well, but the Lightning lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.

A number of players from that squad remain on the roster, none more prominent than Steven Stamkos. The Lightning captain was limited to three minutes on the ice, but he undoubtedly served as a rallying point for his teammates.

Brayden Point got his 14th goal of the playoffs, setting a franchise record, when he drew first blood on the power play in the first period.

Blake Coleman doubled Tampa Bay's lead in the second period.

Those proved to be enough as the Lightning were in the driver's seat from start to finish.

        

Notable Performers

Blake Coleman, C, Lightning: one goal, five shots, four hits

Nikita Kucherov, RW, Lightning: one assist, four shots

Brayden Point, C, Lightning: one goal, two shots

Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Lightning: 22 saves

Anton Khudobin, G, Stars: 27 saves

        

Native Son Breaks Texas Hearts

Growing up, Coleman surely dreamed of featuring in a Stanley Cup Final that included the Stars. The Plano, Texas, native probably didn't envision delivering the dagger that would deny the team a championship.

The Lightning's goal tally doesn't properly convey how well they played. The fact they didn't score more was part of the plan as they emphasized possession and controlling the puck for long stretches instead of going for quick attacks.

https://twitter.com/RawCharge/status/1310763399643639808

Game 6 proved to be pretty straightforward and anticlimactic. Rather than suffering any sort of emotional letdown after losing a double-overtime thriller, the result may have motivated the Lightning to avoid letting this series extend any longer than it needed to be.

Tampa Bay's resistance didn't break, even as the Stars threw everything they had at Andrei Vasilevskiy in the final minutes.

        

Stars' Magic Runs out

It's safe to say interim coach Rick Bowness wasn't instructing his players to fall behind to a point where they needed to pull a rabbit out of the hat in the third period to either climb into the lead or force overtime.

Some teams lead a charmed existence during the playoffs and ride that good fortune all the way to a title. More often than not, though, good luck can be fleeting.

Though two periods Monday, the Lightning owned a 22-8 advantage in shots and had dished out 31 hits to 20 for the Stars. Tampa Bay was thoroughly outplaying Dallas on both ends of the ice.

A third-period surge was inevitable because the Stars had no other choice but to adopt a more aggressive approach.

But one outcome of ceding so much possession to Tampa Bay was that Dallas had to chase the puck for the vast majority of the first and second periods. Stamina became an issue when the Stars needed to dig deep in the last 20 minutes.

Steven Stamkos Won't Play Remainder of 2020 Stanley Cup Final for Lightning

Sep 27, 2020
FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2020, file photo, Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Denver. Columbus defenseman Seth Jones, Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel and Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos would’ve missed some or all of the playoffs if they started in April. Instead, the silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic halting the season is those players are healthy and ready to contribute. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2020, file photo, Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Denver. Columbus defenseman Seth Jones, Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel and Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos would’ve missed some or all of the playoffs if they started in April. Instead, the silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic halting the season is those players are healthy and ready to contribute. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

If the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup, it will be without team captain Steven Stamkos.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said Sunday that Stamkos, who has been "unfit to play" for the playoffs since he had core muscle surgery in March, is done for the series, according to Bryan Burns of TampaBayLightning.com.

Stamkos played three minutes during Game 3, scoring a goal on his first shot attempt to help Tampa Bay to a 5-2 victory. After his brief appearance Wednesday, he suffered an "issue" that prevented him from returning to the ice, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan. 

The decision to hold Stamkos out for the remainder of the series was made Sunday morning, one day before the series-leading Lightning could clinch the Stanley Cup in Game 6. Cooper said even his short outing in Game 3 defied expectations the team had for its captain this postseason: 

"He did everything he could to get back. And he did get back, and unfortunately he couldn't go any further. I'm sure this will all be addressed after the series is over. He gamed it out. To be honest, I didn't think he was playing at all in these playoffs. I don't think any of us did. So, he gave us 2:47 of brilliant hockey that's a phenomenal story, scored a huge goal for us in a win, and hopefully we can keep that momentum." 

After Game 3, it seemed Stamkos knew his season was over. 

"It was just an amazing experience to share with my teammates," he said, per Diana C. Nearhos of the Tampa Bay Times. "I've watched these guys be so committed to what our end goal is, and to be part of it was a dream come true. I'm so proud of these guys to be able to share that moment with them." 

Both coach and player have alluded to Stamkos sharing details about his health after the season is over. The Lightning are hoping that when he does share what has kept him off the ice, he's doing so at a trophy celebration. 

Lightning vs. Stars: Game 6 Live Stream, NBC TV Schedule, Odds, Predictions

Sep 27, 2020
Dallas Stars' Corey Perry (10) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, in New York. The Stars won 5-3. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Dallas Stars' Corey Perry (10) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, in New York. The Stars won 5-3. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The Dallas Stars extended the NHL championship series by winning a thrilling Game 5 on Saturday, but the Tampa Bay Lightning will still have a chance to clinch the Stanley Cup in Game 6 on Monday.

The final round of the postseason has featured quite a bit of drama, with a Kevin Shattenkirk overtime goal in Game 4 giving Tampa Bay a huge leg up in the series. The Bolts had several chances to close things out Saturday night, but Corey Perry kept the Stars alive with a goal in double overtime.

Though Dallas has what it takes to overcome the 3-2 deficit, Tampa Bay hasn't dropped back-to-back games this postseason, so the Stars have to keep the momentum going if they are to force a Game 7.

                     

Stanley Cup Final Game 6

When: Monday, Sept. 28

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live

Odds (via DraftKings): TB: -162 (wager $162 to win $100); DAL: +140 (wager $100 to win $140)

                 

Preview

The Stars had all the pressure on them in Game 5, and they played like it.

Down 2-1 in the third, Joe Pavelski came through with the tying goal before Perry finished it in double overtime.

"It was do-or-die for us tonight, and I thought our team game was pretty good," Perry said afterwards, per David Satriano of NHL.com. "We had a lot of guys. They're in the fight. That's what we're asking for. I scored the winner, but it could have been anybody. That's what we're asking of everybody."

Perhaps more important than the effort was the mental toughness to take only one penalty, something that had been a problem in the series. Tampa Bay was unable to score in its only power-play opportunity, which helped keep Dallas in the game.

However, even the one that didn't yield a goal was still impressive:

Over the course of the series, the Lightning have dominated on the power play, scoring during six of their 13 chances. They had three goals in four opportunities in Game 4. This was the No. 1 scoring offense in the NHL this year, and the Bolts are especially good when they have a man advantage.

Dallas avoided the issue Saturday but won't be able to hold down this team forever. Even a few mistakes in Game 6 could cost the Western Conference champions greatly.

Even after a strong performance from goaltender Anton Khudobin last time out (39 saves for a .951 save percentage), the 34-year-old has been far from perfect this series (.902 save percentage). The Lightning should be able to find daylight, which could be enough for them to bring home their first title since 2004.

Steven Stamkos might not play, but he could be raising the Stanley Cup before the end of Monday night.

Prediction: Lightning 3, Stars 2

Lightning's Steven Stamkos 'Unfit' for Stanley Cup Final Game 4 vs. Stars

Sep 25, 2020
FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2020, file photo, Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Denver. Columbus defenseman Seth Jones, Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel and Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos would’ve missed some or all of the playoffs if they started in April. Instead, the silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic halting the season is those players are healthy and ready to contribute. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2020, file photo, Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Denver. Columbus defenseman Seth Jones, Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel and Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos would’ve missed some or all of the playoffs if they started in April. Instead, the silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic halting the season is those players are healthy and ready to contribute. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

After returning to play in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos has been ruled "unfit" to play in Game 4 on Friday.

According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, the Lightning haven't ruled Stamkos out for the remainder of the series.

Before playing Wednesday, Stamkos hadn't appeared in a game since Feb. 25 after a core muscle injury required surgery. The NHL season's hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed him to return for the Final.

Stamkos played only three minutes in the first period of Game 3 but scored a goal as the Bolts won 5-2 to take a 2-1 series lead.

Per ESPN's Emily Kaplan, Stamkos became the first player since 1940 to score a goal while making his first postseason appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.

He said after the game: "There's been a lot of hard work and different things going on behind the scenes. Just to be able to get out into a game and have an impact on a game, which a month ago may have never been possible ... I was just really happy to obviously contribute in a game that I didn't play too much."

Stamkos also noted he was dealing with an "issue" and that it was "too early" to tell if he would be able to play in Game 4.

His absence means the Lightning will once again be without one of the NHL's most dynamic offensive players. However, they reached the Final without him and won Game 2 with him in the press box as well.

Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point will once again be Tampa's go-to offensive players as they have been throughout the playoffs. They have combined for 58 points during the postseason and are chiefly responsible for the Bolts' deep run.

Defenseman Victor Hedman (20 points) and forward Ondrej Palat (16 points) will also merit focus in the Stars' defensive game plan.

Neither the Lightning nor the Stars can win the Cup on Friday, so it's still possible Stamkos could play later in the series.

Even if Stamkos doesn't see the ice again this season, his return after injuries and setbacks likely provided the Lightning with a big boost.

Lightning's Steven Stamkos Returns from Core Muscle Injury for Game 3 vs. Stars

Sep 23, 2020
Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos pursues the puck againsdt the Colorado Avalanche in the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos pursues the puck againsdt the Colorado Avalanche in the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos returned for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, nearly seven months after suffering a core muscle injury.

"He's just another thing for a team to think about when he's out there," Lightning coach Jon Cooper told reporters Wednesday. "So whether that's on the power play or five-on-five, you get another player who, the puck gets on his stick in the offensive zone, it might go in the net."

Stamkos originally suffered the injury Feb. 25 and underwent surgery in March before adding a lower-body injury to the mix ahead of training camp in July. He has sat out the Lightning's entire postseason run despite being a participant in some practices, working himself back into game form.

The captain didn't take long to make an impact, either, scoring in the first period against the Dallas Stars. Tampa and Dallas traded off a game apiece heading into Wednesday's critical contest.

Stamkos has spent all 12 of his NHL seasons with the Lightning after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft. This is his second attempt at bringing a Cup back to Tampa. The Lightning lost the 2015 Stanley Cup Final to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.

Lightning vs. Stars: Game 3 Odds, Live Stream, TV Schedule

Sep 23, 2020
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

After surging out to a three-goal lead and holding off a Dallas Stars rally to even the series 1-1 Monday night, the Tampa Bay Lightning will look to bring that momentum into Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday.

Despite Stars forward Joe Pavelski scoring his 10th goal of the postseason and entering a tie for the NHL lead, the Lightning held on to take a 3-2 victory in Game 2.

With the victory Monday, the Lightning ensured there will be no four-game sweep throughout the entirety of this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, marking the fourth time since the format was adopted in 1987 that every series saw at least five games.

Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Lightning's starter in their past 21 games, is now 6-0 in games after a postseason loss this year and is 30-21 overall. 

Here's everything you need to know about Game 3, which will start at 8 p.m. ET at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.

                 

Odds

Per DraftKings, the Tampa Bay Lightning are favored to win Game 3 at -165 odds, meaning a $100 bet will pay out $161. After falling in Game 2, the Stars sit at +140, with a $100 bet yielding $240. 

The Lightning, who took the title in 2003-04, are also the favorites to win the series at -195, while Dallas is at +170 odds to claim its first championship since 1999.

               

How to Watch

Live Stream

Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final can be streamed from the NBC Sports website and on the NBC Sports app.

TV Schedule

In addition to live-streaming options, Game 3 will also air live on NBC Sports.

            

Prediction

Regular-season scoring leader Tampa Bay has struggled since the restart. It has scored just seven goals in its last four games, but grabbing the first goal of the game Wednesday would bode well for the Bolts—they've won eight of nine games in which they've scored first in the postseason.

While he's only allowed three goals at most in nine of his team's last 10 contests and limited the Lightning in the first two games of the series, Dallas goalie Anton Khudobin can only do so much. He posted 35 saves in Game 1 and was tested in Game 2, stopping 28 shots but allowing three quick markers in a four-minute span.

Even though two of those were on a Tampa Bay power play, Khudobin cannot lead the Stars to a championship alone. With or without injured superstar forward Steven Stamkos, the high-flying Lightning will take their first lead of the series. 

Anthony Cirelli Nets OT Winner, Sends Lightning to Stanley Cup Final vs. Stars

Sep 17, 2020
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) before an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) before an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

The Tampa Bay Lightning are heading back to the Stanley Cup Final.

For the first time since 2015, one of the NHL's premier teams will have an opportunity to play for a championship after finishing off the New York Islanders 2-1 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday night. 

Anthony Cirelli scored the game-winning goal at 13:18 into overtime as goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy came up with 26 saves in the victory. 

Tampa will face the Dallas Stars inside the league's Edmonton, Alberta, bubble for the right to hoist the Stanley Cup. 

The Bolts are 1-1 in the Final, having defeated the Calgary Flames in 2004 before falling to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015. 

Notable Performers

Anthony Cirelli, C, Tampa Bay Lightning: 1 Goal (Game-winner), 4 SOG, 4 Blocks

Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning: 1 Goal, 6 SOG, 30:41 TOI

Devon Toews, D, New York Islanders: 1 Goal, 4 PIM, 3 Blocks

Semyon Varlamov, G, New York Islanders: 41 Saves, 2 Goals Allowed

Cirelli's Overtime Winner

If any of the Islanders defenders saw Anthony Cirelli sneak into the crease they were either too exhausted to stop him or too slow to move him. 

The Tampa Bay center crept behind all five New York skaters, planted himself right in front of Semyon Varlomov and buried a feed from Barclay Goodrow below the goal line before the Isles' goalie could adjust. The result was a game-winning goal that moved the Bolts four wins away from the Stanley Cup.

Mathew Barzal was the closest player to Cirelli and seemed to have an opportunity to lift the center's stick, but ended up reacting late. Cirelli instead moved right in front of the blue paint and out of the reach of any defender. 

That the Lightning forward was in a position to make the play at all was impressive.

Not only was Cirelli injured in the second period after colliding with New York's Anders Lee, the Islanders whiffed on both a point blank opportunity in overtime from Brock Nelson and a power play that came up empty moments before Cirelli's goal.

Tampa Nearly Wastes Second Period

If ever there were an opportunity to blow the Islanders out of Game 6, the second period provided it and then some. 

Tampa Bay entered the second frame at its defensive peak, with ample scoring opportunities and still came up empty. It was one of the most lopsided 20 minutes of the series and somehow it led to zero edge for either team.

Through 10 minutes of play the Islanders had zero shots on goal with just two shot attempts total. Overall, the Bolts were outshooting New York 24-6. 

Yet the score remained 1-1. No harm, no foul, little action. 

The defensive presence from both sides required the Lightning to completely  interrupt any offensive opportunity while the Isles yet again relied on netminder Semyon Varlomov to turn aside the 10 shots he faced.

Varlomov was also called upon to shut down back-to-back Lightning power plays and Devon Toews was called for delay of game and Cal Clutterbuck was caught tripping. 

Neither instance came back to hurt New York.

Instead the Bolts fought through obvious exhaustion in overtime and delivered an Eastern Conference title to Tampa Bay. 

What's Next

The Lightning are on to face the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Final. Game 1 is set for Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. 

Subscribe to Tampa Bay Lightning